Privacy Policy

Introduction: Our Guarantee to Your Privacy

Your Privacy Matters to DUI Lawyers Orange County (The Atias Law Group, P.C.). As a boutique law firm focusing solely on DUI-related and criminal defense throughout Orange County, California, we understand that the matters we handle can be intensely personal in nature. We take your privacy and the confidentiality of your information very seriously. Our Privacy Policy details what information we gather and how we do so, as well as the ways in which we use, store, share, and protect such information when you visit our website (the “Site”), reach out to us through various means, or become our client. This policy is in keeping with our core values in our practice – open communication and transparency, compassion for what you are facing, and regard for your rights and dignity. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to learn your options and how we protect the trust you put in us.

What This Privacy Policy Covers

This Privacy Policy applies to any information we collect via this website (maintained under both DUI Lawyers Orange County and The Atias Law Group, P.C.), meetings in person or via the Internet, telephone calls, faxes, email, and any other way you may contact our firm. It applies to both potential and existing clients and to all visitors to the site. This Privacy Policy is designed to be compliant with all relevant privacy laws and ethical rules governing lawyers in the state of California. Your use of this site or its forms or your provision of information to us constitutes acceptance of the terms hereunder.

What Information We Collect

We obtain a variety of information in order to serve you and provide effective legal representation and support. We may obtain the following types of information:

  • Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”): Name, address, telephone number, email address; date of birth and driver’s license information (if pertinent to legal case); your occupation (if pertinent as relates to legal case); employment history (if pertinent to legal case from payment perspective); information on your representation such as arrest records, citations, and court documents.
  • Sensitive Information Relating to your Legal Case: Circumstances surrounding your arrest or criminal charge; your medical or substance use history (we may request this information if it relates to your legal case); your prior criminal history or expungement records if any; information regarding witnesses and/or third parties pertinent to your defense.
  • Your Website & Technical Information: IP address, type of device, browser type; webpages viewed, time spent on site, and referring web URL(s); information via cookies & other tracking technologies (see Cookies and Tracking Technologies below).
  • Payment & Billing Information: Payment card or bank account information (when paying electronically); billing address and payment for services rendered.

We obtain this information from you directly when you schedule consultations, in intake forms and correspondence with our office, as well as through online secure forms on our website.

How We Use Your Information

The information we collect is used only as necessary to provide you with legal services of the highest quality, to ensure effective communication, and to comply with applicable legal and ethical guidelines. Specifically, we may use your information to:

  • Research and analyze your legal case to determine whether you are a good fit for our services
  • Contact you to set up consultation meetings, discuss your matter, and/or update you on the status of your legal matter(s)
  • Create a personalized strategy in your defense that is customized to your specific needs
  • Represent you in court, DMV hearings, and negotiations with prosecutors
  • Handle billing, setting up payment plans and financial arrangements
  • Communicate deadlines and/or court dates
  • Provide continued services and updates during the course of your legal matter and after its resolution (i.e. expungements)
  • Optimize website functionality and user experience
  • Respond to your questions/inquiries and requests for information
  • Satisfy any other relevant legal or regulatory requirement relevant to our practice

We do not market non-contingent services. We do not rent or sell any information about you to third party marketers.

Legal Basis for Processing Your Information

As a law firm in California, we are subject to privacy laws within the state and the Rules of Professional Conduct. Here is the source of legal authority for our collection and processing of your information:

  • Performance of a contract (e.g., retainer agreement for legal services)
  • Compliance with a legal obligation (e.g., court order, subpoena, professional duty)
  • Protection of vital interests (e.g., if your life, rights or property are at risk)
  • Our legitimate interests in providing, maintaining and improving our services
  • Your consent when provided, such as regarding sensitive or non-mandatory information

These obligations may arise as a consequence of privacy laws regulating other organizations or as a result of our professional obligations. We take your confidentiality seriously and only process (i.e., collect or use) your information to the extent permitted by law and ethical guidelines for professional conduct.

How We Protect Your Information

Your right to privacy is of paramount importance to us. We utilize a full range of measures to ensure your information is safeguarded against any unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Among them:

  • Secure, encrypted (SSL/TLS) communication lines (or methods) for at least all forms on our website and for all e-mail correspondence
  • Secure, physical office space with restricted access to client files
  • Secure electronic data storage in encrypted back-end computer servers protected by a multi-factor authentication system
  • Regular cyber-security audits and protections for our computer systems and software
  • Limited firm policies about staff access to client information and supervision of client contact information; with at least all staff members only being able to review the information which is directly relevant to your case
  • Confidential shredding and safe disposal of paper archives once your file is no longer active

Attorneys and staff all undergo training relating to privacy obligations under the law and must also sign confidentiality agreements as an express condition of employment.

