PRIVACY POLICY
HLS Legal (ACN 130 268 021) are committed to managing personal information and data in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Act) and any other applicable privacy laws.
The following statement sets out how we will handle and manage your personal information and data.
Terms in this Privacy Policy:
- “HLS Legal”, “we”, and “us” refers to HLS Legal;
- “you” refers to any individual about whom we collect personal information and data; and
- the terms “personal information” and “sensitive information” bear the meanings from the Act.
Information Collected
You can decline to give us any personal information and data, but that may mean we cannot provide you with some or all of the services you have requested.
The type of personal information and data that we collect will vary depending on the circumstances of the collection, the capacity in which you are dealing with HLS Legal, and the kind of service that you request from us.
The personal information collected may include:
- name, title, email, phone number, postal address, and other contact details;
- information about your employer or the organisation that you represent;
- professional details including employment history, and educational and professional qualifications;
- financial history, salary, and wage information; or
- any additional personal information that you provide to us or authorise us to collect as part of your interaction with HLS Legal.
How is Information Collected
HLS Legal will collect personal information and data directly from you. We may collect and update your personal information and data over the phone, by email, over the internet or social media, or in person.
We may also collect personal information and data about you from other sources where it is unreasonable or impracticable to collect it from you directly (e.g. from our clients and prospective clients about their employees, officers, contractors, and other personnel).
Third parties that we may collect information from can also include government agencies, law enforcement bodies, courts, tribunals, regulatory and licensing bodies, public registries, public records, service providers, ratings agencies, search agencies, recruitment agencies, and via social media.
If you are participating in an event organised by us, we may take images or audio-visual recordings which identify you.
Why do we collect, and how do we use, Personal Information
In general, HLS Legal collects personal information and data reasonably necessary to carry out our business, support our clients’ needs, and provide legal services (including education, advocacy / representation, investigations, advice, settlements, and litigation).
The purposes for which HLS Legal usually collects, uses, and holds personal information and data depends on the nature of your interaction with us, but may include:
- providing legal services and responding to requests for legal services;
- administrative functions associated with these legal services;
- managing, planning, advertising, and administering our business, facilities, services, and events;
- researching, developing, and expanding our facilities and services;
- recruitment processes; and
- complying with our statutory and regulatory obligations.
Sensitive Information
As a legal services provider, HLS Legal will collect sensitive information where:
- the collection is required or authorised by or under an Australian law or a court/tribunal order;
- you consent (including impliedly) to the collection and the information is reasonably necessary for one or more of HLS Legal’s functions or activities; or
- a permitted general situation exists under section 16A of the Actin relation to the collection of the information by HLS Legal.
The kinds of sensitive information that may be collected by HLS Legal includes membership of a professional or trade association, trade union membership, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs or affiliations, sexual orientation, criminal record, health information, and information about disabilities.
Internet-Based Interaction
You may visit our website (https://hlslegal.com.au/) without identifying yourself. If you identify yourself (e.g. by providing your contact details in an enquiry), any personal information and data you provide to HLS Legal will be managed in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
HLS Legal’s website may use cookies. A “cookie” is a small file stored on your computer’s browser, which assists in managing customised settings of the website and delivering content. We may collect certain information such as your device type, browser type, IP address, pages you have accessed on our website and on third-party websites. You are not identifiable from such information.
You can use the settings in your browser to control how your browser deals with cookies. However, in doing so, you may be unable to access certain pages or content on our website.
HLS Legal’s website may also contain links to third-party websites. HLS Legal is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of websites that are linked to our website.
Security and Holding of Information
HLS Legal will take reasonable steps to ensure that the information and data we hold (both electronic and hard copy) is stored securely and protected from misuse, interference, and loss, as well as from unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
Physical and electronic security protective measures have been put in place and are reviewed regularly. Personnel of HLS Legal with access to such information and data are subject to confidentiality obligations.
