Spagnol Legal
 Solicitors

Spagnol Legal Privacy Policy This Policy outlines the obligations which Spagnol Legal has in managing the personal information we hold about our clients, potential clients, contractors and others. In general terms, 'personal information' is information or an opinion relating to an individual which can be used to identify that individual. Spagnol Legal acts in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), which includes the Australian Privacy Principles. All information we receive in connection with a client matter is subject to strict duties of confidentiality. Except in accordance with our professional obligations, as authorised by the client or as contemplated by this Privacy Policy we will not disclose that information. Why does Spagnol Legal collect personal information? We collect personal information in order to conduct our business, to provide and market our services and to meet our legal obligations. Who does Spagnol Legal collect personal information from? Those from whom we may collect and hold personal information about include clients, business associates and potential clients and their employees, suppliers and their employees, prospective employees, employees and contractors; and other people who come into contact with us. What kinds of information do we hold? To assist Spagnol Legal in conducting our business, providing and marketing our services and complying with our legal obligations, we generally collect and hold personal information of the following kinds including, but not limited to: names, addresses, occupations, contact information, professional memberships and information about people(s) dealings with us or our clients Use and disclosure of your personal information Spagnol Legal may use your personal information for the purposes for which it was collected and for reasonably expected related purposes (which are normally obvious when we collect it), including to: conduct our business; provide our services to you or our clients and improving our services, manage our relationships with you or our clients, which may include communicating with you and accounting for our services; provide our services to you or our clients with information about legal developments, events or other products or services of interest; comply with our legal requirements. We may disclose personal information for the purposes for which it was collected, and also: with your consent; as required by law; subject to our professional obligations, to any person in connection with our provision of legal services e.g. to our client, to regulatory authorities, or to other advisors such as counsel; internally within our organisation; and/or confidentially, to external service provided so that they can provide their services in connected with the operation of our business (e.g. printers, process servers and financial service providers) Sensitive information Generally, we will not collect your sensitive information unless: you consent; required or authorised by law;  the information is required to establish or defend a legal or equitable claim; or  the information is needed because of a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of the individual and you are incapable of consenting and.  'Sensitive information' covers personal information such as: race or ethnic origin;  political opinions, membership of a political association;  religious beliefs or affiliations;  philosophical beliefs;  membership of a professional or trade association or membership of a trade union;  sexual preferences and practices;  criminal record; or  health information Unless you consent, or where certain other limited circumstances apply (for example, where required by law) your sensitive information it will only be used and disclosed for the purpose for which it was provided or a directly related secondary purpose, How Information is Collected We may collect your personal information in a number of different situations.  These include, but may not be limited to, when you seek legal advice from us, when you enquire about our services, when you apply for employment with us or when you apply to provide a service to us.  We will endeavour to collect personal information directly from you however there may be occasion to collect this information from a third party source.  For example, when our client husband provides his wife's date of birth for a particular matter we are acting in. Information security In accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles we take resonable steps to protect the security of personal information whcih we hold.  Our personnel are required to respect the confidentiality of personal information. We take reasonable steps to hold information securely in electronic or physical form.  We store information in electronic databases requiring logins and passwords or in areas where access is restricted to our personnel. Sending information overseas Spagnol Legal will not send your personal information to recipients outside of Australia without first obtaining your consent (in some cases this consent will be implied); or otherwise complying with the Australian Privacy Principles. Access to your personal information You may request access at any time to personal information we hold about you by contacting the Spagnol Legal Privacy Officer. We will require you to verify your identity and to specify what information you require. We may charge you a fee where access is provided. Spagnol Legal may refuse to provide access if the Australian Privacy Principles allow us to refuse access. You may submit a written complaint about how we have handled your personal inforamtion to our Privacy Office.  If after a reasonable period of time (please allow up to 30 days) you are not satisfied with our response you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at or on 1300 363 992. Policy Reviews We will review our Privacy Policy from time to time to take account of new laws and technology, changes to our operations and practices and the changing business environment.  A copy of this Policy can be obtained by contacting the Spagnol Legal Privacy Officer. Enquiries Please contact the Spagnol Legal Privacy Officer on (03) 9614 3880 if you have any queries related to privacy or to this Privacy Policy.