Privacy Policy

1. Scope of This Policy

Waldrop & Colvin, PLLC ("Waldrop & Colvin," "we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This policy applies to information we collect through TheLawDept.com (the "Website"), website forms, appointment requests, and electronic communications related to the Website.

This policy does not replace the terms of an engagement agreement or our professional obligations to clients. When those obligations provide greater protection, we will follow them. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings provided in our Terms of Use.

2. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with us and may include:

• Contact and identifying information, such as your name, business name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, and other identifiers you provide.
• Intake and matter information, such as the type of legal assistance requested, the parties involved, relevant dates, documents, communications, and other facts you choose to provide.
• Client and transaction information, such as identity-verification information, billing details, payment records, and information needed to provide legal services.
• Communications, including emails, text messages, form submissions, appointment requests, and records of your interactions with us.
• Device and usage information, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, referring page, pages viewed, approximate location derived from an IP address, and the date and time of access.

We collect information directly from you, automatically through the Website, from our clients and their representatives, and from service providers, public records, or other third parties when appropriate. You may decline to provide information, but doing so may prevent us from responding to an inquiry or providing requested services.

3. Cookies and Analytics

We and our service providers may use cookies, pixels, tags, and similar technologies to operate the Website, remember preferences, understand Website traffic, measure performance, detect security issues, and improve our services. These technologies may collect device and usage information.

You may limit cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect some Website features. The Website may not respond to every browser-based "Do Not Track" signal because there is not a uniform industry standard for those signals. Where applicable law requires us to recognize a particular opt-out preference signal, we will do so.

4. How We Use Information

We may use information to:

• respond to inquiries and evaluate requests for legal services;
• conduct conflict checks, verify identities, and prevent fraud or misuse;
• schedule consultations and communicate about potential or existing matters;
• provide legal, billing, administrative, and client-support services;
• operate, secure, analyze, and improve the Website and our business systems;
• maintain business and professional records;
• send informational or marketing communications where permitted by law;
• establish, exercise, or defend legal rights; and
• comply with legal, court, regulatory, insurance, and professional obligations.

5. How We Disclose Information

We do not sell personal information for money. We may disclose information as reasonably necessary to:

• Service providers: vendors that support website hosting, analytics, communications, scheduling, document management, payment processing, cybersecurity, and other business operations.
• Professional services: co-counsel, local counsel, consultants, experts, accountants, insurers, investigators, or other professionals when appropriate and permitted.
• Legal and professional requirements: courts, regulators, law enforcement, professional authorities, or others when disclosure is required or permitted by law, court process, professional rules, or to protect rights, safety, and security.
• Business changes: parties involved in a proposed or completed merger, reorganization, financing, or transfer of firm assets, subject to applicable professional obligations.
• At your direction: other persons or entities when you request or authorize the disclosure.

Service providers are permitted to use information only for the services they provide to us or as otherwise permitted by law. We do not knowingly share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

6. Legal-Service and Confidential Information

Submitting an inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not obligate us to represent you. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after the firm and the client enter into a written engagement agreement.

Information submitted before an attorney-client relationship is established may not be protected by the attorney-client privilege. We nevertheless handle prospective-client and client information in accordance with applicable law and our professional obligations. Please do not send us sensitive or confidential information through a general Website form or by email unless and until an attorney-client relationship is created.

If you become a client, our use and disclosure of information relating to the representation will also be governed by our engagement agreement and applicable duties of confidentiality, privilege, recordkeeping, and professional responsibility. These terms will be set forth in the written engagement letter.

7. Data Security and Retention

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from accidental loss and unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. No website, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and you provide information electronically at your own risk.

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including to evaluate and provide legal services, maintain business and professional records, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and meet legal, ethical, insurance, and regulatory obligations. Retention periods vary based on the type of information and the context in which it was collected.

8. Telephone Calls and Text Messages

If you provide your telephone number through the Website, an intake form, an appointment request, or another communication, you authorize us to contact you at that number by telephone call or text message for purposes related to your inquiry. These communications may include gathering information, responding to your request, scheduling or confirming an appointment, providing administrative or status information, and following up regarding potential or existing legal services.

Calls and texts may be sent by our attorneys, employees, agents, or service providers acting on our behalf. We may use technology that assists us in placing calls or sending messages. Message frequency varies, and message and data rates may apply.

We will not send automated or prerecorded marketing calls or marketing texts unless we have obtained any consent required by applicable law. Consent to marketing is not a condition of purchasing or receiving legal services.

You may opt out of marketing texts by replying STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE. You may also ask us not to call or text you through any reasonable method, including during a call, by replying to a message, or by contacting us using the information below. We will honor valid opt-out requests as required by law, although you may receive a final confirmation message. Opting out of marketing does not prevent communications necessary to respond to an active request, provide legal services, administer an existing relationship, or comply with legal or professional obligations, unless you ask us to discontinue that method of communication.

You represent that the number you provide belongs to you or that you are authorized to provide it and receive communications at that number. Please notify us if the number changes or is reassigned.

9. Your Privacy Choices and State Rights

Depending on where you reside and subject to applicable exceptions, you may have the right to request access to personal information, correction of inaccurate information, deletion, a portable copy of certain information, or information about our processing practices. You may also have rights to opt out of certain sales, targeted advertising, sharing, or profiling, and to appeal our response to a request.

To submit a privacy request or appeal, email Partners@thelawdept.com and describe your request. We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity and authority. An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted by law, but we may require proof of authorization or direct confirmation from you.

These rights are not absolute. We may retain or withhold information when permitted or required by law, including to protect confidentiality or privilege, preserve legal claims, comply with professional duties, complete requested services, maintain security, or protect the rights of others. We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising an applicable privacy right.

10. Supplemental Notice for California Residents

This section supplements the rest of this policy for California residents. It applies only to the extent the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, the "CCPA"), applies to Waldrop & Colvin and the information at issue.

During the preceding 12 months, we may have collected the following categories of personal information, depending on an individual's interactions with us:

We obtain these categories from the sources and use and disclose them for the purposes described elsewhere in this policy. We do not knowingly sell personal information for money, share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, or use sensitive personal information to infer characteristics beyond purposes permitted by law.

California Privacy Rights

Subject to applicability and exceptions, California residents may request access to categories or specific pieces of personal information, correction, deletion, and information about categories of sources, purposes, and recipients. California residents may also have rights concerning the sale or sharing of personal information and the use of sensitive personal information. We will not unlawfully discriminate against a person for exercising a CCPA right.

Submit a request by emailing Partners@thelawdept.com. Please provide sufficient information to identify you and describe the request. We will verify and respond to requests within the periods required by applicable law. California residents may also request information under California's Shine the Light law concerning certain disclosures for third-party direct marketing, if applicable, at the same email address.

11. Children, External Links, and International Visitors

Children

The Website is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the Website. If you believe a child has provided information to us, please contact us so we can review and address it.

Third-Party Websites and Services

The Website may link to third-party websites or services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies, and we are not responsible for their content or privacy practices.

International Visitors

Our operations are based in the United States. If you access the Website from another country, information may be transferred to and processed in the United States. Where applicable, our legal bases for processing may include responding to your request, performing a contract, complying with legal obligations, consent, and our legitimate interests in operating and securing our Website and services.

12. Changes to This Policy and Contact Information

We may update this policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy on this page and update the "Last updated" date. If required by law, we will provide additional notice of material changes.