Privacy Policy
This website is owned operated and controlled by McCusker McElroy & Gallanagh Solicitors. McCusker McElroy & Gallanagh is a trading name of Paisley Defence Lawyers (Scotland) Ltd. Company number SC587827.
McCusker McElroy & Gallanagh Solicitors are committed to preserving the privacy of all visitors to www.mccuskerlaw.co.uk . Please read the following privacy policy to understand how we use and protect the information that you provide to us.
We are committed to using this data in accordance with relevant data protection laws such as the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
By using this site (the “website”) or contacting us by email or through this website, you consent to the collection, use and transfer of your personal information under the terms of this policy. If you do not accept the terms of this policy you must leave this website immediately and you may not use any of the services we provide.
Minimum browser requirements
Please note that there are minimum browser requirements for optimum use of our website. These minimum browser requirements will change from time to time. If you are experiencing difficulty using the website, or otherwise would like to know more about what these requirements are, please contact us.
Information that we collect from you
When you visit the website or access services via the website you may be asked to provide certain information about yourself including your name and contact details. If you seek to access services through the website we may keep a record of such requests you carry out. We may also collect information about:
(a) your IP address, a unique identifier for your computer or other access device;
(b) your usage of our website which may include, without limitation the URL you have last used and the URL you next go to, your browser information and your IP address;
(c) information gathered during telephone conversations with you.
Sensitive information that we collect from you in relation to events
We may ask you to provide us sensitive information about your person and personal circumstances. You agree that we may use this information for the purpose of corresponding with you to provide services and the provision of said services.
Use of your information
Your information will enable us to provide you with access to parts of our website suitable for your requirements and the permissions (if any) which you have to access the special areas of the website (referred to in our website Terms and Conditions). It will also enable us to contact you concerning your queries regarding our services and functions. We will also use, store and analyse the information we collect so that we can administer, support, improve and develop our operations. This includes (but is not limited to):
  • quality control and training purposes;
  • discharging our professional obligations;
  • providing our services to you;
  • providing a wide range of public services;
  • discharging our obligations; and
  • engaging in consultation with the Scottish government, Scottish Parliament and other governmental and legislative bodies over legislative and regulatory change.

In particular, we may use your information to contact you for your views on our services and functions, and to notify you occasionally about important changes or developments to the website or our services or functions. More detail about the purposes for which your personal information may be processed may be seen elsewhere on the website, and are available on request at the address below.

Lawful basis for the processing
We believe there is a legitimate interest, legal interest or public interest in communicating with you. Therefore we may process your personal data for more than one lawful ground depending on the specific purpose for which we are using your data. Please contact us if you need details about the specific legal ground we are relying on to process your personal data.
We generally process your data under the following lawful bases:
  • Performance of a contract with you;
  • Necessary for our legitimate interests; and/or
  • Necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
When we are managing our relationship with you which will include:
  • notifying you about changes to our terms or privacy policy;
  • asking you to leave a review or take a survey, we are processing your personal data as it is necessary for our legitimate interests (to keep our records updated and to study how users use our products/services).
  •  When we are administering and protecting our business and this website (including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, system maintenance, support, reporting and hosting of data), we are processing your personal data as it is necessary for our legitimate interests (for running our business, provision of administration and IT services, network security, to prevent fraud and in the context of a business re-organisation or group restructuring exercise) or necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
Marketing
 As a general principle we will not contact you in a marketing capacity. The nature of our services are that they are reactive to an initial request for information or direct instruction from you. We do not pass your data to third parties or persons for the purpose of marketing.
Ways in which we may contact you
We may contact you by post, telephone (including by text), fax or email in connection with the purposes outlined above. If you change your mind about being contacted in the future, or the methods by which we may contact you, please let us know by contacting us at our contact details set out below.
Cookies
Cookies are small amounts of information, usually in the form of a text file, which we may store on your computer or other access device. We may access this file which acts as an easy way to identify you when you use the website. Our system may issue cookies to your computer or other access device when you log on to the website. Cookies make it easier for you to log on to and use the website during your current visit and future visits. They also allow us to monitor website traffic and to personalize the content of the website for you. Some features are only available through the use of a cookie. You may set up your computer or other access device to reject cookies (or certain types of cookies) by following the instructions provided with your browser/device.
