Privacy Policy.

1. Scope of this policy

Aprim Legal Pty Ltd ACN 697 610 325 (Aprim Legal, we, us or our) is committed to handling personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles where they apply.

This policy applies to personal information handled through our website, enquiries, prospective and current client relationships, professional services, recruitment, administration and business operations.

Our professional duties of confidentiality and legal professional privilege are separate from privacy law. Nothing in this policy limits any stronger obligation applying to information held in connection with a legal engagement.

2. Personal information we may collect

The information we collect depends on the reason for contact and the legal services involved. It may include:

• identity and contact information, including names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth;
• information supplied in an enquiry, consultation, instruction, chronology, document or communication;
• sensitive information where relevant to the matter, such as health information, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, criminal history, family circumstances or information about children;
• financial, taxation, property, employment, business, superannuation and insurance information;
• court, tribunal, police, government, registry and regulatory records;
• information required for conflict checks, identity verification, fraud prevention, regulatory compliance and professional obligations;
• billing, payment and trust-account information, where applicable;
• recruitment and employment information; and
• technical website information, including browser type, device information, pages visited, approximate location, referral source and form interactions.

3. How we collect personal information

We usually collect personal information directly from the person concerned, including through enquiry forms, emails, telephone calls, conferences, documents and instructions.

We may also collect information from an authorised representative, another party to a matter, a referrer, courts and tribunals, government bodies, regulators, police, experts, barristers, insurers, service providers, publicly available records and other sources where authorised or reasonably necessary.

If you provide personal information about another person, you should have authority to do so and, where appropriate, make that person aware of this policy.

4. Why we collect, hold, use and disclose information

We may handle personal information to:

• respond to an enquiry and assess whether we may be able to assist;
• conduct conflict checks and verify identity or authority;
• provide legal services, communicate, obtain instructions and manage a matter;
• deal with courts, tribunals, counterparties, other lawyers, experts, barristers, government bodies and service providers;
• prepare costs disclosures, invoices, payment records and trust-account records where applicable;
• comply with legal, professional, regulatory, insurance, risk-management and record-keeping obligations;
• protect the security and integrity of our systems, clients, personnel and practice;
• manage recruitment, employment and business administration;
• improve our website and services using aggregated or appropriately limited analytics; and
• send professional updates or marketing communications where permitted and where consent or a reasonable expectation exists.

If required information is not provided, we may be unable to respond fully, complete a conflict check, confirm that we can act or provide the requested legal service.

5. When information may be disclosed

Subject to professional obligations and applicable law, personal information may be disclosed to persons or organisations involved in providing or supporting legal services, including barristers, experts, consultants, courts, tribunals, counterparties, other law practices, process servers, investigators, mediators, government bodies, regulators, insurers, auditors, banks and secure technology or document-management providers.

We may also disclose information where authorised by the person concerned, required or permitted by law, reasonably necessary to protect legal rights or safety, or necessary to obtain professional, ethical, insurance or risk-management advice.

We do not sell personal information.

6. Cloud services and overseas handling

We may use reputable cloud, communications, security, document-management, analytics or professional-service providers. Some providers may process or store information outside Australia, including in the United States or other jurisdictions in which their systems or support personnel operate.

Where applicable, we take reasonable steps to assess providers, limit access, apply appropriate contractual and security controls and comply with requirements concerning overseas disclosure.

7. Website data, cookies and analytics

Our website may use essential cookies and, when configured, analytics or advertising technologies to understand website performance, prevent abuse, measure enquiries and improve user experience.

We do not use the contents of legal enquiries to create advertising audiences. Sensitive legal information should not be submitted through advertising or social-media platforms.

Browser settings may allow cookies to be blocked or deleted, although some website functions may then operate differently.

8. Direct marketing

We may send legal updates, invitations or information about our services where permitted by law. We will not use sensitive information for direct marketing without appropriate consent.

Marketing communications will identify the sender and provide a practical way to unsubscribe. An unsubscribe request may be made at any time by contacting info@aprimlegal.com.au.

9. Security and retention

We take reasonable administrative, physical and technical measures to protect information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

No internet transmission or online form is completely secure. Do not send highly sensitive, privileged or urgent material through the website unless requested. Contacting us does not guarantee that we can act or that a communication is legally privileged.

We retain information for as long as reasonably required for the relevant purpose and to comply with legal, professional, insurance, taxation, trust-account and record-keeping obligations. Information may then be securely destroyed or de-identified where lawful and appropriate.

10. Access and correction

A person may request access to personal information we hold about them or ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date, irrelevant or misleading.

Requests should be sent to info@aprimlegal.com.au. We may need to verify identity and may refuse or limit access where permitted by law, including where access would affect another person's privacy, reveal privileged material or prejudice legal proceedings.

11. Privacy complaints

A privacy concern or complaint may be sent to info@aprimlegal.com.au with sufficient detail for us to understand and investigate the issue.

We will acknowledge and assess the complaint within a reasonable time and may request further information. If the issue is not resolved, a person may have the right to contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or another applicable regulator.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes to our practice, technology, providers or legal obligations. The current version will be published on this page with its last-updated date.