Data Protection Policy

1. Introduction
This Policy sets out the obligations of Law Express Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under number, 04008649 whose registered office is at 10, The Sanctuary, 62 Macrae Road, Ham Green Pill BS20 0DD (“the Company”) regarding data protection and the rights of users of the telephone advice service as well as customers and client (“data subjects”) in respect of their personal data under EU Regulation 2016/679 General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).

The GDPR defines “personal data” as any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (a “data subject”); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.

This Policy sets the Company’s obligations regarding the collection, processing, transfer, storage, and disposal of your personal data. The procedures and principles set out will be followed at all times by the Company, its employees, agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company.

2. The Data Protection Principles
This Policy aims to ensure compliance with the GDPR. The GDPR sets out the following principles with which any party handling personal data must comply. All personal data must be:

2.1 Processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.
2.2 Collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes. Further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes.
2.3 Adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is processed.
2.4 Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. Every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that is inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which it is processed, is erased, or rectified without delay.
2.5 Kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data is processed. Personal data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes, or statistical purposes, subject to implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures required by the GDPR in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the data subject.
2.6 Processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction, or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures.

3. The Rights of Data Subjects
The GDPR sets out the following rights applicable to data subjects (please refer to the parts of this policy indicated for further details):
3.1 The right to be informed (Part 12).
3.2 The right of access (Part 13);
3.3 The right to rectification (Part 14);
3.4 The right to erasure (also known as the ‘right to be forgotten’) (Part 15);
3.5 The right to restrict processing (Part 16);
3.6 The right to data portability (Part 17);
3.7 The right to object (Part 18); and

4. Lawful, Fair, and Transparent Data Processing
4.1 The GDPR seeks to ensure that your personal data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently, without adversely affecting your rights as the data subject. The GDPR states that processing of personal data shall be lawful if at least one of the following applies:
4.1.1 The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes;
4.1.2 The processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party, or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract with them;
4.1.3 The processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the data controller is subject;
4.1.4 The processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person;
4.1.5 The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the data controller; or

4.1.6 The processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the data controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.

5. Specified, Explicit, and Legitimate Purposes
5.1 The Company collects and processes the personal data set out in Part 21 of this Policy. This includes:
5.1.1 Personal data collected directly from data subjects; and
5.1.2 Personal data obtained from third parties.
5.2 The Company only collects, processes, and holds personal data for the specific purposes set out in Part 21 of this Policy (or for other purposes expressly permitted by the GDPR).
5.3 Data subjects are kept informed of the purpose or purposes for which the Company uses their personal data. Please refer to Part 12 for more information on keeping data subjects informed.

6. Adequate, Relevant, and Limited Data Processing
The Company will only collect and process personal data for and to the extent necessary for the specific purpose or purposes of which data subjects have been informed (or will be informed) as under Part 5, above, and as set out in Part 21, below.

7. Accuracy of Data and Keeping Data Up-to-Date
7.1 The Company shall ensure that all personal data collected, processed, and held by it is kept accurate and up-to-date. This includes, but is not limited to, the rectification of personal data at the request of a data subject, as set out in Part 14, below.

7.2 The accuracy of personal data shall be checked when it is collected. If any personal data is found to be inaccurate or out-of-date, all reasonable steps will be taken without delay to amend or erase that data, as appropriate.

8. Data Retention
8.1 The Company shall not keep personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the purpose or purposes for which that personal data was originally collected, held, and processed.
8.2 When personal data is no longer required, all reasonable steps will be taken to erase or otherwise dispose of it without delay.
8.3 For full details of the Company’s approach to data retention, including retention periods for specific personal data types held by the Company, please refer below

9. Secure Processing
The Company will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all personal data collected, held, and processed is kept secure and protected against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction, or damage. Further details of the technical and organisational measures which shall be taken are provided in Parts 22 to 27 of this Policy.

10. Accountability and Record-Keeping
10.1 The Company’s Data Protection matters are dealt with by the Operations Manager.
10.2 The Company shall keep written internal records of all personal data collection, holding, and processing, which shall incorporate the following information:
10.2.1 The name and details of the Company, its Data Protection Officer, and any applicable third-party data processors;
10.2.2 The purposes for which the Company collects, holds, and processes personal data;
10.2.3 Details of the categories of personal data collected, held, and processed by the Company, and the categories of data subject to which that personal data relates;
10.2.4 Details of how long personal data will be retained by the Company (see below); and
10.2.5 Detailed descriptions of all technical and organisational measures taken by the Company to ensure the security of personal data.

