Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

Saines Lucas Privacy Statement

Saines Lucas Solicitors respects your privacy and is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (‘APP’) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). This Privacy Statement sets out the firm’s policies relating to the collection, holding, use, and disclosure by Saines Lucas Solicitors of personal information, as well as your right to access and to the correction of personal information which we hold on your behalf.

1. Information that may be held and collected in accordance with our Privacy Policy
1.1 Personal information: Information or an opinion that could identify, or could reasonably identify, an individual is considered to be personal information. In the ordinary course of business, Saines Lucas Solicitors collects and holds personal information relating to clients, potential clients, suppliers, consultants, and applicants for employment. The kind of personal information that Saines Lucas may collect includes but is not limited to:
a. Your name, relationship status, job title, postal and home address, date of birth, business details and address, telephone number, email address, employment history, and financial circumstances and records.
1.2 Sensitive information: Sensitive information is personal information relating to an individual’s race or ethnicity, political opinions or associations, religious or philosophical believes, trade union membership or associations, criminal record, sexual orientation or
practices, and health or genetic information.

2. Collection
2.1 For the purpose of providing our service to you, Saines Lucas Solicitors will collect personal information through interviews, correspondence, by telephone and facsimile, by email, via our website, from your website, from referral services, from media and publications, from other publicly available sources, and from third parties, including but not limited to external professionals, such as doctors.
2.2 Personal information will be retained and securely stored on your file and on our computer systems.

3. Use and Disclosure
3.1 Saines Lucas Solicitors will use your personal information:
a. To provide professional services and advice to you;
b. To market our services (only with your specific consent);
c. To comply with our legal obligations;
d. To administer and maintain our services;
e. As permitted by this Privacy Policy; and
f. In accordance with the APP and Privacy Act.
3.2 Saines Lucas Solicitors may be required to disclose personal information for the purposes for which it was collected to:
a. Internal staff members of Saines Lucas Solicitors;
b. Barristers, Courts, tribunals, mediators, doctors and experts, solicitors for other parties involved in your matter and other relevant persons or organisations;
c. Auditors, financial institutions and service providers; and
d. Where we are required or authorised to do so by law.
3.3 Your personal information will not be disclosed to third parties, unless you have consented to such disclosure or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Last updated 30 July 2020
3.4 Personal information is retained by Saines Lucas Solicitors until your matter is concluded, and then for a further minimum period of seven (7) years from the date your file is closed.

4. Overseas Disclosure
4.1 We are not likely to disclose your personal information to overseas recipients.

5. Security
5.1 Saines Lucas Solicitors takes the security and privacy of personal information seriously and is dedicated to keeping personal information confidential. Reasonable precautions are taken to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Where your personal information is no longer required, reasonable steps will be taken to destroy or de-identify it.

6. Access and Correction
6.1 Individuals are entitled to request access to their personal information and to request its correction.
6.2 Where access is requested, proof of identity may be required.
6.3 Where a fee is chargeable for providing access, the likely cost will be advised in advance.
6.4 Requests for access and correction to your personal information can be made in writing to our Privacy Officer using the contact details set out at the end of this Privacy Statement.
6.5 In certain circumstances, Saines Lucas Solicitors are permitted to deny the request for access or limit the access that is provided. Such circumstances include but are not limited to:
a. Where refusal of access is required or authorised under the Freedom of Information Act
or any other Act of the Commonwealth, or a Court or tribunal order;
b. Where Saines Lucas Solicitors reasonably believes that giving access would pose a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual, or to public health or public safety;
c. Where giving access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of other individuals;
d. Where the request for access is frivolous or vexatious; or
e. Where providing access would be unlawful.

7. Complaints
7.1 Complaints about the way Saines Lucas Solicitors have handled personal information, or complaints about a suspected breach of the APP or Privacy Act may be made by contacting our Privacy Officer in writing using the details set out at the end of this Privacy Statement.
Please include your full name, email address and telephone number, and clearly detail your complaint.
7.2 Complaints will be investigated by our Privacy Officer and a response will be provided within a reasonable timeframe (usually 30 days).
7.3 If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal investigation conducted by our Privacy Officer, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (‘OAIC’) at enquiries@oaic.gov.au or on 1300 363 992.

8. Contact Details
8.1 Any queries or concerns in relation to Saines Lucas Solicitors’ Privacy Policy can be made to our Privacy Officer in writing using the contact details set out below:

Privacy Officer
Nicholas Lyons
Saines Lucas Solicitors
104 Lydiard Street South
Ballarat VIC 3350
T: (03) 5332 1584
E: Personalinjury@saineslucas.com.au
Last updated 30 July 2020