This Privacy Policy identifies the online and offline collection, use, and disclosure of Personal, Private and Sensitive Information and the choices available associated with the information under existing California law. It explains how we collect information, what steps are taken to ensure your privacy, and how private information is and is not used. We will discuss how personal identifying information is collected, both through our website and in the day to day business of our Firm.
This policy does not apply to information provided to the Firm in the course of any confidential relationships, including but not limited to the attorney client or attorney work product privilege, confidential joint defense agreements, or any other legally protected confidential agreement.
As explained below, the type of information Walsworth LLP (Walsworth or the Firm) collects and how we process it will vary depending on the relationship we have with you (for example, whether you are a client, employee, job applicant, a supplier, or a general visitor of our website) and the context of why we collect and keep the information.
1. Personal and Sensitive Personal Information We May Collect in the course of our work as a law firm.
Personal information: Real name, signature, social security number, physical characteristics or description, passport number, driver’s license or state identification card number, passport number, federal identification authorizing work in the United States, access and/or passcodes, insurance policy number, bank account number, other financial information, or health insurance information.
Contact information: Home, postal or mailing address, email address, home phone number, cell phone number.
IP address, and information that can be reasonably obtained by that address, including, for example, location or other contact sources.
Financial information: Banking, credit card, and other financial information.
Pre-hire information: Job application or resume data (including prior job experience and positions held), information gathered as part of background screening and reference checks, information recorded in job interview notes by persons conducting job interviews for the Firm, information contained in candidate evaluation records and assessments, information in work product samples you provided, and voluntary disclosures by you.
Education information: Educational history and information in transcripts or records of degrees and vocational certifications obtained.
Characteristics of protected classifications under California or federal law: Age, marital status, gender, sex, race, color, disability, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, military/veteran status, disability, request for leave, and medical conditions.
Medical and health information: Symptoms, exposure, vaccination for infectious diseases, contact tracing, diagnosis, testing, treatment information; health insurance information; prescriptions; other medical information.
Internet or other electronic network activity information related to an employee’s usage of Firm networks, servers, intranet, or Firm-owned computers and electronic devices: System and file access logs, security access levels, browsing history, search history, and usage history.
Data identifying an employee’s device accessing Firm networks and systems: including cell phone make, model, and serial number, cell phone number, and cell phone provider.
Photos, videos, and electronic files that may contain images or recordings.
Personal Information does not include:
- Publicly available information from government records.
- Information that a business has a reasonable basis to believe is lawfully made available to the general public by the job applicant or from widely distributed media.
- Information made available by a person to whom the job applicant has disclosed the information if the job applicant has not restricted the information to a specific audience.
- De-identified or aggregated information.
2. Sources of Personal and Sensitive Personal Information.
The personal information that we collect comes from a variety of sources, all of which involve interactions with us as a working law firm. Predominantly personal information related to you would be collected whenever you choose to access our system, website, blogs, or interact with any of the services that we provide as a law firm. Examples of such interactions include but are not limited to sending us emails, interacting with us through social media, responding to a survey or request for information that comes from us, applying for a job, or any other form of communication with us.
Other possible sources of information include internet searches, public databases, subscription informational databases, or similar sources, or information provided to us by our service providers, vendors, courts or other law firms.
Likewise, information can be acquired through the following sources in the course of our day to day actions as a law firm:
- Our clients and/or prospective clients; opposing or other parties in relation to our legal services provided to clients, including insurance companies that we work with.
- Governmental entities; courts/other tribunals.
- Employees and former employees.
- Prior employers, references, recruiters, job-related social media platforms.
- Third-party sources providing background checks and demographic information.
- Job applicants.
- Independent contractors.
- Service providers and vendors.
- Website (www.walsworthlaw.com) visitors.
- Social media interactions including Facebook, Linked in, and other social media sites
3. Use of Personal and Sensitive Personal Information.
The Firm’s collection and use of Personal Information and Sensitive Personal Information may vary depending on the circumstances. Generally, the Firm may use or disclose Personal Information and Sensitive Personal Information for one or more of the following purposes:
- Compliance with and fulfillment of legal obligation to clients, and/or as required by existing laws or courts in which we practice.
- Day to day interactions in the course of our representation of you or other clients.
- Payment of client, vendor, and other third-party invoices.
- Recruitment and retention of employees.
- Compliance with local, state, and federal law and regulations regarding maintenance of personnel, client, and Firm records.
- Administration of employee benefit plans and programs, including leaves of absence.
- Compliance with workplace and public health directives.
- Facilitation and administration of the Firm’s property and resources, including the Firm’s information systems, electronic devices, network and data, and preventing unauthorized access of such.
- Evaluation, assessment and management of the Firm’s business relationship with vendors, service providers, and contractors.
- Protection against malicious or illegal activity.
4. Sale/Sharing of Information to Third Parties.
- To protect and defend our rights or property.
- To protect the personal safety of clients, other individuals, or the public.
- To protect against legal liability.
- Disclosure to law enforcement to investigate potential criminal activity or other civil violations.
The Firm does not sell your Personal Information or Sensitive Personal Information. However, we may disclose or share information with third-parties in order to provide legal services to our clients. We may also disclose or share Personal Information for the following purposes:
5. Data Retention.
The Firm retains your Personal Information for a period required or allowed by California or federal law and to the extent necessary to fulfill our obligations in providing services to our clients, resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.
6. Your Rights in California (and potentially other states).
In California your rights are explained by both the California Consumer Privacy Act, and as amended by the California Privacy Act. Depending on the state where you reside, you may have additional certain rights regarding your Personal Information, including:
- Knowing what Personal Information we collect.
- Knowing why we collect Personal Information.
- Accessing your Personal Information.
- Requesting deletion of your Personal Information (with exceptions).
- Correcting inaccurate Personal Information.
- Opting out of specific uses of Personal Information.
- Limiting the use of your sensitive data.
- Not to be discriminated or retaliated against for exercising rights under the law.
- The Firm’s protection of your privacy information and rights are governed by both Firm policy as acknowledged by all Firm employees, and by the oversight of the Firm’s existing Information Technology department, which monitors and implements protections designed to maintain your privacy. Information regarding the specific methods, software and protections in place are available upon request to the Firm’s Information Technology Department.
7. Requests for Information, Deletion or Correction.
If you have additional questions or comments about this privacy policy, send an email to privacy@walsworthlaw.com.
We will verify your identity before processing your request and have no obligation to complete a request that cannot be verified.