Privacy Policy - Acuity Lawyers

Acuity Lawyers (ABN: [insert ABN]) (“Acuity”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and disclose it, and how you can access or correct it. We handle personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) (and adopt those principles as best practice across our operations).

2) What we collect
 
Depending on your interactions with us, we may collect:

• Identity & contact: name, postal address, email, phone.

• Matter information: facts about your family-law issue (e.g., separation, parenting, property), documents you provide, and related correspondence.

• Financial & billing: payment details and invoice records; if you apply for fee funding via a third-party provider, relevant application information.

• Website & analytics: IP address, device/browser details, pages viewed, and referral sources (via cookies and similar technologies).

• Recruitment: CVs, qualifications, referee details (if you apply for a role).
   

If you provide someone else’s personal information (e.g., a referee or opposing party), you confirm you’re authorised to do so.
 
3) How we collect it
 

• Directly from you: by phone or email, in meetings, and via any contact or enquiry forms on our website.

• From third parties: with your authorisation or as permitted by law (e.g., counsel, experts, referrers, other parties).

• Automatically: through cookies/analytics when you use our website.
   

4) Why we collect and use personal information
 
We use personal information to:

• provide legal advice and services, open/maintain your file, and manage conflicts;

• respond to enquiries and arrange consultations;

• issue bills, process payments, and administer our practice;

• operate, secure, and improve our website and user experience;

• send service updates or legal notices;

• comply with legal and regulatory obligations (e.g., court orders, professional rules).
   

We won’t use or share your information for purposes you wouldn’t reasonably expect, unless permitted or required by law.
 
5) Cookies, analytics and ads
 
Our website (hosted on Wix) may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, remember preferences, and measure performance (e.g., Google Analytics/Ads tags). You can manage cookies in your browser settings; blocking some cookies may affect site functionality.
 
6) Disclosing personal information
 
We may disclose personal information to:

• Service providers/processors (bound by confidentiality/contract): website host Wix.com, email/document systems, IT/security support, practice-management platforms, accountants, and insurers.

• The legal ecosystem (as needed for your matter): counsel, experts, courts/tribunals, mediators, or the other side.

• Regulators or authorities where required by law.

• Successors/assignees in a merger, restructure, or sale of the practice (subject to confidentiality).
   

Some providers may store data overseas. See Cross-border transfers below.
 
7) Cross-border transfers
 
Where service providers store or process information outside Australia (e.g., the US, EU, or other regions), we take reasonable steps—such as contractual safeguards—to help ensure protection consistent with the APPs. In limited cases, overseas recipients’ local laws may differ.
 
8) Security
 
We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure.
 
9) Access and correction
 
You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information. We’ll respond within a reasonable time. In rare cases we may refuse access (e.g., legal privilege or law-enforcement restrictions); if so, we’ll tell you why and outline available steps to challenge that decision.
 
10) Notifiable Data Breaches
 
If a data breach is likely to result in serious harm, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.
 
11) Marketing
 
We may send you updates about our services or legal changes. You can opt out at any time via the unsubscribe link or by contacting us.
 
12) Third-party sites
 
Our website may link to third-party sites or services. Their privacy practices are not ours—review their policies before providing personal information.
 
13) Children
 
Our services are for adults. Where matters involve children (e.g., parenting disputes), we collect only what is necessary for your matter and handle it with heightened care.
 
14) Changes to this policy
 
We may update this policy periodically. The latest version will be posted on our website with the effective date.
 
15) Contact us
 
Acuity Lawyers
Address: PO Box 3332 Bellevue Hill NSW 2023
Email: mj@acuity-lawyers.com.au
Phone: +61 420 523 122
 
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the OAIC at oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.