Privacy Policy for Connected Legal + Commercial

At Connected Legal + Commercial ("CL+C"), we are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ("Privacy Act"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information. 

1. What is Personal Information? 

Personal information is any information or opinion about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. This includes details such as your name, contact information, and other information relevant to the legal services we provide. 

2. The Kinds of Personal Information We Collect 

The types of personal information we collect include, but are not limited to: 

• Full name, date of birth, and gender 

• Contact details (email address, telephone numbers, postal and physical address) 

• Identification documents (e.g., driver's licence, passport) 

• Financial information, including bank account details and transaction history 

• Employment information 

• Information related to your legal matter, including sensitive information, where applicable 

• Any other personal information relevant to our legal services 

  3. How We Collect Personal Information 

We may collect personal information directly from you through: 

• Meetings and consultations 

• Telephone or video conference discussions 

• Email, postal correspondence, and other written communications 

• Online forms and enquiries submitted through our website 

• Engagement of our legal services or use of our client portal 

In some instances, we may collect personal information from third parties such as: 

• Publicly available records 

• Other legal professionals 

• Government agencies 

• Your authorised representatives 

  4. How We Use Your Personal Information 

We collect and use personal information primarily to provide legal services, which include but are not limited to: 

• Advising and acting for you in legal matters 

• Communicating with you and your representatives 

• Conducting due diligence, conflict checks, and client identification processes 

• Managing our business operations and complying with legal obligations 

• Marketing our services, with your consent, where required 

We may also use your personal information for any other purposes disclosed to you at the time of collection or as required by law. 

5. Disclosure of Personal Information 

We may disclose your personal information to third parties in connection with the legal services we provide, such as: 

• Courts, tribunals, and regulatory authorities 

• Opposing parties and their representatives 

• Barristers, expert witnesses, and consultants 

• Service providers who support our business operations (e.g., IT services, data storage providers) 

• Financial institutions for billing and payments 

We will not disclose your personal information for any other purpose without your consent, unless required or permitted by law. 

6. Sensitive Information 

Sensitive information includes details such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, health information, and criminal records. We will only collect and use sensitive information with your consent or when required by law. 

7. Data Security 

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These measures include: 

• Secure file storage and encryption 

• Access control protocols for our information systems 

• Regular security audits and staff training 

However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the security of your personal information. 

8. Cross-border Disclosure of Personal Information 

While it is not our standard practice to disclose personal information to overseas recipients, in certain circumstances we may need to share your personal information with overseas entities. In such cases, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the overseas recipient complies with Australian privacy laws or is subject to laws that are substantially similar. 

9. Access and Correction 

You have the right to access personal information we hold about you and request corrections if the information is inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete. To request access or correction, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, usually within 30 days. 

10. Direct Marketing 

We may use your personal information to send you marketing materials about our services. If you do not wish to receive such communications, you can opt out at any time by contacting us or following the opt-out instructions in our communications. 

11. Use of Cookies and Website Tracking 

When you visit our website, we may collect information about your usage via cookies and similar technologies. This information may include your IP address, browser type, and interactions with our site. You can adjust your browser settings to block cookies, but this may affect your experience on our website. 

12. Changes to This Policy 

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will always be available on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. 

13. Contact Us 

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about how we handle your personal information, or if you would like more information about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: 

Connected Legal + Commercial 

Email: info@connectedlegal.com.au
Phone: 0439 767 445
Address: Level 1, 142 Smith Street, Summer Hill NSW 2130

We will take all reasonable steps to address your enquiry or complaint promptly.