Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

Types of Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Identification information: Name, date of birth, address, contact details
• Financial information: Bank details, income, assets (where relevant to your matter)
• Legal matter details: Information about your legal issue, court documents, correspondence
• Health information: Where relevant to your legal matter (e.g., personal injury, elder law)
• Family information: Relationship status, children's details (where relevant to family law matters)
• Employment information: Occupation, employer details (where relevant)
• Criminal history: Where relevant to criminal law matters

How We Collect Information

We collect personal information through:

• Direct communication with you (in person, phone, email)
• Contact forms on our website
• Documents you provide to us
• Third parties (with your consent or as legally required) such as:
  • Courts and tribunals
  • Other legal professionals (barristers, expert witnesses)
  • Government agencies
  • Your previous legal representatives

Website Information

When you visit our website, we may collect:

• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• IP address
• Pages visited and time spent on site
• Referring website

This information is collected through standard web server logs and is used to improve our website and services. We do not use cookies to track individual users.

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Use and Disclosure

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Provide legal advice and representation
• Prepare legal documents and correspondence
• Communicate with you about your matter
• Comply with legal and professional obligations
• Manage billing and payments
• Improve our services
• Comply with court orders and legal requirements

When We Disclose Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

With Your Consent:

• Barristers engaged in your matter
• Expert witnesses (medical experts, financial experts, etc.)
• Other parties in legal negotiations
• Your family members or representatives (where authorized)

As Required by Law:

• Courts and tribunals (including NCAT)
• Law enforcement agencies
• Legal aid commissions
• Government departments and regulatory bodies

For Professional Purposes:

• Professional indemnity insurers
• Law Society of NSW (for regulatory compliance)
• External legal advisors (for professional advice)
• Information technology service providers (with appropriate safeguards)

Legal Professional Privilege

Communications between you and us are generally protected by legal professional privilege. This means we cannot be compelled to disclose confidential communications except in limited circumstances defined by law.

Conflict of Interest Checks

Your personal information may be used for conflict of interest checking to ensure we do not act for parties with conflicting interests.

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Storage and Security

How We Store Information

We store your personal information in:

• Electronic files on secure servers in Australia
• Physical files in secure premises at our office
• Cloud-based practice management systems (with appropriate security measures)

Security Measures

We protect your personal information through:

• Secure password-protected systems
• Encryption of electronic communications where appropriate
• Locked filing cabinets for physical documents
• Restricted access to information (need-to-know basis)
• Regular security reviews and updates
• Staff training on privacy and security

Retention of Information

We retain your personal information for:

• 7 years after the completion of your matter (in accordance with Law Society requirements)
• Longer periods where required by law or ongoing legal obligations
• Wills and estate documents may be retained indefinitely

After the retention period, we securely destroy personal information by:

• Shredding physical documents
• Permanent deletion of electronic records

Data Breaches

In the unlikely event of a data breach that is likely to result in serious harm, we will:

• Notify affected individuals as soon as practicable
• Notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
• Take immediate steps to contain and remedy the breach

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Your Rights

Access to Your Information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. To request access:

• Contact us in writing (email or letter)
• Specify the information you wish to access
• Provide proof of identity

We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may charge a reasonable fee for providing access to large volumes of information.

Correction of Information

If you believe any information we hold about you is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, or misleading, you can request that we correct it. We will:

• Take reasonable steps to correct the information
• Respond to your request within 30 days
• If we disagree that correction is necessary, we will attach a statement to the record noting your view

Limitations on Access

In some circumstances, we may refuse access or correction if:

• It would interfere with legal proceedings
• It would prejudice law enforcement
• It would breach legal professional privilege
• It would reveal confidential commercial information
• It would threaten the safety of another person

If we refuse your request, we will provide written reasons.

Complaints

If you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us:

Privacy Officer
Richard Cummins Solicitor
Level 1, 299 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Email: info@rcsolicitor.com.au
Phone: (02) 8251 0046

We will:

• Acknowledge your complaint within 7 days
• Investigate the matter
• Respond with our decision within 30 days

External Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: 1300 363 992
Website: www.oaic.gov.au

Law Society of NSW
170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 9926 0333
Website: www.lawsociety.com.au

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Changes & Contact

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

• Changes in law
• Changes in our practices
• New technologies

The current version will always be available on our website with the date of last update clearly shown.

Questions or Concerns

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Richard Cummins Solicitor
Level 1, 299 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Email: info@rcsolicitor.com.au
Phone: (02) 8251 0046
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Further Information

For more information about privacy law in Australia, visit:

• Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
• Attorney-General's Department - Privacy

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