Thank you for your interest in using this website operated by Legal Assistance Association of California (dba Legal Aid Association of California). Your privacy is important to us and we have prepared this Privacy Policy to explain to you how we collect, use, and share information we obtain through your use of http://www.calegaladvocates.org (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy does not govern our use of any information you provide to us when you call us, write to us, or communicate with us in any manner other than through the Site. Because the Internet is global, information about you that we collect or that you submit may be transferred to, processed in, and held in countries (including the United States) other than the one in which you reside. By using the Site, you explicitly consent to such use of your information and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is effective as of 11/5/2008

1. Information We Automatically Collect. We automatically collect certain information to help us understand how you use the Site (which we will refer to in this Privacy Policy collectively as "Usage Data"). For example, each time you visit the Site we may automatically collect your IP address, browser and computer type, access time, the Web page from which you came, and the Web page(s) that you access during your visit. We also use cookies (which are small amounts of data sent from a web server to your browser that are stored on your computer's hard drive) to keep track of your use of the Site, to validate your identity, to remember your password and preferences, to tailor the Site to meet your personal interests, and to improve the quality of the Site. Generally, you can set your browser not to accept cookies or to notify you if you are sent a cookie, giving you the opportunity to choose whether or not to accept the cookie. Please note that if you do set your browser not to accept cookies, certain areas of our Site may not function properly.

2. Information You Choose To Submit. You can visit the Site without telling us who you are or revealing any information by which someone could personally identify you (which we will refer to in this Privacy Policy collectively as "Personal Information"). If, however, you wish to register to become a member of the Site, you are required to provide certain Personal Information (e.g., your first and last name, physical address, e-mail address and phone number), and we ask that you also provide a user name and password. We use your Personal Information to confirm that you are a member of the California legal aid community and to send you informational mailings concerning our organization and the Site.

3. Our Information Sharing Practices

(a) Generally. Except as otherwise described in this section of our Privacy Policy, we will never share your Usage Data or Personal Information (which we will refer to in this Privacy Policy collectively as "User Information") with any third party without your permission.

(b) Aggregated Data. From time to time, we may share aggregated User Information with third parties. We will not share any aggregated data, however, in manner that would enable the recipient to personally identify you, except as described in this section.

(c) Service Providers. From time to time, we may enter into relationships with third parties who provide services to us (e.g., website management and infrastructure services). In those circumstances, we disclose User Information that is necessary for such service providers to perform those services and request that they not share your User Information in a manner inconsistent with this Privacy Policy.

(d) Pro Bono Net. From time to time, we may share your User Information with Pro Bono Net, which provides hosting and other services to us. Pro Bono Net may use your User Information to send you communications independently of LAAC. If you would prefer not to receive communications from Pro Bono Net, please let us know by sending an email stating so to privacy@pic.org, and we will make reasonable efforts to ensure that you do not receive such communications. You may also request that Pro Bono Net not send you further communications by using the unsubscribe feature in any communications you receive from Pro Bono Net.

(e) Other Disclosure Scenarios. Notwithstanding anything in this Privacy Policy to the contrary, we reserve the right, and you hereby expressly authorize us, to share any User Information: (1) in response to subpoenas, court orders, or legal process, or to establish, protect, or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims; (2) if we believe it is necessary in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, fraud, or situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person or property; (3) if we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding significant abuse of the Site's infrastructure or the Internet in general (such as voluminous spamming, denial of service attacks, or attempts to compromise the security of information); (4) with other organizations or entities under common control with us (in which case we will require such entities to honor this Privacy Policy); and (5) if we are acquired by or merged with another organization or entity.

4. Public Information. There may be areas of the Site (e.g., message boards, mailing lists, and other online forums) in which you are able to post information that will be available to all other users of the Site. By choosing to use these areas, you understand and agree that anyone may access, use, and disclose any information that you post to those areas.

5. Modifying and Deleting Your Personal Information. If you would like to modify any Personal Information you previously submitted to us, you may do so by logging into http://www.calegaladvocates.org/laac/myprofile and changing your profile. If you would like us to delete from our database any Personal Information you previously submitted to us, please let us know by sending an email stating so to privacy@pic.org. Please note that any Personal Information that we have copied may remain in back-up storage for some period of time after your request, and that if you delete certain information you may not be able to use some parts of the Site in the future without re-submitting such information. Also, please note that we will maintain Personal Information in our database whenever we are required to do so by law.

6. Security. We have implemented reasonable measures to help protect your User Information from loss, misuse, or unauthorized access or disclosure. Unfortunately, however, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your User Information, we cannot guarantee its security.

7. Links. The Site may contain links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of any such other website and urge you to review such practices prior to submitting any information to such websites.

8. Children's Privacy. We are committed to protecting the privacy needs of children and we encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their children's online activities and interests. The Site is not intended for and may not be used by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13.

9. Changes. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If under any such update we make any material change to the way in which we treat your User Information, we will inform you of such change via e mail or by posting a notice on relevant areas of the Site. Any updated version of this Privacy Policy will be effective as of the date set forth therein.

Questions. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please feel free to contact us by e mail at privacy@pic.org.