This is our Privacy Policy covering our online and offline collection of information. This policy outlines how we, Prairie Legal Services, may collect information from you through our website or through offline business we conduct and how this information may be collected, used, disclosed, shared, processed, or stored. This policy is designed to be easily read and understood so you have clear knowledge of how we respect your privacy, how we treat your information, and what your rights are under this policy. This policy is meant to be read in conjunction with our Terms of Use.
Definitions:
Cookies: A cookie is a small file sent from a web server to your computer whenever you visit a website. If you return to the website later, your browser sends the small file to the server to notify the website of any previous activity you engaged in on the site. Once you return to a website, the server can retrieve the cookie file from a local computer to assist in expediting certain functions, such as logging in and retrieving account or user data.
Our Website: Includes Prairielegalservices.ca and Prairielegal.ca. This further includes any other Prairie Legal Services websites and social media pages including Facebook and Instagram.
We, our, us: is Prairie Legal Services.
Accountability:
Through this Privacy Policy we are accountable to you to inform you of how we gather, use, and store your information.
Purposes:
The purpose of obtaining information from you is to provide you legal representation and/or to provide you information on how we may assist you with legal representation. This information may also be obtained from you while we provide you knowledge on general legal principles, topics, or concepts such as through articles or blogs on our website.
Information we may obtain from you will include:
Online:
We may obtain anonymous technical data such as, IP addresses, browser used, operating system, domain name, access times and durations, bounce statistics, and referral websites or applications. We only use this information in the optimization of our systems and website including compiling statistics.
Offline:
If you retain or obtain legal advice from Prairie Legal Services we will obtain some personal data from you. In these cases, the information will be provided to us voluntarily and may include but is not limited to:
- Copies of government issued identification
- Payment and financial information
- Personal contact information including emails, addresses, telephone numbers, usernames, etc.
- Personal information relating to your legal representation or needs. This may include information about your family, employment, business affairs, financial affairs, holdings, property ownership, background (Gladue reports), Government affairs
- Newsletter and marketing correspondence preferences
- Personal details
Consent:
Online:
By accessing our website, you consent to the general collection of anonymous technical data, you further consent to the use of cookies on this website. You may withdraw or restrict consent respecting access to this website as you deem fit subject to legal or contractual obligations and reasonable notice. This however may affect our ability to provide you services or access our website.
By completing any form or contact us box on this website you consent to the gathering of all information contained within that form or box.
Offline:
By retaining Prairie Legal Services or obtaining legal services from Prairie Legal Services you consent to providing personal information so that we may assist you in your matter. The reason for obtaining this information will be explained to you and if you have questions you may request further explanation.
Limiting Use, Limiting Collection, Disclosure, and Retention:
You consent to any information we obtain from you being retained as Prairie Legal Services deems reasonable but generally where a reasonable purpose for its retention exists or where required by law which includes the rules of the Manitoba Law Society.
This website is not intended to be used by children under the age of 13. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children under the age of 13 do not access the website.
Your data will not be used for purposes other than those identified in this policy or purposes you specifically consent to. The following are examples, but not limited to how Prairie Legal Services may use your information:
- The marketing of legal services by Prairie Legal Services to you
- Conflict checks, to determine if we are in a conflict of interest situation before agreeing to represent you
- Providing legal services and advice to you
- To report on your matter and respond to your request (retention of emails, etc.)
- To meet legal or professional obligations
- To bill or collect from you or on your account
We will not obtain unnecessary data from you.
Online:
We will only attempt to trace anonymous technical information back to you or attempt to identify you, or disclose this information to third parties in the following circumstances:
- We believe in good faith that we must disclose this information to protect our own rights and property.
- We are required by law to disclose the information.
- We or any of our providers detect or suspect malicious activity such as attempts to damage our website or breach our server.
Offline:
Information obtained through a retainer with you or in the course of us providing you legal advice will only be used to provide you those services.
As a law firm, general information that you share with your lawyer is covered by solicitor-client privilege and this furthers your privacy rights. Please be aware there may be rare legal exceptions to this privilege such as the following:
- Where a reasonable threat to public safety exists.
- In extremely rare circumstances where the innocence of an accused is at stake.
- Where a fee dispute has arisen, and in this case only information that the circumstances require will be disclosed.
Accuracy:
We endeavour for complete accuracy in any personal information we obtain from you. Due to this we may periodically ask you to update your personal information with us.
Protection:
We are committed to protecting your privacy and the privacy of your information. We will always give our best effort to ensure data security and protection. We have physical and electronic safeguards in place combined with administrative processes to secure your personal information.
Third Party Providers:
Some data and information we obtain from you will be stored with third parties including secure storage through various service providers for purposes such as remote backup, record keeping, billing, accounting, or similar. These providers have their own privacy policies not dissimilar from our own to protect your information and data. We are not liable for or responsible for these third-party providers handling of your information. Some of these third-party provider programs include Clio®, Quickbooks Online®, Google® Workspace, and Lawpay® who’s privacy policies can be located here:
https://www.intuit.com/privacy/protect-your-privacy/
https://lawpay.com/terms/privacy/
https://www.gstatic.com/policies/privacy/pdf/20200930/r9u74aii/google_privacy_policy_en.pdf
We do not sell your data to these third-parties for purposes such as third-party marketing, sales, or similar.
Please be assured data which is kept by these third-parties is safeguarded against unauthorized access or distribution.
Openness, Individual Access, and Compliance:
If you have concerns or questions about your privacy please do not hesitate to contact us regarding your privacy. You have the right to not consent to sharing further information with us, in this instance please do not use our website as using our website expressly consents to providing this information. If you withdraw consent from gathering information in legal services we may be unable to assist you with your matter. You have the right to access your information and be made aware of information we hold. This information can be obtained by a request in writing to Privacy Director – Prairie Legal Services. In the unlikely event of a data breach we will notify you as required.
Subject to Change:
This privacy policy is subject to change at any time, without notice by Prairie Legal Services. We will post the most recent policy on our website. Responsibility lies with you to consult and examine this policy periodically for changes that may affect you.
Acceptance of terms:
By using this site or retaining or obtaining legal advice from Prairie Legal Services you accept the terms of this Privacy Policy.
