Thornwell Law is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information provided to us by clients, potential clients, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or engage our legal services.
Information We Collect
Personal Information
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when engaging our services or using our website, including:
Contact information such as name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
Information relevant to your legal matter, including documents, financial records, and other materials necessary for representation
Communication records including emails, letters, and notes from consultations
Billing and payment information necessary for processing legal fees
Professional background information relevant to your legal matter
Usage Data
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activity:
IP address and browser type
Pages visited and time spent on our website
Referring website and search terms used to find our site
Device information and operating system
Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:
Consent
You have given explicit consent for us to process your personal information for specific purposes, such as contacting you about legal services or sending newsletters.
Contract Fulfillment
Processing is necessary for the performance of our contract to provide legal services to you.
Legitimate Interest
We have a legitimate business interest in processing your information, such as improving our services, preventing fraud, and maintaining security.
Legal Obligation
We must comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including those imposed by the Law Society of Alberta and other governing bodies.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
Providing legal services and representation according to our engagement agreements
Communicating with you about your legal matter, appointments, and case developments
Processing billing and payment transactions
Maintaining accurate records as required by professional conduct rules and applicable law
Improving our services and website functionality based on usage patterns
Complying with legal obligations and court orders
Protecting against fraud and unauthorized activity
Sending relevant updates about our services with your consent
Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
Client Files
Client files and related information are retained for a minimum of 10 years following completion of representation, in accordance with Law Society of Alberta requirements.
Financial Records
Billing and financial records are maintained for 7 years to comply with tax and accounting regulations.
Marketing Communications
Contact information for marketing purposes is retained until you withdraw consent or we determine the information is no longer relevant.
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:
Encrypted communications for email and file transfers containing sensitive information
Secure document management systems with access controls and audit trails
Physical security measures for our office premises and document storage
Regular security assessments and updates to our information systems
Staff training on confidentiality obligations and data protection practices
Confidentiality agreements with third-party service providers
Your Privacy Rights
Under applicable privacy legislation, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Right to Access
You can request confirmation of what personal information we hold about you and obtain a copy of that information.
Right to Rectification
You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Right to Erasure
In certain circumstances, you can request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and professional obligations that may require retention.
Right to Restrict Processing
You may request that we limit how we use your personal information in specific situations.
Right to Data Portability
You can request a copy of your personal information in a commonly used, machine-readable format.
Right to Object
You may object to certain types of processing, including direct marketing communications.
Right to Withdraw Consent
Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.
Third-Party Service Providers
We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist in operating our practice:
Legal research and practice management software providers
Secure cloud storage and backup services
Payment processing services for billing and fee collection
IT support and cybersecurity service providers
Court reporting and transcription services when required for proceedings
All third-party providers are contractually obligated to maintain confidentiality and use your information only for the purposes we specify.
Cookies and Tracking
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and analyze site usage. For detailed information about how we use cookies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Contact Information
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us: