Privacy policy

Last updated: 5 October 2026

About this policy

Sarah Pratt & Associates ("the firm", "we", "us") respects your privacy. This policy explains how we handle personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.

As a law practice we also owe our clients professional duties of confidentiality. Nothing in this policy limits those duties or any legal professional privilege that applies to your information.

What we collect

The personal information we collect depends on how you deal with us. It may include:

• your name and contact details, such as your phone number, email address and postal address;
• details of your legal matter and the circumstances surrounding it;
• sensitive information relevant to your matter, such as criminal history or health information;
• information about other people involved in your matter;
• billing and payment information, including any grant of legal assistance;
• information about how you use this website.

How we collect it

We collect most information directly from you: when you submit the enquiry form on this website, email or call us, or meet with us. In the course of acting for you we may also receive information from others, such as courts, police and prosecuting agencies, Victoria Legal Aid, other lawyers, and medical or other experts.

You can choose not to give us information, but we may then be unable to advise or act for you.

The website enquiry form

When you submit the enquiry form, the details you enter (your name, email address, phone number, matter type and description) are sent to the firm by email so that we can respond. Please include only the information we need to get back to you. Email and internet transmission is never completely secure, so for urgent or highly sensitive matters you may prefer to call us.

Why we collect and use it

We collect, hold and use personal information to:

• respond to your enquiry;
• provide legal advice and representation;
• meet our legal, professional and regulatory obligations;
• manage and administer the practice, including billing;
• maintain and improve this website.

We do not sell personal information, and we do not use it for marketing unrelated to our services.

Who we share it with

We disclose personal information only where it is needed for the purposes above, where you have consented, or where the law requires or permits it. Depending on your matter, this may include:

• barristers, experts and other professionals engaged on your matter;
• courts, tribunals, and other parties to your matter and their lawyers;
• Victoria Legal Aid, where a grant of legal assistance is involved;
• service providers who support the practice, such as information technology, email and website hosting providers;
• regulators, insurers and government agencies, where required.

Overseas service providers

Some of our technology providers, including those that host this website, deliver our email and provide website analytics, may store or process information on servers outside Australia. Where that happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure the information is handled consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.

Cookies and analytics

This website uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors use it. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect information such as the pages you visit, the type of device and browser you use and your approximate location. We use this information in aggregate and do not use it to identify you.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The website will still work if you do.

Security and retention

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Client files are kept for the period required by law and our professional obligations, generally at least seven years after a matter ends, and are then securely destroyed or de-identified.

Access and correction

You may ask for access to the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. We will respond within a reasonable time, usually within 30 days. In some circumstances the law allows us to refuse a request; if we do, we will explain why in writing.

Complaints

If you are concerned about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us using the details below. We will look into your complaint and respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version is always available on this page.

Contact us

Sarah Pratt & Associates
Level 24, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: sarah@spalawyers.com.au
Phone: 0430 201 331