11. Keeping Data Subjects Informed
11.1 The Company shall provide the information set out in Part 11.2 to every data subject:
11.1.1 Where personal data is collected directly from data subjects, those data subjects will be directed to our Data Privacy Notice; and
11.1.2 Where personal data is obtained from a third party, the relevant data subjects will be informed of its purpose and directed to the Data Privacy Notice:
a) if the personal data is used to communicate with the data subject, when the first communication is made; or
or
b) as soon as reasonably possible and in any event not more than one month after the personal data is obtained.
11.2 The following information is provided by this policy:
11.2.1 Details of the Company including, but not limited to, the identity of its Data Protection Officer;
11.2.2 The purpose(s) for which the personal data is being collected and will be processed (as detailed in Part 21 of this Policy) and the legal basis justifying that collection and processing;
11.2.3 Where applicable, the legitimate interests upon which the Company is justifying its collection and processing of the personal data;
11.2.4 Where the personal data is not obtained directly from the data subject, the categories of personal data collected and processed;
11.2.5 Where the personal data is to be transferred to one or more third parties, details of those parties;
11.2.6 Details of data retention;
11.2.7 Details of the data subject’s rights under the GDPR;
11.2.8 Details of the data subject’s right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (the “supervisory authority” under the GDPR);
11.2.9 Where applicable, details of any legal or contractual requirement or obligation necessitating the collection and processing of the personal data and details of any consequences of failing to provide it; and

12. Data Subject Access
12.1 As a data subject you may make subject access requests (“SARs”) at any time to find out more about the personal data which the Company holds about them, what it is doing with that personal data, and why.
12.2 Responses to SARs shall normally be made within one month of receipt, however this may be extended by up to two months if the SAR is complex and/or numerous requests are made. If such additional time is required, the data subject shall be informed.
12.3 All SARs received shall be handled by the Company’s Operations Manager.
12.4 The Company does not charge a fee for the handling of normal SARs. The Company reserves the right to charge reasonable fees for additional copies of information that has already been supplied to a data subject, and for requests that are manifestly unfounded or excessive, particularly where such requests are repetitive.

13. Rectification of Personal Data
13.1 You have the right to require the Company to rectify any of their personal data that is inaccurate or incomplete.
13.2 The Company shall rectify the personal data in question, and inform you, as the data subject, of that rectification, within one month of the data subject informing the Company of the issue. The period can be extended by up to two months in the case of complex requests. If such additional time is required, you will be informed.
13.3 In the event that any affected personal data has been disclosed to third parties, those parties shall be informed of any rectification that must be made to that personal data.

14. Erasure of Personal Data
14.1 You have the right to request that the Company erases the personal data it holds about you in the following circumstances:
14.1.1 It is no longer necessary for the Company to hold that personal data with respect to the purpose(s) for which it was originally collected or processed;
14.1.2 The data subject objects to the Company holding and processing their personal data (and there is no overriding legitimate interest to allow the Company to continue doing so) (see Part 18 of this Policy for further details concerning the right to object);
14.1.3 The personal data has been processed unlawfully;
14.1.4 The personal data needs to be erased in order for the Company to comply with a particular legal obligation
14.2 Unless the Company has reasonable grounds to refuse to erase personal data, all requests for erasure shall be complied with, and the data subject informed of the erasure, within one month of receipt of the data subject’s request. The period can be extended by up to two months in the case of complex requests. If such additional time is required, the data subject shall be informed.
14.3 In the event that any personal data that is to be erased in response to a data subject’s request has been disclosed to third parties, those parties shall be informed of the erasure (unless it is impossible or would require disproportionate effort to do so).

15. Restriction of Personal Data Processing
15.1 You may request that the Company ceases processing your personal data. If you as a data subject make such a request, the Company shall retain only the amount of personal data concerning you (if any) that is necessary to ensure that the personal data in question is not processed further.
15.2 In the event that any affected personal data has been disclosed to third parties, those parties shall be informed of the applicable restrictions on processing it (unless it is impossible or would require disproportionate effort to do so).

