This policy sets out how Norman Waterhouse and its related entities (we) collect, hold and disclose personal information. At all times we comply with the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
We collect personal information:
In most cases, if we request personal information and it is not provided, we may not be able to provide the relevant service.
We collect an individual’s name and contact details, and information about the individual’s gender, occupation, employers and relationship with us or our clients or contacts. Of course, we also collect the information necessary to provide the specific services our clients require.
Sometimes we use external service providers who may have access to some personal information we collect. For example, we use contractors to keep our closed matter files in secure storage, to distribute some of our publications, and to maintain and develop our computer systems. These contactors are bound by obligations of confidentiality and may only access information to the extent necessary to provide the services we require.
Our trust account auditors, Law Society Trust Account Inspectors, and the body responsible for our quality certification may be given access to some of our client's matter files and our client records from time to time, but only for the purpose of ensuring that we are complying with our obligations. They too are bound by obligations of confidentiality.
We use and disclose personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, reasonably expected related purposes and other circumstances authorised by the Privacy Act. In general we use and disclose personal information for the purposes set out above.
We will not use an individual’s personal information to inform the individual about legal developments, to market our services or to send invitations to our events, if the individual requests us not to do so.
We may disclose personal information:
We have a professional duty to maintain confidentiality of our clients’ information. Accordingly, we will not disclose information about a client or disclosed to us by a client unless the client instructs us to do so, or we are legally obliged to do so.
Our contractors may have access to some personal information we collect. For example, contractors keep our closed files in secure storage, distribute some of our publications, and maintain and develop our computer systems. These contractors are bound by obligations of confidentiality and may access information only to the extent necessary to provide the contracted services.
Our trust account inspectors and auditors may also access our files and records, but only to ensure that we comply with our obligations. They are also bound by obligations of confidentiality.
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We store information in access controlled premises, and require logins and passwords to access electronic information. In addition, all our partners / staff members are bound by obligations of confidentiality.
We encourage you to contact us to update any personal information we hold about you.
You may request access to personal information we hold about you. We may require you to verify your identity and to specify what information you require. We may charge you a fee where we provide access. We may refuse to provide access if the Privacy Act allows us to do so, or if our duty of confidentiality requires us to do so.
Privacy Officer
Norman Waterhouse
Level 15, 45 Pirie Street
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
T: +61 8 8210 1200
F: +61 8 8210 1234
privacy@normans.com.au