PRIVACY POLICY
1. INTRODUCTION
At Bell Legal Group, we respect the privacy of individuals and use all reasonable measures to ensure your personal information is protected and stored safely. This policy sets out how we collect, use, disclose and safeguard your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988.
We may amend or update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be effective from the date of publication on our Website.
2. MEANING OF ‘PERSONAL INFORMATION
We may collect and hold personal information about you, that is information which can identify you and is relevant to the services we are providing to you. That information might typically include name, title, gender, address, phone number, email address, bank account details, family information, business information and other sensitive information.
3. METHOD OF COLLECTION
We will usually collect personal information about you directly from you, using standard forms, email and other correspondence, through our website, personal meetings, telephone, social media correspondence, voice mail and other communications. Sometimes we will collect personal information from third parties acting for you or us eg financial advisors, accountants, brokers or other lawyers. We will endeavour to tell you if we receive personal information from third parties.
4. PURPOSES FOR WHICH PERSONAL INFORMATION IS COLLECTED
Bell Legal Group collects personal information from you so that we can verify your identity and provide legal services to you and the personal information we collect and hold about you depends on the services we are to provide you. We may also use it for purposes such as:
indicated at the time of supply of the personal information to us;
expressly permitted under any agreement with you;
required for the ordinary operation of our Website or our business (e.g. to send you information about our services or related to you); or
required under compulsion of law or provided in co-operation with any governmental authority.
5. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Bell Legal Group may use or disclose your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, including where you would reasonably expect us to use or disclose your personal information. We may also, subject to confidentiality provisions, disclose your personal information to our related entities, third party providers such as barristers, advisers used in relation to our services to you, third party service providers and consultants eg IT managers, or where legally required. We will only disclose your personal information to overseas parties with your express or implied consent for the purpose of providing you with our services.
6.FUTURE CONTACT AND YOUR PRIVACY
We may use the personal information we collect from you to contact you and provide you with updated information about Bell Legal Group in relation to events or to provide you with other information about our services. If you do not wish to receive such information, please notify us at the contact details below.
7.ACCESS AND CORRECTION
Bell Legal Group takes reasonable steps to ensure the personal information it collects is accurate, up-to-date and complete.
You have the right to request access to your personal information and to request its correction or update. You may contact us via: Nicole Anderson, Privacy Officer, (07) 5597 3366, Level 5, 140 Bundall Road, Bundall QLD 4217, nanderson@belllegal.com.au. We will respond within a reasonable period and may charge a fee for processing your request (but not for the request itself).
In certain circumstances, we may decline your request in circumstances prescribed under the Privacy Act 1988. If we do and unless it is unreasonable for us to do so, we will notify you of the reasons, complaint mechanisms and other matters prescribed by law..
If you believe that the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, please notify us immediately and we will take reasonable steps to correct the information.
8.DATA SECURITY
Bell Legal Group takes reasonable steps to ensure the security of your personal information. We employ appropriate electronic, technical, administrative and physical procedures to protect personal information from misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised disclosure or alteration.
We will notify you as soon as practicable in the event of a serious breach of your personal information data, as legally required. We will also notify the relevant supervisory bodies in accordance with our obligations under both domestic and international law.
9.WEBSITE PRIVACY
When you visit our Website or download information from it, our Internet Service Provider (ISP) makes a record of your visit and records the following information:
your Internet Address;
your domain name (if applicable);
the date and time of your visit to the website;
previous site visited; and
browser type.
This information is anonymous and does not identify individual users.
10.DISCLAIMERS
Our Website may contain links to other websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to your use of another website accessed through a link from our website. Bell Legal Group cannot and does not make any warranty or representation as to the practices or security of any linked websites in the handling of your personal information. We encourage you to read the privacy policies on those websites prior to providing any information to them. Bell Legal Group accepts no responsibility for unauthorised use of any password or other security mechanism provided to you other than by a Bell Legal Group staff member.
11.COMPLAINTS
You are entitled to make a complaint if you believe that we have breached any of the Australian Privacy Principles. Any complaints should INITIALLY be made in writing to Nicole Anderson, Privacy Officer, (07) 5597 3366, Level 5, 140 Bundall Road, Bundall QLD 4217, nanderson@belllegal.com.au.
Complaints will be reviewed by our Privacy Officer and a response will be provided within 30 days of receipt of the complaint by us. If you believe that your complaint has not been satisfactorily addressed by us, you can take your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at https://www.oaic.gov.au/.