16. Objections to Personal Data Processing
16.1 Data subjects have the right to object to the Company processing their personal data based on legitimate interests, direct marketing (including profiling), [and processing for scientific and/or historical research and statistics purposes].
16.2 Where a data subject objects to the Company processing their personal data based on its legitimate interests, the Company shall cease such processing immediately, unless it can be demonstrated that the Company’s legitimate grounds for such processing override the data subject’s interests, rights, and freedoms, or that the processing is necessary for the conduct of legal claims.
16.3 Where a data subject objects to the Company processing their personal data for direct marketing purposes, the Company shall cease such processing immediately.
16.4 Where a data subject objects to the Company processing their personal data for scientific and/or historical research and statistics purposes, the data subject must, under the GDPR, “demonstrate grounds relating to his or her particular situation”. The Company is not required to comply if the research is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.

17. Personal Data Collected, Held, and Processed
The following personal data is collected, held, and processed by the Company (for details of data retention, please refer to the Company’s Data Retention Policy):

Type of Data Purpose of Data
Name See paras 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.6
Postal Address See paras 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.6
Email address See paras 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.6
Telephone Number See paras 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.6
Voice Recording See paras 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.6
File notes See paras 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.6
Emails See paras 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.6

18. Data Security – Transferring Personal Data and Communications
The Company shall ensure that the following measures are taken with respect to all communications and other transfers involving personal data:
18.1 All emails containing personal data must be marked “confidential”;
18.2 Personal data may be transmitted over secure networks only; transmission over unsecured networks is not permitted in any circumstances;
18.3 Personal data may not be transmitted over a wireless network if there is a wired alternative that is reasonably practicable; and

19. Data Security – Storage
The Company shall ensure that the following measures are taken with respect to the storage of personal data:
19.1 All electronic copies of personal data should be stored securely using passwords
19.2 All hardcopies of personal data, along with any electronic copies stored on physical, removable media should be stored securely in a locked box, drawer, cabinet, or similar;
19.3 All personal data stored electronically should be backed up daily with backups stored onsite and offsite. All backups should be encrypted;
19.4 No personal data should be transferred to any device personally belonging to an employee and personal data may only be transferred to devices belonging to agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company where the party in question has agreed to comply fully with the letter and spirit of this Policy and of the GDPR (which may include demonstrating to the Company that all suitable technical and organisational measures have been taken).

20. Data Security – Disposal
When any personal data is to be erased or otherwise disposed of for any reason (including where copies have been made and are no longer needed), it should be securely deleted and disposed of. For further information on the deletion and disposal of personal data, please refer to the Company’s Data Retention Policy.

21. Data Security – Use of Personal Data
The Company shall ensure that the following measures are taken with respect to the use of personal data:
21.1 No personal data may be shared informally and if an employee, agent, sub-contractor, or other party working on behalf of the Company requires access to any personal data that they do not already have access to, such access should be formally requested from the Operations Manager;
21.2 No personal data may be transferred to any employees, agents, contractors, or other parties, whether such parties are working on behalf of the Company or not, without the authorisation of the Operations Manager;
21.3 Personal data must be handled with care at all times;
21.4 If personal data is being viewed on a computer screen and the computer in question is to be left unattended for any period of time, the user must lock the computer and screen before leaving it; and

22. Data Security – IT Security
The Company shall ensure that the following measures are taken with respect to IT and information security:
22.1 All passwords used to protect personal data should be changed regularly and should not use words or phrases that can be easily guessed or otherwise compromised. All passwords must contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. [All software used by the Company is designed to require such passwords.];
22.2 Under no circumstances should any passwords be written down or shared between any employees, agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company, irrespective of seniority or department. If a password is forgotten, it must be reset using the applicable method. IT staff do not have access to passwords;
22.3 All software (including, but not limited to, applications and operating systems) shall be kept up-to-date. The Company’s IT staff shall be responsible for installing any and all security-related updates [unless there are valid technical reasons not to do so]; and
22.4 We may also use your IP address and cookies (but nothing that directly identifies you) to monitor the use of our website, to record traffic flows and to carry out research about our visitors’ and customers’ demographics, interests and behaviour. We do this to understand our visitors, customers and potential customers better.

