Personal data means any information relating to a person who could be directly or indirectly identified by that information. This definition provides for a wide range of ways that a person may be identified by their data. This includes their name, identification number, location data or an online identifier. Some information is considered to be ‘Special Category’ information and needs more protection because of its sensitivity.
The University of Westminster is the Data Controller for the personal information held in relation to the Legal Advice Clinic. This Privacy Notice is in addition to the University’s privacy notice.
How we collect information
We collect information about you when:
- you make an enquiry about our Legal Advice clinic services
- you access our services
- provide us with supporting evidence or documentation
- you volunteer as a student to assist in delivering our services
- you become a friend of the Legal Advice Clinic (for professionals)
- you receive our newsletters
- you take part in our events and fundraising activities
Confidentiality
The information you provide will only be shared with colleagues from the clinic and student advisors/volunteers.
What information we collect and hold
Personal information collected includes:
- name
- contact details (telephone number and email etc)
- a summary of your legal issue
- names of people and organisations involved
- key dates/employment dates
- case files
- details of court proceedings
- any documents you share with us
Special category information collected includes:
- any medical information relevant to your case
- any equalities diversity or inclusion (EDI) information relevant to your case
- any criminal convictions or allegations relevant to your case
How the personal information we hold is used
Your personal information will be used to:
- contact you and establish whether we can be of assistance
- assess whether you can access our legal services
- provide legal advice services to you and to comply with any legal requirement concerning your information
- arrange an appointment with one of our advisors
- provide you with a legal advice letter
- fill a form for you (if you request to access this service)
- conduct anonymised statistical analysis (including of enquiry information where you might not have subsequently accessed our services)
- to respond to complaints
- appoint you as a student volunteer in our service
- register you as a friend, to receive our newsletters or to attend an event
- anonymised cases may be used for teaching purposes so students can learn from cases
- seek your feedback about our services
- conduct research and statistical analysis
Please note that if we wish to use information supplied by you for teaching purposes, we will anonymise the information so that you are not identified.
As a research institution we may also wish to use your data for the purposes of research, but you will be contacted separately for your permission regarding this if we wish to use data collected from you for research purposes.
Depending on your case we might need to ask you for, and to use, information about you which is of a sensitive nature, for example information about your health and finances. You do not have to provide us with this information, however if you do not our ability to advise you might be affected.
Our reason for processing your personal data
We process your personal data for the following reasons:
- For the performance of a contract with you.
- For a task in the public interest.
- You have given your consent
Special category data is processed for the following reasons:
- For employment, social security and social protection law.
- For legal claims and judicial acts.
- For a substantial public interest.
- Where you have given your consent.
Organisations we may share your information with in relation to this processing
If we need to obtain any information about you from a third party or to convey any information about you to a third party for the purpose of assisting you we will only do so once you have provided us with your written consent (separate to this privacy notice).
If the need arises we will share information about your case with the Legal Ombudsman and/or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Case records and files will be kept in our third-party suppliers IT system. This data is held within the EEA, and where this is not possible with appropriate additional safeguards.
How we protect your information
The personal information we hold will be processed with appropriate security and used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA). Your information may be held outside of the UK. Where this is the case, we ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect your data.
Our data retention policy
We will retain this information only for as long as necessary. We may aggregate and anonymise data for wider internal management reporting or research purposes. Personal data will be kept in line with the University’s retention schedule.
Disclosure of information to third parties
Personal information will not be disclosed to external organisations other than those acting on the instructions of the University. Where this is the case, a written contract will be put in place between the University and the third party setting out appropriate data protection obligations.
We use several commercial companies and partners to either store personal information or to manage it on our behalf. Where we have these arrangements, we ensure that there is a contract or data sharing agreement is in place to ensure that the requirements of data protection legislation are met.
Sometimes we have a legal duty to disclose personal information. We may share your information:
- for the detection and prevention of crime and fraudulent activity
- if there are serious risks to the public, our staff or to other professionals
- to protect a child
- to protect adults who are thought to be at risk
Your rights
The law gives you several rights to control which personal information is used by us and how it is used by us.
How can you access the information we hold about you?
You are legally entitled to ask to see any records we hold about you. If you wish to request access to the personal information we hold about you, please contact the Information Compliance Team through the University’s subject access procedure.
How can you request correction of inaccurate information?
Whilst we try to ensure that any personal data we hold about you is correct, there may be situations where the information we hold is no longer accurate. If this is the case, please contact the department holding the information so that any errors can be investigated and corrected. If you don’t know which department to contact please contact the Information Compliance Team.
You can ask to delete information (right to be forgotten)
In some circumstances you can ask for your personal information to be deleted, for example, in instances where:
- Your personal information is no longer needed for the reason why it was collected in the first place.
- You have removed your consent for us to use your information (where there is no other legal reason for us to use it).
- Deleting the information is a legal requirement.
Please note that there are situations where the right to be forgotten does not apply. Please contact the Information Compliance Team to make a request.
You can ask to limit what we use your data for
In some circumstances, you have the right to restrict what processing an organisation carries out or ask that they stop processing your personal data. When processing is restricted, the organisation may continue to store your data but not process it further. Please contact the Information Compliance Team to make a request.
You can ask to have your information moved to another provider (data portability)
You have the right to ask for your personal information to be given back to you or another service provider of your choice in a commonly used format. Please contact the Information Compliance Team to make a request.
You can object
You have the right to object to processing of your personal data at any time. This means that you can stop or prevent an organisation from using your data. However, it only applies in certain circumstances. Please contact the Information Compliance Team to make a request.
Automated decision making and profiling
You have a right to request that decisions based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which may produce a legal effect or affect them significantly, to have some form of human input so they are not automatically generated by a computer. Please contact the Information Compliance Team to make a request.
Right to complain
You have the right to complain about how we use your personal data. In the first instance, please contact the Information Compliance Team.
How to contact us
If you would like further information or if you have any concerns about how we handle your data, these can be raised with our Information Compliance Team by emailing [email protected] or writing to:
Information Compliance Team
University of Westminster
32–38 Wells Street
London
W1T 3UW
Independent advice
Independent advice can be sought from the UK regulator for data protection, the Information Commission (IC).
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
T: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 if you prefer to use a national rate number.
Alternatively, visit the ICO website or email [email protected].
This privacy notice and updates
If you have any queries about this privacy notice, or about how we hold and use your data, please contact the Information Compliance Team.
We will review and update this privacy notice to reflect changes in our processes and procedures. When such changes occur, we will revise the 'last updated' date on this notice. We encourage you to periodically review this notice to remain informed.
Last reviewed and updated: September 2026