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Question Details: I have been looking through my records in regard to lawyer Visits. Can I also obtain any personal information that they have about me?
Filed under Property Law | 1454 View(s)
Community Law Wellington & Hutt Valley
Yes, generally your lawyer is required to provide you with the personal information they hold about you.
There are some narrow exceptions to this rule. For example, your lawyer would not be required to disclose information to you if:
- giving you the information would put your health and safety at risk
- giving you the information would breach the law or a court order
- you're seeking information about a matter on which the lawyer has declined to act for you
- you owe the lawyer legal fees.
Even if you did owe fees, the Privacy Act 1993 would allow you to access your records and take photocopies.
If you ask your lawyer for documents or other information about you, they must respond promptly. "Promptly" has no exact definition, but it would probably be reasonable to allow your lawyer five working days (Monday-Friday, excluding public holidays) to get back to you, or longer if there is more information.
If your lawyer does not provide the information, you should ask for a reason. If you are not satisfied you can consider complaining to the Law Society www.lawsociety.org.nz or contacting the Privacy Commissioner: privacy.org.nz.
Answered 19 Nov 2012. The IMPORTANT NOTICE below is part of this answer.
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