Introduction

Thank you for your instructions. While I work for you I will need to keep a record of some personal information about you but I will take all possible steps to protect any information you give me.

As your barrister I will try to do everything I can to protect your rights and keep your trust. This privacy notice describes the information I am likely to collect about you and it tells you how that information will be used and shared. It also tells you a little about your rights.

From time to time I may need to update this Privacy Notice. When I make significant changes I will publish the updated notice on my website profile immediately.

– Meredith Major – August 2019

 

 

Data Controller

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a Data Controller for the personal data that I hold and process as a barrister. My registered address is New Court Chambers, Temple, London EC4Y 9BE and my registration number is ZA439182.

 

Data Collection

The vast majority of the information that I hold about you is information we have collected while I work on your case. If you have any questions about that then I can tell you why we need the information and how I will use it; just ask me.

I have a standard “lawful basis” for processing your information and you are my client (that is what’s known as my “legitimate interest” in your data). The specific lawful basis for our working relationship is that you have given me your consent to represent you and provide you with legal services.

When I work with you I will use your information for several reasons:

• To provide you with legal advice and representation; and, if necessary,
• To investigate and deal with any concerns you have about the legal services you have received.

 

I do not use automated decision-making at any stage when I process your personal data. Any decisions about how I will use your information are made by me and not by robots or third-party organisations/systems.

When we work together I will collect and process some of your personal data and some “special categories of personal data” as defined in the GDPR. The data I collect and process can include:

• Your name, contact details, date of birth, and location information (that basically means your home address);
• Financial information about you;
• Medical information about you;
• Information about your criminal record;
• Information from your housing, benefits, or social services histories;
• Information from your school, employer, or organisations you have volunteered with;
• When you contact me remotely or access New Court Chambers’ website, your device information (for example your telephone number or IP address) may be transmitted and retained by our website or my devices.

 

It’s important to remember that no case is the same and that means that the information I collect about every client is different. I won’t always need all of this information about you, and sometimes I will need things to help you that aren’t in this list. If you’d like to know what information I am collecting in your case, just ask.

 

Data Sharing

Sometimes I may have to share your personal data with:

• Your solicitor and members of staff at your solicitor’s firm;
• Any trainees, pupils, or students who are shadowing or helping me;
• Lawyers working on the other side of a case;
• Members of my Chambers management and clerking team, who help me with admin and help me to run my business;
• My regulator or legal advisors if a dispute or other legal matter comes up;
• Law enforcement officials, government authorities, or other third parties to meet my legal obligations;
• Any other party where I ask you, or you ask me, and you consent to me sharing your information.

 

Transfers to third countries and international organisations

Sometimes I store my files on Dropbox, which is a cloud hosted facility, based in the USA. Dropbox relies on a variety of legal mechanisms for its international transfer of personal data from the EU to the USA, it also provides contractual guarantees around the privacy of its services.

Where I do share or transfer your data I am satisfied that your data is fully protected and safeguarded as required by the General Data Protection Regulation.

Nothing in this privacy policy or under the GDPR changes the respect for you, your case, or your privacy that you should expect from me as your barrister. Details about my professional responsibilities can be found on the Bar Standards Board website.

 

 

Data retention and deleting information

I keep your personal data while you remain my client unless you ask me to delete it. I have another policy which tells you how long I hold data for after your case ends and how I dispose of your data when I don’t need it anymore. That policy is called my data retention policy and you can ask me for a copy of it at any time.

I will delete or anonymise your information at your request unless:

• There is an unresolved legal issue such as a claim, case, or disagreement;
• I am legally required to; or
• There are any overriding legitimate business interests, which can include fraud prevention and protecting my clients’ safety and security.

 

Your Rights

I work for you and I have to remember that the General Data Protection Regulation gives you specific rights about your personal data. For example, I have to make sure you can find out what information I hold about you and what I use it for.

You can ask me at any time to correct any inaccuracies with the personal data I hold and in some circumstances you can ask me to stop processing your details. More information about this can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website.

Last thing: if I do something irregular or improper with your personal data then you can seek compensation for any distress you are caused or loss you have incurred. You can find out more information about this from the Information Commissioner’s website and you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office if you are unhappy with how I dealt with your data.

 

Accessing and Correcting Your Information

At any time you can ask me to show you what information I hold about you, you can ask for a copy of that information, and you can ask me to change details in the information. Please speak with me directly about this or speak with the clerks at New Court Chambers.

 

Marketing Opt-Outs

I do not send marketing emails to my clients. You can opt-out of any automatically generated messages you receive from my Chambers by following the instructions in those messages.

 

Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your browser or device by websites, apps, online media, and advertisements. New Court Chambers’ website may use cookies to:

• Validate users (that means to make sure you aren’t a robot or a threat to our IT systems);
• See how often people access our website;
• Measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns; and
• Analyse what you look at when you are on our website.
• We are not interested in any other websites you visit or anything else about your online behaviour.