Hicksons understands the importance of privacy and are committed to complying with the National Privacy Principles (NPP) which set out how private sector organisations must treat "personal information".
"Personal information" means information or opinions about an individual whose identity can be apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information.
1. What personal information does Hicksons collect?
When you provide Hicksons with instructions we will collect personal information about you, including your name, your title, your address and contact details.
Hicksons may also collect other information about you to assist us in providing you with legal advice. If sensitive information is collected for any purpose Hicksons will seek your consent before it is collected.
Hicksons will not collect personal information from you that is not needed.
In order to provide you with legal advice Hicksons may collect personal information about you from third parties eg people you work with, from public records and service providers.
If you are a business service provider to Hicksons personal information about you including your name, company title and contact details may be collected.
If you are making an application for employment, Hicksons will collect detailed personal information from you and may collect further information from referees and past employers you have authorised Hicksons to contact.
2. How Hicksons will use your personal information
Hicksons will use the personal information collected for the purposes that Hicksons disclose at the time the information is collected and as set out in this privacy policy.
Hicksons will use your personal information for the provision of products and services and Hicksons business.
Hicksons may use information about you for marketing purposes, to keep you informed of legal developments and to invite you to Hicksons events and functions.
3. How Hicksons may disclose your personal information
Hicksons may disclose your personal information to third parties to provide the services you have instructed Hicksons to provide. The third parties that Hicksons may disclose your personal information include barristers and experts (eg. accountant, science, medical), Courts or Tribunals and regulators etc.
Hicksons may also disclose personal information about you to service providers that assist Hicksons in operating its general business.
Where required or permitted by law, Hicksons will disclose other personal information about you.
4. The quality of the personal information Hicksons collects, uses and discloses
Hicksons continually reviews the information it collects, uses and discloses to ensure that it is accurate, complete and current.
5. How Hicksons keeps your information secure
Hicksons protects your personal information from unauthorised access, modification, use and disclosure.
Personal information held by Hicksons is kept in a secured environment whether that information is stored on paper or by an electronic means.
6. How you can access personal information Hicksons holds about you
Hicksons will provide you with access to your personal information held subject to the exemptions provided under the Privacy Act which includes our obligations of legal professional privilege and our obligations of confidentiality.
Hicksons requires any request for access to your personal information to be in writing with the appropriate proof of identification and addressed to The Privacy Officer, Hicksons Lawyers, Level 32, 2 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000 or by emailing enquiries@hicksons.com.au.
Hicksons will consider your request for access and within a reasonable time notify you if and/or when access can be granted.
Hicksons will ordinarily not charge for the cost of providing access to your personal information.
If Hicksons is required to decline your request for access we will provide you with reasons for our decision.
If you seek to amend personal information that Hicksons hold you may contact us and we will correct any personal information that we agree is incorrect, incomplete or not current. If we do not agree with your requested amendments we will provide you with reasons for our decision.
7. Website Browsing
The Hicksons website is a cookie-free site. Administration of the website records the site visits and logs the following information for the following statistical purposes:
- your server address
- the date and time of your visit to the site
- pages accessed and documents downloaded
- previous site visited, and
- keywords used in search engines to find our site.
No attempt is however made to identify you or your browsing activities.
8. Changes to this Privacy Policy and Further Information on Privacy at Hicksons
This policy may be amended from time to time without notice.
The current version of this Policy can be obtained by contacting Hicksons' Privacy Officer.
If you require any further information, queries or complaints regarding Hicksons privacy policies and information handling practices please contact the Hicksons Privacy Officer in writing addressed to Level 32, 2 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000 or by emailing enquiries@hicksons.com.au.