Privacy Statement

Judith Hull & Associates recognizes the importance of privacy and the sensitivity of personal information.  As lawyers, we have a professional obligation to keep confidential all information we receive within a lawyer-client relationship. It is upon this fundamental principles that our firm adheres to the Law Society of Upper Canada's Rules of Professional Conduct regarding the security of our clients' personal information. We are committed to protecting any personal information we hold. This Privacy Policy outlines how we manage your personal information and safeguard your privacy.


Your Privacy Rights

Judith Hull & Associates' privacy policy assures you as an existing or future client, that in retaining our services to represent you, our entire team will handle your file in accordance with this policy pursuant to all applicable Federal and Provincial legislation including, but not limited to, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ("PIPEDA"). These obligations extend to lawyers and law firms, including Judith Hull & Associates.  The Act gives you rights concerning the privacy of your personal information.


Purpose of collecting personal information

We collect personal information from our clients to:

  • provide representation as set out in our retainer
  • establish and maintain client lists for collection of legal fees and record keeping


How do we collect your personal information? 

Information is collected by lawful and fair means. When possible, personal information will be collected directly from you. Information will also be collected from other sources, such as:

  • treating practitioners and/or treatment providers
  • a government agency or registry
  • your insurance company
  • your employer
  • your accountant


Consent 

In most cases, we shall ask you to specifically consent, if we collect, use, or disclose your personal information. Normally, we ask for your consent in writing, but in some circumstances, we may accept your oral consent. Sometimes, your consent may be implied through your conduct with us. You may withdraw your consent on reasonable notice to us, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. The withdrawal of your consent may impact on our ability to serve you. 
 
 
Use of your information 

We limit our collection of personal information to what is required to provide legal services to you, for billing purposes, and to provide legal and firm updates. If you tell us that you no longer wish to receive legal or firm updates, we will not send any further information to you. We do not sell, trade or exchange any personal information that we receive from our clients with third parties to market their products. 


Disclosure of your personal information 

Under certain circumstances, Judith Hull & Associates will disclose your personal information:

  • when we are required or authorized by law to do so, for example if a court issues a subpoena
  • if we engage expert witnesses on your behalf
  • when you have consented to the disclosure
  • when the legal services we are providing to you requires us give your information to third parties (for example an insurance company with whom we are advancing your claim) your consent will be implied, unless you tell us otherwise
  • where it is necessary to establish or collect fees
  • if we engage a third party to provide administrative services to us (like confidential document shredding) and the third party is bound by our privacy policy
  • if we retain other law firms in other jurisdictions, on your behalf
  • if the information is already publicly known


Updating your information 

Since we use your personal information to provide legal services to you, it is important that the information be accurate and up-to-date. IF during the course of the retainer, any of your information changes, please inform us so that we can make any necessary changes. 


Is my personal information secure? 

Judith Hull & Associates takes all reasonable precautions to ensure that your personal information is kept safe from loss, unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. The steps taken to protect your information are:

  • premises security
  • restricted file access to personal information stored electronically
  • deploying technological safeguards like security software and firewalls to prevent hacking or unauthorized computer access
  • internal password and security policies


Access to your personal information 

You may ask for access to any personal information we hold about you. Summary information is available on request. More detailed requests which require archive or other retrieval costs may be subject to our normal professional and disbursement fees. 


Correcting Errors 

If Judith Hull & Associates holds information about you and you can establish that it is not accurate, complete and up-to-date, we will take reasonable steps to correct it. 


Can I be denied access to my personal information? 

Your rights to access your personal information are not absolute. We may deny access when:

  • denial of access is required or authorized by law (for example, when a record containing personal information about you is subject to a claim of legal professional privilege by one of our clients)
  • information relates to existing or anticipated legal proceedings again you
  • when granting you access would have an unreasonable impact on other people's privacy
  • when to do so would prejudice negotiations with you
  • to protect our firm's rights and property
  • where the request is frivolous or vexatious

If we deny your request for access to, or refuse a request to correct information, we shall explain why. 

Judith Hull & Associates does not use your Social Insurance Number as a way of identifying or organizing the information we hold about you. 


Can I request anonymity? 

Whenever it is legal and practical, we may elect to deal with general inquiries on an anonymous basis (for example, by accessing general information on our website). 


Credit Bureaus 

To help us make credit decisions about clients, prevent fraud, check the identity of new clients and prevent money-laundering, we may on occasion, request information about you from the files of consumer reporting agencies. 


How long do you keep my personal information? 

We keep your personal information as long as is reasonably necessary for us to complete our dealings with you, or as may be required by law, whichever is longer. 


Communicating with us 

You should be aware that email is not 100% secure, and you should be aware of this when contacting us to send personal or confidential information. 


Changes to this Privacy Policy 

Judith Hull & Associates regularly reviews all of its policies and procedure. We may, from time to time, change this policy. 


Request for access 

If you have any questions, or wish to access your personal information, please contact our office at:

Judith Hull & Associates
2nd Floor, 620 Richmond Street
London, Ontario Canada
N6A 5J9

Tel: (519) 438-4981
Fax: (519) 438-8497 

If you are not satisfied with our response, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada can be reached at: 

112 Kent Street
Ottawa, ON   K1A 1H3
Tel: 1-800-282-1376 

www.privcom.gc.ca