Privacy Notice
1. Who I am
I am Michelle Christie, a self-employed barrister regulated by the Bar Standards Board. I am the data controller for the personal data I process in my practice, and I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office.
2. Whose data I process
Lay clients; instructing solicitors and other professional clients; other parties to proceedings and their representatives; children and family members; witnesses and experts; and anyone else whose information appears in the papers I am sent.
3. What data I process
Names, contact details and identifiers; information in case papers, including court documents, social work records, medical and expert reports, police disclosure and correspondence; and the financial details needed for billing. Because of the nature of family proceedings, this regularly includes special category data (such as information about health, sex life, racial or ethnic origin and religious beliefs) and information about criminal allegations and convictions.
4. Where it comes from
Mostly from instructing solicitors and local authorities, the court and other parties to the proceedings. Some comes directly from you.
5. Why I process it, and on what legal basis
- To advise and represent clients in legal proceedings: performance of a contract (Article 6(1)(b) UK GDPR) and my legitimate interests in providing legal services (Article 6(1)(f)).
- To comply with my legal and regulatory obligations, including the Bar Standards Board Handbook, Legal Aid Agency requirements, tax law, anti-money laundering checks where they apply, and insurance: legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c)).
- To bill and collect fees, check for conflicts of interest and deal with complaints: legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f)).
I process special category data and criminal offence data where it is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, or where courts are acting in their judicial capacity (Article 9(2)(f) UK GDPR and paragraph 33 of Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 2018).
6. Who I share it with
Only as far as necessary: the court; my instructing solicitor and client; other parties' legal representatives and experts, where the proceedings require it; my clerk; the Legal Aid Agency; my accountants; my professional indemnity insurer, the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund; the Bar Standards Board and the Legal Ombudsman, where required; and IT providers who store or process data for me under contract, such as Microsoft. Information from family proceedings is shared only as the law and the court's rules allow.
I also use AI-assisted tools to help with research, analysis and drafting. I use them only through secure services, under terms and settings that prevent client information being used to train them, and I check all their output myself before it is relied on. They never make decisions about a case.
7. Transfers outside the UK
Where any provider processes personal data outside the UK, I make sure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK adequacy regulations or the ICO's International Data Transfer Agreement.
8. How long I keep it
At least six years after the case ends or my fees are paid, whichever is later, and longer where that is needed for legal, regulatory or insurance reasons. It is then securely deleted.
9. Your rights
You have the right to access your personal data, and to ask me to correct, erase or restrict it, to object to its use, to have it transferred, and to withdraw consent where I rely on consent. Some rights are limited, for example where information is protected by legal professional privilege or by restrictions on disclosure in family proceedings. I do not make decisions about you by automated means.
To exercise any of these rights, contact me using the details above. I will respond within one month.
10. Complaints
If you are unhappy with how I have handled your personal data, please tell me first and I will acknowledge your complaint within 30 days. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office: ico.org.uk, telephone 0303 123 1113, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
11. Changes to this notice
I may update this notice from time to time. The current version is always on this website.