Privacy Policy

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information we collect through the Website, including when you contact us, submit forms, sign up for alerts, apply for a job, or otherwise interact with us online. This Privacy Policy does not apply to information collected offline, information covered by a separate engagement agreement, or third-party websites or services that may be linked from the Website.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

A. Information You Provide Directly

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• name;
• email address;
• telephone number;
• mailing address;
• company or organization name;
• job title;
• information included in messages, contact forms, intake forms, scheduling requests, event registrations, newsletter sign-ups, survey responses, or other submissions;
• resume, employment history, education, bar admissions, writing samples, references, and other information submitted in connection with a job application; and
• any other information you choose to provide.

B. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Website, we and our service providers may automatically collect certain information, such as:

• IP address;
• browser type and version;
• device type, device identifiers, and operating system;
• date and time of access;
• pages viewed, links clicked, and referring URLs;
• approximate location derived from IP address;
• usage and navigation data; and
• information collected through cookies, pixels, analytics tools, session replay tools, and similar technologies.

C. Information from Other Sources

We may receive information about you from publicly available sources, professional networking platforms, referral sources, marketing partners, analytics providers, recruiting platforms, or other third parties, and we may combine that information with information we collect through the Website.

3. How We Use Information

We may use personal information for the following purposes:

• to operate, maintain, and improve the Website;
• to respond to inquiries and communicate with you;
• to evaluate whether we may be able to assist with a legal matter, subject to conflicts review and other professional obligations;
• to send legal updates, newsletters, invitations, alerts, and other marketing communications, subject to your communication preferences and applicable law;
• to administer events, webinars, surveys, and other programs;
• to process and evaluate job applications and recruiting-related submissions;
• to monitor, analyze, personalize, and improve user experience and Website performance;
• to detect, investigate, prevent, and address fraud, security incidents, unauthorized access, or other misuse;
• to comply with legal, regulatory, ethical, and professional obligations;
• to enforce our Terms of Service and other legal rights; and
• for any other purpose disclosed at the time of collection or as otherwise permitted by law.

4. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Website may use cookies, web beacons, pixels, local storage, analytics tools, and similar technologies to collect information about your interaction with the Website. These technologies help us remember preferences, understand Website usage, improve functionality, secure the Website, and support communications and marketing.

You can control cookies through your browser settings and, where implemented, through our cookie consent tools. If you disable cookies, some Website features may not function properly.

If the Website uses Google Analytics or similar analytics tools, those providers may collect information according to their own policies. You can learn more about Google Analytics and available opt-out mechanisms at: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/.

5. How We Disclose Information

We may disclose personal information in the following circumstances:

• to service providers and vendors that help us operate the Website or our business, such as website hosting providers, IT service providers, analytics providers, CRM platforms, email distribution providers, event management tools, scheduling providers, recruiting platforms, payment processors, and professional advisors;
• to attorneys, staff, and affiliates within our Firm as needed for business operations, recruitment, conflicts analysis, or responding to inquiries;
• to law enforcement, regulators, courts, bar authorities, or other parties where required to comply with law, legal process, ethical obligations, or government requests;
• to protect the rights, privacy, safety, property, or operations of the Firm, our personnel, clients, users, or others;
• in connection with an actual or proposed merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, or similar corporate transaction; or
• with your consent or at your direction.

We do not sell personal information for money. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising except to the extent certain analytics or advertising technologies used on the Website may be considered "sharing" under applicable law.

6. Legal Basis for Processing

If and to the extent applicable law requires a legal basis for processing personal information, we process personal information on one or more of the following bases: your consent; performance of a contract or steps taken at your request before entering a contract; compliance with legal obligations; and our legitimate interests, including operating, securing, and improving the Website and communicating with you.

7. Do Not Send Confidential Information

Please do not send confidential, privileged, sensitive, or time-sensitive information through the Website, contact forms, or general email addresses listed on the Website unless we have expressly requested that information and authorized a secure method of transmission. Information sent before an attorney-client relationship is established may not be protected as privileged or confidential.

8. Retention of Information

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to respond to inquiries, maintain business records, comply with legal, regulatory, ethical, tax, accounting, and professional obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect our interests. Retention periods may vary depending on the nature of the information and the reason it was collected.

9. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, and disclosure. However, no website, email transmission, or data storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Your Choices

You may opt out of marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link in those emails or by contacting us at cs@jacksonvillelegalteam.com. Even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you administrative or relationship-related communications where permitted by law.

If you want to update, correct, or request deletion of information you have provided through the Website, you may contact us using the information below. We will consider and respond to requests in accordance with applicable law.

11. State Privacy Rights

Depending on your state of residence, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws, which may include the right to request access to, correction of, deletion of, or a copy of certain personal information, or to appeal a decision relating to a privacy request. You may also have the right to opt out of certain processing activities, such as targeted advertising, profiling, or the sale or sharing of personal information, if applicable.

To submit a privacy request, contact us at cs@jacksonvillelegalteam.com or by mail at Law Office of Carl G. Hawkins, PLLC, 35 Durbin Station Court, Suite #105, St. Johns, Florida 32259. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. You may also designate an authorized agent where permitted by law.

If the Firm does business in California or collects personal information subject to the California Consumer Privacy Act, the Firm should consider adding a California-specific notice at collection and supplemental California privacy disclosures.

12. Children's Privacy

The Website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the Website. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will take reasonable steps to delete it as required by law.

13. International Visitors

The Website is intended for users in the United States. If you access the Website from outside the United States, you understand that your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or other jurisdictions where data protection laws may differ from those in your location.

14. Third-Party Websites and Services

The Website may link to third-party websites, social media pages, client portals, payment processors, map services, scheduling tools, and other services. We are not responsible for the privacy, security, or data practices of those third parties. Review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time by posting the revised version on the Website and updating the Effective Date above. Changes will become effective when posted unless otherwise stated. Your continued use of the Website after any changes become effective constitutes your acknowledgment of the revised Privacy Policy.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact:

17. Supplemental U.S. State Disclosures

If required by applicable law, the Firm may provide additional state-specific privacy disclosures, consumer rights notices, or notices at collection to supplement this Privacy Policy. In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Policy and a state-specific supplement, the supplement will control to the extent required by applicable law.