Privacy is important to Ann H. Clifford. I know it’s important to protect your personal information, and have made protecting your privacy, and the confidentiality of your personal information, a fundamental part of the way I operate.
This Privacy Statement informs you of the ways I ensure the confidentiality of personal information.
Consistent with the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”), my privacy policy consists of the following:
1. Collecting and Using Information
I collect personal information for two main reasons: to represent my clients interest, and to maintain my professional requirements under the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Rules of Professional Conduct.
When I collect your personal information, I will explain how I intend to use the information, and will obtain consent if I wish to share your personal information for any other purpose than representing your interests or pursuing payment of your unpaid account with me. If for any reason I am required by law, or otherwise forced, to share your information, I will make every effort to share only the minimum amount of information necessary, and I will inform you of this as soon as I can.
2. Releasing Information
I only disclose personal information to others in the following situations: when I have your consent; when, on a confidential basis, the party to whom I am disclosing is my service provider, supplier or agent who assists me in representing my clients; or when I am required or permitted to do so by law.
3. Protecting and Retaining Information
I protect your personal information with appropriate physical, technological and organizational safeguards and security measures.
The length of time I retain your personal information depends on the purpose for which it was collected and used. This period may extend beyond the end of our lawyer-client relationship, but only for so long as it is legally necessary for me to have sufficient information to respond to any issue that may arise at a later date.
When personal information is no longer needed I have procedures to either destroy, delete, erase or convert it to an anonymous form.
4. Website
As is generally the case with law firm websites, my website is not secure. Therefore, I do not collect, use or disclose personal information through my website, and I expressly warn and require individuals not to disclose personal information through our website. If an individual chooses to disclose personal information through the website or in an email to me, that individual does so at her or his own risk.
5. Providing Information Access and Accuracy
Individuals who request access to the personal information I have about them will be given that opportunity, subject to requirements of the law.
If I am not able to provide access to personal information I have about an individual, I will explain the reason why. For example, I may not be able to provide personal information from files that contain references to other individuals, are the subject of legal privilege, contain confidential information, relate to an investigation of a breach of agreement or law, or cannot be disclosed for other legal reasons.
Ann H. Clifford reserves the right to change this Privacy Statement at any time by posting a new Privacy Statement at this location. By using this website, you agree to my Privacy Statement. Please visit this site often to see if changes have been made. If I post changes and you continue to use the site, you will be deemed to have agreed to the change(s). Any change to this Privacy Statement will be in compliance with applicable privacy laws.