It is your right to choose if you give your consent to the use of cookies or not, but you should be aware that in some cases you may not be able to use or see all the features of our website, if you do not allow the use of cookies
Disclosure of your information
The information you provide to us will be held on our computers in the UK and may be accessed by or given to our staff, our contractors, reporters and agents who act for us, for the purposes set out in this policy or for other purposes approved by you or as otherwise permitted by law. This may mean that your information is sent to computers outwith the UK. By submitting your information to us, you agree that it may be transferred outside the European Economic Area. Countries outside the European Economic Area do not always have strong data protection laws. However, wherever practicable we will take steps to ensure that your information is used by third parties in accordance with this policy. We may also pass aggregate information on the usage of our website and trends in the solicitors’ profession to third parties but this will not include information that can be used to identify you. We shall never sell or rent your personal information gathered through the website to third parties for their marketing purposes. We also reserve the right to disclose any of the information you provide to us where required to do so by law, or to comply with a regulatory obligation, or to assist in any investigation into alleged illegal or criminal conduct.
Security and data retention
We employ security measures to protect your information from access by unauthorised persons and against unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction and damage. We will retain your information for a reasonable period or as long as the law requires. You should be aware however that it is technically impossible to provide a totally secure system on the web and you are responsible for ensuring your own computer system is adequately protected from access by unauthorised persons. Please see our retention schedule for full details of the retention and destruction periods we adopt.
Your password security
In accordance with the Terms and Conditions of use of the website, you are responsible for ensuring that any password and user ID, and any other security mechanism issued to you, remain confidential. If third parties have access to your password, user ID or any other security mechanism they can control your personal information and ID. We are not responsible for the consequences of their use of your personal information and ID in these circumstances. If your password or user ID or any other security mechanism is compromised you should contact us immediately, and until you do so we will be entitled to rely on any communications sent to us using your password and user ID and any other security mechanism as if they originated from you
Third party information collectors and websites
If you disclose your personal information to third parties including, but not limited to, third party websites with links on our website, our privacy policy shall not be enforceable against them. We take no responsibility and shall not be liable for third party use of your personal information in such circumstances.
You should be aware that if you click on any link on the website, to another website provided by a third party, it is possible you may encounter cookies or other similar devices placed by those third parties. We do not control the use of cookies or other similar devices by third parties and are not responsible or liable for them.
You should review the privacy policy of that third party website to check how they may use or disclose your information.
Statutory or contractual requirement
In some instances we may require personal data as part of our statutory duties and obligations to work in the public interest. Failure to provide such information may restrict our ability to represent and assist you.
Accessing and updating
You are entitled to request access to the information held about you and to ask us to make any necessary changes to ensure that it is accurate and kept up to date. If you wish to do this, please contact us at the address below.We will usually be the data controller in respect of personal information you provide to us
Changes to our privacy policy
We may change our privacy policy at any time without having to give you prior notification. Any changes to our privacy policy in the future will be posted to the website and/or, where we think it is appropriate, through e-mail notification
Your legal rights
Under certain circumstances, you have rights under data protection laws in relation to your personal data. These rights include, the right to:
  •  request access to your personal data;
  •  request correction of your personal data;
  •  request erasure of your personal data;
  •  object to processing of your personal data;
  •  request restriction of processing your personal data;
  •  request transfer of your personal data; and
  •  withdraw consent previously given by you.
For more information on your rights please visit the Information Commissioner Officer’s website (www.ico.org.uk)
If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, please contact us on the contact details provided below.
Right to lodge a complaint with the ICO
You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues. The Information Commissioner’s Office – Scotland; 45 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HL; 0303 123 1115; scotland@ico.org.uk; www.ico.org.uk. We would, however, appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO so please contact us in the first instance.
Contact
All comments, queries and requests relating to our use of your information are welcomed and should be addressed to:
The Senior Management Team
McCusker McElroy & Gallanagh
Floor 1 & 2
61 High Street
Johnstone
Scotland
PA5 8QG
Telephone: +44 (0)1505322299