How we use your data

Letchers Solicitors is registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioners Office. We will use the information that you give us to provide you with legal services, as per your instructions. We will keep your information confidential and will only use it for the purpose(s) for which it was provided or as is permitted in law (i.e. for dealing with complaints or regulatory investigations).

Outsourcing of our services

Sometimes we have outsourcing arrangements with external companies which cover a range of services including tele-conferencing, accountancy, surveying, drug and alcohol testing and the employment of third party Counsel to ensure that our services are provided promptly and efficiently. Personal data and confidential information that we hold may be passed to these providers in order for them to undertake these services. In doing so we will always take care to ensure that your information remains confidential and safe. In particular, we have appropriate data protection and confidentiality agreements in place with each of the providers.

Sharing information

As you are a client, it may well be that under the contracting requirements of this firm either for family or for crime that we may be contractually required to share some, or all of our information with the Legal Aid Agency and / or with our quality assurance auditors.

Occasionally, we may need to share some or all of your information with quality assurance auditors for the purposes of their assessment of whether we are adhering to quality standards. In particular, our files may need to be assessed for quality purposes by a Conveyancing Quality Scheme assessor and your file may be one of a sample which is to be assessed. Any examination will be strictly controlled and will be shared for the sole purpose of ensuring that our handling of your matter meets the requirements of the quality standard.

We may have to share some or all of your information with other third parties. This may include barristers, experts and other third parties who we need to instruct to assist us with your matter. We may also have to share information with the Legal Ombudsman (if you complain about our services) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (the statutory body that regulates solicitors). In doing so we will always take care to ensure that your information remains confidential and safe. We will liaise with you during your case about which experts, barristers and other third parties we instruct on your behalf.

Your Rights

You have rights as a Data Subject under the General Data Protection Regulation as incorporated into the law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (and known as the UK GDPR) the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Our Privacy Policy which is made available on our website and as part of the current edition of the firm’s Brochure and will be provided on request contains important information on how and why we collect, process and store your personal data. It also explains your rights in relation to your personal data.