GDPR policy
Who are we?
This is a firm of solicitors specialising in criminal, public and regulatory law. We accept instructions from firms of solicitors, lay clients, professionals, third sector and or government bodies (such as the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office), and occasionally from individuals other than the above.
Our Principal solicitor will handle most instructions on behalf of the firm. For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). If you have any questions about how your personal data is handled please do not hesitate to contact us through our contact details.
How the law protects you
Your privacy is protected by law. This page is intended to set out how this works. The law says that we can use your personal information only if I have a proper reason to do so. On occasion this will include sharing it with other stakeholders, Solicitors, government bodies, the police, agencies, barristers and courts. In order to do so I must have one or more of the following reasons:
- To fulfil a contract I have with you
- When it is my legal duty to
- When it is in my legitimate interest
- When you consent to it
In the course of any business with us it is likely that we will receive what is known as ‘special data’ on you. This includes information on racial/ethnic background, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, health data and criminal records (both convictions and allegations). By instructing us it is necessary that you consent to us processing the personal data you provide.
How we use your personal information
As a solicitors firm, we will use personal data provided to represent you in the case we have been instructed in. This can include anything involving the preparation of a case, drafting statements of case, and representing you at a trial and appeal.
What sort of data we handle
Our practice is predominantly criminal and immigration focused with a small amount of regulatory work
The sort of material we will frequently receive includes:
- Witness Statements.
- Exhibits (for example scene photographs, phone downloads, forensic reports etc this is not an exhaustive list).
- Details of the previous convictions of individuals.
- Disks of CCTV, police interviews, phone downloads.
- and any other orders or information related to your case.
Who your information will be shared with
If instructed, our Principal, costs draftsmen, accountant and any other caseworkers working at the firm will process your data. They will take receipt of most material sent to us and store it securely on our system. We will be able to access this data. Physical data (for example papers or disks) will also be received by the firm and will be locked safely and securely at the firm. On occasion we will have to take this home to work on, but the material will remain locked away safely.
There may be occasions where data (as part of a case we are instructed in) will have to be shared with other members of the firm or another solicitors firm or lawyer(s) if we are unable to cover a particular hearing. This will only be done with the consent of the instructing body.
If you choose not to give personal information
You can choose not to give us personal information. This may prevent us from fulfilling our contract with you or doing what we are professionally obliged to do. It may mean that we have to withdraw from representing you. You can withdraw your consent to us handling your personal data at any time. The best way to do this is through contacting the Data Protection Officer (DPO) or the Principal of the firm.
How to get a copy of your personal data
You can get a copy of all the personal information we hold on you by contacting the DPO or Principal of the firm.
Document retention
On the conclusion of a case, we may return papers we have been provided by instructing bodies to those who have instructed us. We are professionally obliged to retain documents we generate in the course of a case for a minimum of six years. After this point we will dispose of them; papers will be securely shredded, and electronic data will be securely wiped.