On June 30, 2024, Legal Aid BC (LABC) will be updating the Lawyer Portal to provide you with information and obtain your authorization regarding the collection and use of your personal information.
As a public body, the law requires that we notify individuals when we collect their personal information and provide information about how it will be used. We want to be transparent with our private bar lawyers regarding what kind of information we are collecting and why.
The first time you log into the Lawyer Portal after June 30, you will be presented with a privacy notice, which you must acknowledge and agree to before proceeding to the site. You will only need to do this the first time you log in after June 30, 2024 until further updates are made to LABC’s privacy policy.
The note that will appear on the Lawyer Portal will read as follows:
Privacy Notice
Legal Aid BC collects your personal information pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Anti-Racism Data Act as required to facilitate its programs or for other prescribed purposes, including for the purposes of administering the provision of legal aid for eligible individuals; processing billings and financial matters relating to legal aid services; evaluating, auditing planning, and improving legal aid services; and identifying and eliminating systemic racism. For more information about the purposes for which LABC collects, and the ways in which LABC uses, stores and discloses personal information and for information on how to access or correct your personal information, please refer to our Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Policy.
Furthermore, LABC may collect personal information about you from sources including the Law Society of BC, clients, courts or tribunals, and reports made by the general public for the purpose of investigating complaints; ensuring compliance with LABC policies and the Tariff Terms and Conditions; and for quality assurance purposes. By acknowledging acceptance, and by continuing to use the Lawyer Portal and accepting LABC contracts, you authorize the collection and use of personal information as set out above.
Please see the FAQs below for additional information. If you have further questions, please direct them to LABC’s Acting General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Kevin Tilley at: privacy@legalaid.bc.ca.
FAQs
What is changing?
All that is changing is the requirement to agree to the LABC’s privacy terms before accessing the Lawyer Portal. Once you have accepted the terms, there will be no other changes to your experience of the website, billing, authorizations, or other matters relating to your contracts with LABC.
Why are you collecting my personal information?
We collect your personal information pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Anti-Racism Data Act for the purposes of:
- administering the provision of legal aid for eligible individuals
- processing billings and financial matters relating to legal aid services
- evaluating, auditing planning, and improving legal aid services
- identifying and eliminating systemic racism
- other uses as authorized by law
For more information about how LABC collects and uses personal information, refer to our Privacy Policy.
Are you collecting more or different personal information than previously?
There are no changes to the types of information we collect or the ways we use it. This change is to ensure that you are fully informed about these matters while continuing to engage with LABC.
Will this change how I receive contracts or bill for legal aid work?
Once you have provided your acknowledgment and consent, the Lawyer Portal will function in the usual way. There are no changes to the way contracts are issued or how you bill for services
What am I agreeing to?
LABC collects personal information about you from the Law Society of BC, from clients, the courts, and from reports made by the general public for the purposes of:
- investigating complaints
- ensuring compliance with LABC policies and the Tariff Terms and Conditions, and
- quality assurance purposes.
Per the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, we are requesting your authorization to collect this information.
Will I have to click through this every time I log in to the Lawyer Portal?
You will only need to review and agree to the privacy notice once, the first time you log in after June 30. You may be presented with a revised notice in the future if LABC updates or modifies its privacy policy.
Where is my information being stored?
LABC takes the security of your personal information very seriously and implements reasonable technical and physical security measures in storing personal information. For more information about the ways we use, store and disclose personal information and for information regarding how to access or correct your personal information, please review our Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Policy.
What happens if I refuse to agree?
Your acknowledgement and agreement to the terms is a requirement for your continued use of the Lawyer Portal and to receive legal aid contracts. If you do not agree to the terms, you will not be able to access the Lawyer Portal.
Who can I talk to if I have other questions?
For questions or concerns about this initiative, or any other matters relating to privacy and freedom of information, email LABC’s Acting General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Kevin Tilley at: privacy@legalaid.bc.ca.
