Privacy Notice

Purpose

This Privacy Notice sets out the basis upon which we will hold personal information about you (“Personal Data”), how you can access from us your Personal Data and the way in which your Personal Data will be protected whilst this firm is in possession of that Data.

About Personal Information

Personal Data is information that we obtain from you as part of our role of providing legal advice to you as a client of this firm. It includes our role in acting on your behalf in your legal matters in respect of which you have instructed this firm.

We know how important it is to protect customers’ privacy and to comply with Data Protection Laws. We will safeguard your Personal Data and will only disclose it where it is lawful to do so or with your consent. Further, we will also ensure that the Personal Data we hold is either kept securely (whether in paper or in electronic form) and destroyed securely in accordance with the period of time that we are obliged to retain your personal information.

Purpose of Processing and Lawful Basis for the Process

The purpose of Alexander Johnson collecting and processing the Personal Data which you have provided to us is for the purpose of acting on your behalf as Criminal Lawyers (including Legal Aid). Specifically, we will use your Personal Data in the following ways:

1. In obtaining sufficient information from the Police should you be arrested to ensure that we will have the required information to keep you updated with your case and to represent you at the Police Station.
2. In order to obtain information to properly represent you in the Magistrates Court and Crown Court (including requesting Prosecution papers) and to ensure that you can be kept updated with regards to your case.
3. In deciding whether you are eligible for Legal Aid and, if appropriate, making a Legal Aid Application.
4. In representing you at the Police Station, Magistrates Court, Crown Court and in relation to Prison Law matters to ensure that we have sufficient information to properly ensure that we can represent you, that we can access whether you are entitled to any Public Funding such as Legal Aid or any funding from insurance policies and to ensure that we have sufficient information to keep you updated in all possible ways including telephone, letter, email or any other appropriate form of communication such as SMS text messages etc.
5. In producing sufficient information in order to properly bill your file either as a private bill or through the Legal Aid Agency.
6. In producing any reports that will enable us to properly conduct and review our cases, to be able to assess workloads and case numbers. These types of reports would only ever be for internal use by the firm and employees of the firm and not be divulged to third parties.

Who the Information Maybe Shared With

We sometimes need to share your personal information with other organisations. When this is necessary, we will comply with all aspects of the relevant Data Protection Laws. The organisations we may share your personal information with include:

(a) Public Authorities such as Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals, the Crown Prosecution Service, Department of Works and Pensions, Agents instructed by the firm on your behalf as part of the preparation of your case such as Experts including, for example, medical experts such as Psychiatrists.

(b) Third Parties such as the Legal Aid Agency or any other Third Parties that we are professionally required to do so such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority or any Third Parties we are required to share your information within order to comply with our professional obligations.

Data Processers

Alexander Johnson contracts with other Third Parties not only to share your information (as detailed above) but also with regards to IT storage and physical storage of your file until such times that it is securely destroyed.

Retaining Your Personal Information

Your personal information will not be retained for any longer than is necessary as is required under the General Data Protection Regulations. This is to ensure that your personal information does not become inaccurate, out of date or irrelevant. Retention periods have been explained in our client care letter but for the sake of completeness we generally retain the information for a period of 6 years. Some files (depending on the nature of the charge or the advice) maybe retained for longer than that but you will be advised of that as part of the representation you receive from this firm and particularly at the conclusion of your case.

Whilst we retain your Personal Data, we will ensure that it is kept securely and protected from loss, misuse, unauthorised access or any unauthorised disclosure. Once the retention period has been reached your Personal Data will be permanently and securely deleted and destroyed. 

Request for Personal Data

Please be assured that we will only ask for Personal Data that is relevant to your case or in order to provide you with the relevant advice and we will only ask for the Personal Data we need, and we will not seek to collect any information or Personal Data that is either irrelevant or excessive.

When we collect your Personal Data, we have responsibilities, and you have rights which include:

(a) The right to withdraw your consent at any time where you feel that is relevant.

(b) You are entitled to lodge any complaint with the Supervising Authorities (see below) if you feel that we have breached any of our duties in obtaining, retaining or destroying your Personal Data.

(c) We have a duty to protect and ensure that no unauthorised person has access to your Personal Data whilst it is retained with this firm.

(d) That where your Personal Data is shared with other organisations (see above) it will only be for legitimate purposes and in furtherance of either your rights and your case generally or as part of our professional obligations to other Third Parties.

(e) We will not keep your Data any longer than is necessary.

(f) We will not make your Personal Data available for commercial use.

(g) We will consider any requests to correct, stop processing or erase your Personal Data. That is something that will be discussed with you should that arise.

Access to Personal Information

You can find out if we hold any personal information about you by making a “Subject Access Request” to Tony Marshall at this firm being Alexander Johnson, 246 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 0AA or a request to Tony Marshall by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the heading “Data Access”.

Complaints

If you consider that your information has been handled incorrectly you can contact the Information Commissioner for Independent Advice and Data Protection at the following address:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 03031231113
www.ico.org.uk