Client-Attorney Privilege and Confidentiality

As a law firm, we are subject to the highest levels of client-attorney privilege and confidentiality. This means that:

  • All communications between us and you, as our client, cannot be disclosed to third parties without your express consent, except as allowed by law (required disclosure).
  • We will not disclose any information about your case, your identity, or the underlying legal strategies employed by you or on your behalf to the public outside of your legal team.
  • We will not publish or circulate any information about your case, including the strategy or the method by which relief is being sought, without your permission in writing.
  • Our client confidentiality extends beyond the termination of your matter(s) and survives the client-attorney relationship.

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade or rent your personal information to third parties. We only disclose personal information in the following limited circumstances:

  • With Your Consent: We may disclose information to expert witnesses, consultants, or any other third party if you authorize us to do so. All requests will be verified.
  • To Authorized Staff: Our attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants and other employees working directly on a client’s case may review a client’s personal information provided that such information is needed to effectively represent the interests of the client.
  • Legal Purposes: We may be required by law, subpoena, court order or governmental agency to disclose certain information. In these instances, we will notify you where permitted by law and try as much as possible to limit the exchange of any confidential information.
  • Corporate Transfers: In the event The Atias Law Group, P.C., is sold or merged with another firm, client information is generally one of the transferred business assets. In these instances, we would require the recipient of any such revelation to agree in writing to protect your personal information consistent with this Privacy Policy.
  • Protection of Rights: In the event we are required to disclose your personal information in order to (1) enforce our rights or protect the rights, property or safety of our personnel or clients; (2) investigate and defend against any claims; and (3) prevent any violation of any applicable law or regulation.

Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies

Our website employs cookies and other similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and otherwise improve functionality of our website. Cookies are small pieces of data that our website transfers to your computer or device that enable us to remember and gather information about the website usage patterns of our visitors. Cookies and/or tracking technologies we may use include the following types:

  • Strictly necessary cookies enabling us to deliver the functionality of our website
  • Analytics cookies (e.g., Google Analytics) enabling us to analyze how visitors use our website
  • Session cookies (e.g., making it possible to sign in to our website or allowing for secure access so that you may navigate and log into certain areas)

You have the ability to disable or use cookies via your browser settings. If you choose to disable cookies, however, some features of our website may not work properly. No cookies are used by us for the purposes of behavioral advertising or to collect sensitive personal data. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.

Third Party Service Providers

To deliver the optimal level of service, we utilize carefully-screened, qualified third-party vendors to assist with website hosting, email delivery, credit card payment processing, and secure data management. These vendors are bound by contract to keep your information private and confidential, and to use your information only for the purposes for which they are contracted. To this end, we carefully screen vendors to confirm that they maintain appropriate privacy and security.

Examples of third-party services that we use include:

  • Secure web-based credit card processors (for fee payment processing)
  • Secure cloud-based data storage with password protected access
  • Web-based email and calendaring systems (for scheduling purposes, such as “appointment reminder” emails, etc.)

We will not authorize these service providers to use your information in any way other than to support the specific legal services we have contracted for.

How Long Do We Keep Your Information

We hold your personal and case contact information only as long as is necessary to support the purpose or purposes for which it was collected, including for legal, accounting, or reporting reasons that would require retention. In normal circumstances, this means:

  • We hold client files in a secure environment for a minimum of seven (7) years after completion of the matter, pursuant to the California State Bar’s professional conduct rules.
  • After the end of such storage period, we destroy or delete files in a secure manner. In the event you seek continued storage of files in any subsequent ongoing services we provide, such as expungement, we will follow your direction on the duration of such storage.
  • We retain records of consultation meetings that do not result in representation for up to two (2) years for conflict-checking purposes, after which time they are independently purged.

You may seek an earlier purge of your information that we maintain, subject to our legal and ethical commitments.

Your Rights and Choices

We respect your information rights and offer you the following choices:

  • Access: You can obtain a copy of the information we maintain about you.
  • Correction: If you believe the information we have is incorrect or incomplete, you can ask us to correct or update that information.
  • Deletion: You can ask us to delete information we hold about you, subject to legal and ethical requirements for information retention.
  • Restriction: You can ask that we restrict our uses or disclosures of your information.
  • Portability: To the extent feasible, you can request to transmit your information to another attorney or service provider.