HLS Legal will securely destroy personal information and data (or ensure that it is de-identified) where it is no longer required and is not required to be held by law.
Unsolicited Information
Where unsolicited information is received, HLS Legal will (within a reasonable period after receiving the information) determine whether HLS Legal could have collected the information under the Act had it solicited the information.
If not, HLS Legal will (as soon as practicable and provided it is lawful and reasonable to do so) destroy the information or ensure that the information is de-identified.
Anonymity and Pseudonymity
HLS Legal will provide individuals with the opportunity of remaining anonymous or using a pseudonym in their dealings with us where it is lawful and practical (e.g. when making a general enquiry).
However, the nature of legal services means that it is generally impracticable for HLS Legal to deal with individuals anonymously or pseudonymously on an ongoing basis. If we do not collect personal information and data about you, you may be unable to utilise our services.
Direct Marketing
HLS Legal may use or disclose your personal information and data for the purpose of informing you about our services, upcoming promotions / events, or other opportunities that may interest you.
If you do not want to receive direct marketing communications, you can opt-out at any time by contacting us using the contact details in this Privacy Policy.
Transfer and Disclosure of Personal Information
We may transfer and disclose your personal information and data for other purposes explained at the time of collection, as permitted by law, or as otherwise set out in this Privacy Policy.
Circumstances in which we may disclose or transfer your personal information include:
- internally between HLS Legal personnel in the course of providing services to you, as well as for a range of administrative, management, and operational purposes associated with these services;
- externally to barristers, other legal representatives, or professional advisors in relation to the services being provided to you;
- external third parties we engage in order to provide our services to you – including contractors and service providers used for information technology services and support, website maintenance / development, printing, financial auditing, trust account auditing, and archiving;
- where required to do so by law (including responding to subpoenas and other legal orders); or
- where you consent to the disclosure.
Cross-Border Disclosures
HLS Legal is a Perth-based boutique law firm. It is unlikely that your personal information and data will be disclosed to overseas recipients by us.
In the course of acting for some clients, it may be necessary to disclose personal information to overseas recipients (e.g. overseas-based clients, cross-border employment relationships).
The countries in which such overseas recipients are located in will depend on the specific circumstances of the client’s matter. As such, it is not practicable to specify those countries in this Privacy Policy.
Unless we have your consent, or an exception under the APP or the Act applies, we will only disclose your personal information and data to overseas recipients where we have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the overseas recipient does not breach the APP in relation to your personal information.
Exceptions
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Privacy Policy, HLS Legal may collect, use, and disclose sensitive information and / or personal information and data without your consent where it is permitted to do so by the Act.
HLS Legal may seek your consent to the collection, use and / or disclosure of your sensitive information and / or personal information and data where it is not required to by the Act, but HLS Legal also reserves the right to not seek your consent where your consent is not required by the Act.
Accessing and Correcting Information and Data
HLS Legal will respond to requests for access within a reasonable time frame. Requests involving a large amount of information or information that is not currently in use may take additional time.
We may decline your request to access or correct your personal information and data in certain circumstances in accordance with the APP. If we do refuse your request, we will advise you why.
We will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information and data we collect, use, or disclose is accurate, complete, up to date, and relevant.
You are entitled to request the correction of information where you believe any personal information and data that we hold about you to be inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading. After receiving a request from you, we will take reasonable steps to correct your information.
Complaints
You may contact HLS Legal at any time if you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or about the way in which your personal information and data has been handled.
You may make a complaint to the privacy officer at the contact details set out below. We will consider and respond to your complaint within a reasonable time frame.
If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, you may refer the matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). The OAIC can be contacted on 1300 363 992 or via their website – www.oaic.gov.au.
Questions and Queries
If you have questions or queries regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact:
HLS Legal Director: Tony Smetana
Level 5, 72 Kings Park Road, West Perth, WA 6005
(08) 9322 5202
HLS Legal may amend this Privacy Policy from time to time (with or without notice).
Last updated: 10 June 2025