Wakefields Lawyers: Privacy Policy

This privacy policy tells you about the information Wakefields Lawyers Limited collects about you, whether you are just browsing the website or if you become a client of Wakefields Lawyers. Among other things, this policy tells you what we do with your personal information, how we keep it safe and how you can see the information we hold about you.

What Information Does Wakefields Lawyers Collect & Why?

To keep things simple, we’ve divided the information we collect into three main categories: Technical Information, Client Information and Enquiry Information.

  • Technical Information

When you visit and use the Wakefields Lawyers website, we automatically collect information about the equipment you’re accessing the website on, your browsing actions and usage patterns to understand more about our website use, so we can continue to improve it for the best user experience. We collect this information by using cookies, server logs and similar technologies, such as Google Analytics.

  • Client Information

When you become a client of Wakefields Lawyers, we need information about you to formally identify you and to carry out your instructions. The specific information we collect about you will vary depending on why you need our help, but is likely to include at least some personal information.

If you’re not comfortable about providing a particular piece of personal information, let us know and we’ll tell you why we need the information. If you choose not to provide the information we need, we may not be able to carry out your instructions.

  • Enquiry Information

You may provide personal information when contacting Wakefields Lawyers by phone, email or through the enquiry or appointment web-form on our website.

We collect this information so we can respond to your enquiry.

Where Do We Get Your Personal Information?

We get the majority of the information we collect about you from you, whether directly (eg. you give us your name) or indirectly (eg. through Google Analytics).

We may also collect information relevant to the service we are providing to you from third parties. The nature of this information will vary depending on your instructions, but may come from third party sources, such as (this list is not exhaustive):

  • Local council.
  • Real estate agents.
  • Banks
  • Mortgage brokers.
  • Accountants
  • Other parties to the transaction/dispute.

If you’re not comfortable about us collecting information from a particular third party, let us know and we’ll tell you why we need the information from that source and whether it’s possible for you to request it and pass it onto us. If you choose not to authorise us to collect the information we need from a third party source, we may not be able to carry out your instructions.

Who Do We Share Your Information With?

There are some entities we share information with regularly, on client instructions. As well as those listed above in relation to collection of information, we may share your information with (those that apply to you will depend on your particular instructions):

  • Identity verification and credit reporting agencies.
  • People involved in helping to complete a transaction/resolve a dispute (such as real estate agents, mortgage brokers, accountants, mediators, arbitrators, other lawyers, barristers and potential/actual witnesses).
  • Institutions involved in helping to complete a transaction/resolve a dispute (such as relevant Courts/Tribunals, regulatory bodies, banks, Landonline, local authorities, and other government departments).

There are some other entities we may share Technical Information, Client Information and/or Enquiry Information with from time to time, such as those set out below:

  • Our website design/maintenance provider: Media Giant.
  • Our legal practice management system provider: ActionStep.
  • Our IT and system administration providers: Neos.
  • Our professional advisers, such as lawyers, accountants, auditors and insurers.
  • Any regulators/other authorities in New Zealand who require the provision of information in certain circumstances.
  • To an interested buyer, in the event we sell the business.
  • As otherwise required or permitted by New Zealand law.

If you’re not comfortable about us sharing information with a particular third party, let us know and we’ll tell you why we need to share that information with that third party. If you choose not to authorise us to share the information, we may not be able to carry out your instructions.

How Do We Keep Your Personal Information Safe?

In the physical environment, we keep your information safe by ensuring adequate security at all our offices and appropriate protection for any information taken off-site.

In the digital environment, we keep your information safe by ensuring we only use quality service providers with comprehensive privacy policies (linked above) and using appropriate security measures, including comprehensive password protection and SSL certification.

How Long Do We Keep Your Personal Information?

We keep your information for as long as we need it to carry out your instructions and respond to any questions/concerns that may arise after your file has been closed (at least 6 years, sometimes longer).

How Can You Access Your Personal Information?

You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it’s wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or ask to have it corrected, please contact our Privacy Officer by emailing privacy@wakefieldslaw.com, calling 0800 LEGAL1, or writing to PO Box 8091, Wellington 6143.

Questions/Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer by emailing info@wakefieldslaw.com, calling 0800 LEGAL1, or writing to PO Box 8091, Wellington 6140.

If we’re not able to resolve your concerns, you have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.