To exercise these rights, contact (949) 954-7729. We will respond promptly and as required by applicable laws and ethical duty.

Data Security and Notice of Breach

We employ appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to prevent against unauthorised access to your information. In the event of there being any confirmed breach of information relating to your personal data, we will:

  • Notify you without undue delay following our discovery of the breach
  • Give you information about the breach itself, the personal data breached and actions taken to remediate the harm
  • Engage with law enforcement and/or regulatory authorities as appropriate
  • Explain to you what steps you can take and what we are doing to protect our customers

We embrace transparency and accountability in our data security procedures.

Children’s Privacy

Our services are designed for people who are 18 years of age or older and our services may not be utilized by anyone who is under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from any person under the age of 18 or provide services to anyone under the age of 18 without verifiable parental consent. If we become aware that a child has submitted information to us without such consent, we will immediately delete such information from our files.

California Consumer Privacy (CCPA)

California residents have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”):

  • Right to Know: Right to know what personal data is collected, used, disclosed
  • Right to Delete: Right to delete personal data (exceptions apply)
  • Right to Opt Out: Right to opt out of sale of personal data (NOTE: we do not sell your personal information)
  • Right to Nondiscrimination: Right not be discriminated against for exercising CCPA rights

To exercise any of these rights please give us a call at (949) 954-7729. We will exercise reasonable efforts to verify your identity and upon being satisfied that you are who you say you are, will handle your request within the time limits prescribed by law.

Electronic Communications and Email Policy

By providing your email address or phone number, you agree to receive information related to your case, appointments, and general notices. DUI Lawyers Orange County (The Atias Law Group, P.C.) does not send unsolicited marketing emails. We encrypt all client communication and store it securely. You can always opt-out of non-essential contact by contacting the office.

International Contacts and Transfers of Data

While our services are directed to clients in Orange County, California, there are times when we serve the needs of people who live, work, or spend time abroad. In these cases, the information you transfer may be transferred and processed in the United States, where our servers and facilities are located. Whenever we collect personal information from you in this situation, we will make sure that it is handled in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy and international data protection requirements.

Links to Other Websites

Our website may link to third-party websites that provide legal resources, support organizations, or government programs for your convenience. We do not operate or control these sites and are not responsible for their privacy practices or the content contained on those sites. Before you send personal information to any other website, you should review the privacy policy for that site.

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. If you need legal advice, contact a lawyer. A list of certain lawyers specializing in the needs of veterans and/or active duty military appear in our other blogs. Your specific circumstances might require other counsel. Of course, no lawyer can ever guarantee any results. Individual facts and circumstances always control the outcome of litigation. Nothing you read ever creates an attorney-client relationship. The information is general and might not apply to your case.

Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may from time-to-time revise this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or applicable legal or regulatory requirements. When we make a change, we will post a conspicuous notice on our website accompanied by a revised effective date at the top of the Privacy Policy. Your continued use of the Website or Services after we update this Privacy Policy at any time will signify your assent to and acceptance of the revised policy. For that reason, we encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically so that you will be informed about how we protect your information.

How To Reach Us

If you have a question, request or comment relating to this Privacy Policy, your personally identifiable information, or our privacy practices, please contact us in one of the following ways:

DUI Lawyers Orange County (The Atias Law Group, P.C.)
2711 E. Coast Hwy, Suite 102
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
Phone: (949) 954-7729

We strive to provide timely, concise and substantive responses to all questions relating to privacy. At your discretion, you may also request a free, confidential consultation in order to discuss any matter relating to your privacy or legal matter. For more information, you may also visit our Contact DUI Lawyers Orange County page.

Your Agreement and Acknowledgment

Use of our website, contacting our office, or retention of us for legal services constitutes acknowledgment that you have read, understood and agree to all practices in this Privacy Policy. We value trust and are committed to the highest levels of privacy, confidentiality and professionalism.

Conclusion: Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At DUI Lawyers Orange County (The Atias Law Group, P.C.), we strive to always maintain the highest level of privacy – particularly where sensitive criminal or civil legal matters are involved. Our ethics, confidentiality, and commitment to helping our clients throughout the entire legal process is paramount. Whether you are looking for information, representation, or ongoing assistance during and after your matter finishes – our DUI attorneys are here to both inform and protect you in every way possible. If at any time you have questions in regard to our privacy practices, compliance with privacy rights, and how to exercise those rights, you may reach out to our knowledgeable representatives at (949) 954-7729. We encourage you to speak with us so that we can confidentially help you move forward with your case both safely and securely.