23. Organisational Measures
The Company shall ensure that the following measures are taken with respect to the collection, holding, and processing of personal data:
23.1 All employees, agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company shall be made fully aware of both their individual responsibilities and the Company’s responsibilities under the GDPR and under this Policy, and shall be provided with a copy of this Policy;
23.2 Only employees, agents, sub-contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company that need access to, and use of, personal data in order to carry out their assigned duties correctly shall have access to personal data held by the Company;
23.3 All employees, agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company handling personal data will be appropriately trained to do so;
23.4 All employees, agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company handling personal data shall be required and encouraged to exercise care, caution, and discretion when discussing work-related matters that relate to personal data, whether in the workplace or otherwise;
23.5 Methods of collecting, holding, and processing personal data shall be regularly evaluated and reviewed;
23.6 All personal data held by the Company shall be reviewed periodically, as set out in the Company’s Data Retention Policy;23.7 The performance of those employees, agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company handling personal data shall be regularly evaluated and reviewed;
23.8 All employees, agents, contractors, or other parties working on behalf of the Company handling personal data will be bound to do so in accordance with the principles of the GDPR and this Policy by contract;
23.9 Where any agent, contractor or other party working on behalf of the Company handling personal data fails in their obligations under this Policy that party shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any costs, liability, damages, loss, claims or proceedings which may arise out of that failure.

24. Data Retention
24.1 As required by law, the Company shall not retain any personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the purpose(s) for which that data is collected, held, and processed.
24.2 Different types of personal data, used for different purposes, will necessarily be retained for different periods (and its retention periodically reviewed), as set out below.
24.3 When establishing and/or reviewing retention periods, the following shall be taken into account:
a) The objectives and requirements of the Company;
b) The type of personal data in question;
c) The purpose(s) for which the data in question is collected, held, and processed;
d) The Company’s legal basis for collecting, holding, and processing that data;
e) The category or categories of data subject to whom the data relates;
24.4 If a precise retention period cannot be fixed for a particular type of data, criteria shall be established by which the retention of the data will be determined, thereby ensuring that the data in question, and the retention of that data, can be regularly reviewed against those criteria.
24.5 Notwithstanding the following defined retention periods, certain personal data may be deleted or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiry of its defined retention period where a decision is made within the Company to do so (whether in response to a request by a data subject or otherwise):
24.6 The defined retention periods shall be:
a) Where legal advice is provided as part of our service the data will be retained for 6 years from the last date when such advice was provided.
b) For clients and partners of Law Express the data will be retained for 6 years from the date the expiration of any contractual arrangement.
c) For employment applicants the data will be retained for 6 months from the date the vacancy for which the application is made is filled.
d) IP addresses for traffic analysis stored by Google Analytics is automatically deleted from the Analytics’ servers automatically14 months from the date last visited: When data reaches the end of the retention period, it is deleted automatically on a monthly basis.

25. Data Breach Notification
25.1 All personal data breaches must be reported immediately to the Operations Manager.
25.2 If a personal data breach occurs and that breach is likely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects (e.g. financial loss, breach of confidentiality, discrimination, reputational damage, or other significant social or economic damage), the Operations Manager must ensure that the Information Commissioner’s Office is informed of the breach without delay, and in any event, within 72 hours after having become aware of it.
25.3 In the event that a personal data breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects, the Operations Manager must ensure that all affected data subjects are informed of the breach directly and without undue delay.25.4 Data breach notifications shall include the following information:
25.4.1 The categories and approximate number of data subjects concerned;
25.4.2 The categories and approximate number of personal data records concerned;
25.4.3 The name and contact details of the Company’s data protection officer (or other contact point where more information can be obtained);
25.4.4 The likely consequences of the breach;
25.4.5 Details of the measures taken, or proposed to be taken, by the Company to address the breach including, where appropriate, measures to mitigate its possible adverse effects.

26. Implementation of Policy
This Policy shall be deemed effective as of 30th April 2018. No part of this Policy shall have retroactive effect and shall thus apply only to matters occurring on or after this date.