This statement will explain what happens to personal data that you give to us, how it may be used and your rights.

Purpose:

The purpose of this privacy statement is to tell individuals from whom we may have collected data how  we intend to process their data and the individual or data subject’s rights.

The Law:

Your rights as an individual concerning your data are contained in the General Data Protection Regulations which are also referred to as GDPR. GDPR and data protection is overseen by the Information Commissioners Office. This policy sets out how HLA Family Law complies with our legal obligations in respect of your data.

What are our obligations:

HLA Family Law are a data Controller. This is because as an entity collecting your data and deciding the purpose to which it is collected or held we are Controlling the data. We are required to comply with the regulations as a data controller to protect your data as set out within them.

We are required to inform you of:

• The purpose or reason why we are processing your data 
• The lawful basis under which we hold your data
• Contact details so you can contact us regarding this.

Why do we collect your data:

We collect your data for the purpose and intention of completing the legal retainer, instruction or contract under which you have asked us to provide you with legal services. In order to provide you with these services we have to collect and process your data. We may also be required to collect and process your data for the purposes of complying with our legal obligations in providing you with a service.

What data will we process:

Data is given different categories under GDPR. These are:

Personal Data – this is data that, on its own, can be used to identify an individual directly or indirectly. Examples of this may include:

• Date of birth
• Address
• Email Address
• Name
• National Insurance Number
• Vehicle Registration
• IP address or location data

Of course, we may not collect or process all of these forms of data to assist you with your individual matter.

However, in order to undertake your legal matter HLA Family Law will need to collect and process your Personal Data.

Special Category Data – This is defined by GDPR as information that is more sensitive. This can include for example:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Political beliefs
• Health
• Genetics
• Biometrics 

In order to undertake your legal matter HLA Family may require Special Category Data. If this is necessary, we will obtain your consent to process this.

Who is your data shared with:

It will often be necessary in the course of your instructions and to provide you with the service you have instructed us to undertake to share data with third parties, namely entity’s or individuals that are not employed by HLA Family Law.

The types of third parties that we may have to share your personal data with may include:

• Government Departments such as the Legal Aid Agency or HMCTS or HMRC
• Insurers
• Experts, such as medical, testing or other experts
• Other legal representatives who are acting in your matter
• Agents instructed to assist you in your matter such as barristers or solicitor advocates
• Relevant third parties for the progression of your matter

We will not send your data oversees and HLA Family Law stores your data on a cloud based system which is kept in the UK.

What data we will need to process and share will depend upon the nature of your instruction or your legal matter. Should you want further information as to what data we will process or share in your particular case please in the first instance contact the person actin in your matter.

Where will we store your data:

HLA Family Law utilise a cloud based case management storage facility which we use to record and store your data. The cloud servers are based in the UK and your data will not therefore be processed outside of the UK.

What are your rights:

By virtue of GDPR individuals have the following rights:

•  The right to be informed
• The right of access
• The right of rectification
• The right to erasure
• The right to restrict processing
• The right to data portability
• The right to object
• Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling

 You can exercise any of these rights verbally or in writing. More information about these rights are below.

The Right to be Informed

This is your right to be told that we will collect and process your personal data, as well as being informed of all other information in this document.

The Right of Access

This is your right to request access, known as a Subject Access Request, to the personal data we hold in relation to you.

The Right of Rectification

This is your right that we rectify any data we hold about you that is inaccurate or incomplete.

The Right to Erasure

This is your right for personal data that is no longer relevant to be erased from our systems. We are legally obligated to retain certain data for specific time periods.

The Right to Restrict Processing

This is your right to stop the processing of your data. Whilst processing is stopped your data will still be stored by the firm.

The Right to Data Portability

This is your right to have the data we hold in an electronic format.

The Right to Object

This is your right to object to your data being processed. If this right is exercised your data may still be processed if there is a compelling reason for doing so.

Rights in Relation to Automated Decision Making and Profiling

We do not use automated decision making or profiling, but you are able to request human intervention if you feel an automated decision made about you is incorrect.

Are you under a statutory, legal or contractual obligation or requirement to provide us with data:

As part of providing you with legal services HLA Family Law will require some of your data to be able to offer you this service. It is of your choice and free will as to whether to instruct HLA Family Law and enter into a contract for HLA Family Law to provide you with legal services.

How long do we keep your data or will it be held for:

This depends on the nature of your instruction and also the type of data we hold. HLA Family Law will collect data on individuals both employees, prospective employees, client’s and third parties. The type of individual and matter means that that the length of time we are required to hold information relating to you or your matter may very. Should you like further information as to how long we will retain your information or data please contact us on the details at the bottom of this policy.

If you provide us with information for individuals other than yourself then you must provide us with the details for us to make them aware of their privacy rights under this policy.

What happens to your person data entered through our website:

HLA Family Law’s website, found at www.hlafamilylaw.co.uk contains a contact form which gives you the option of providing us with your name, telephone number, email address and a free text to include any further information you may want to provide. By entering your data into this form, this will be sent to HLA Family Law and you agree to us contacting you concerning the information that you have provided.  

We will use your data to communicate or contact you. For example we use contact details such as an email address or phone number to contact you or respond to your enquiry.

We operate on the basis of legitimate interest in responding to your enquiry made via the website and utilising the data that you have provided to us to do so.

Personal data provided to us via the website will be deleted by HLA Family Law after we have responded to your enquiry. If you subsequently instruct us within a legal matter then the policy as set out above will apply.

Do we transfer any personal data overseas?

Your personal data will remain in the EU or countries considered by the EU to have equivalent policies

Google Analytics:

We do not use google analytics, if this changes we will up-date our privacy policy accordingly.

How to contact HLA Family Law:

Should you need to contact us concerning this policy, to discuss any matter contained in the policy or for any further information then the following details apply:

Firm: HLA Family Law

Registered Office: Victory House, 400 Pavilion Drive, Northampton, NN4 7PA

Telephone Number: 01604 969 168

Email: info@hlafamilylaw.co.uk

Data Protection Compliance Officer: Ben Harling – bh@hlafamilylaw.co.uk

Website: www.hlafamilylaw.co.uk

What to do if you have a complaint:

HLA Family Law has a complaints policy. If you are a client of the firm this will have been sent to you at the outset of your matter. However, it is also available on the firm’s website or a copy can be requested using the firms contact details above.

We would hope in the first instance you will contact us directly with any questions or complaints that you may have. However, you have the legal right to raise issues regarding privacy with the Information Commissioners office and they can be contacted on the following details:

Address: ICO, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113                                               

Fax: 01625 524 510

Email: casework@ico.org.uk

Web: www.ico.org.uk