
Privacy Policy
Effective Date: September 1st, 2025
At Shan Law ("we", "us", or "our"), we are committed to respecting and protecting your privacy in compliance with Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and, where applicable, Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard the personal information of our clients, prospective clients, and website users. We comply with the privacy requirements of both federal and provincial legislation, ensuring your personal data is treated with the utmost care.
1. Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information necessary for the provision of legal services, the establishment of client relationships, and compliance with legal and professional obligations. This may include:
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Full name, contact information (address, phone number, email)
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Government-issued identification (e.g., passport, driver’s license)
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Financial and payment details
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Real estate transaction records (purchase, sale, lease)
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Estate planning documents (wills, powers of attorney, trusts)
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Employment and business records
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Any other information related to legal matters you are seeking assistance with
We collect this information directly from you, in person or through digital forms, and occasionally from third parties involved in your legal matter (e.g., banks, realtors, notaries, courts).
2. Purpose for Collection and Use
We collect and use your personal information for the following lawful purposes, as permitted by PIPEDA, PIPA, and other applicable legislation:
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To provide legal services, including but not limited to residential and commercial real estate transactions, estate planning, and notary services
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To verify your identity and conduct necessary background checks
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To open, maintain, and manage your client file
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To communicate with you regarding your legal matter, invoices, or updates
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To comply with legal and professional obligations (e.g., law society regulations, reporting requirements)
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To protect our firm’s rights, prevent fraud, or resolve disputes
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To process payments, including third-party billing, if applicable
We will not use your personal information for purposes other than those identified above without your express consent, except as required or authorized by law.
3. Consent
By engaging our legal services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as outlined in this Privacy Policy. Consent may be express (written or oral) or implied, depending on the circumstances, as required by PIPEDA and PIPA.
If we require additional personal information not previously collected or if we intend to use your personal information for purposes other than those originally identified, we will seek your consent before doing so, unless we are authorized by law to proceed without it.
You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal, contractual, and practical restrictions. However, withdrawing consent may impact our ability to provide full legal services to you.
4. Disclosure of Personal Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may disclose your personal information only in the following circumstances, as required by Canadian law:
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Third-party service providers (e.g., IT providers, payment processors, cloud storage vendors) who assist us in operating our business and are contractually obligated to safeguard your information
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Other professionals and third parties involved in your matter (e.g., real estate agents, financial institutions, courts, opposing counsel)
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Government and regulatory bodies, when required or authorized by law (e.g., responding to a court order or subpoena)
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With your express consent, in circumstances where such disclosure is necessary or appropriate to fulfill your legal matter
We will take reasonable measures to ensure that any third parties we engage with respect your privacy in compliance with applicable privacy laws.
5. Protection of Personal Information
We take your privacy and the security of your personal information seriously. We use reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction, in compliance with PIPEDA, PIPA, and applicable law.
These safeguards include, but are not limited to:
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Secure physical storage for client files
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Secure communication channels for transmitting sensitive data
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Strong access controls and user authentication for our digital systems
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Regular privacy and security audits of our practices
Despite these efforts, no system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. However, we will notify you promptly in the event of a data breach, as required by PIPEDA.
6. Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze trends, and improve our services. This may include the collection of:
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IP address
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Browser type and version
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Pages visited and time spent on the site
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Referring website URLs
We use this data to improve the functionality and performance of our website and services. You can control cookie settings through your web browser; however, blocking cookies may affect certain features of our website.
7. Retention of Personal Information
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law or professional obligations.
Under PIPEDA and PIPA, we must retain personal information for a reasonable period, which will depend on the nature of the legal services provided and the applicable legal or regulatory retention requirements. After this period, we will either securely dispose of your personal information or anonymize it.
8. Your Rights Under PIPEDA and PIPA
Under PIPEDA and PIPA, you have the right to:
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Access the personal information we hold about you
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Request corrections to your personal information if it is inaccurate or incomplete
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Withdraw consent, where applicable, to the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information
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Make a complaint if you believe we have violated your privacy rights
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information below.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer:
Shanel Shannon
Shan Law
10940 166a Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta
+1 (780) 801-7579
We will respond to your inquiries and complaints promptly and in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal obligations, or for other operational reasons. All changes will be posted on our website with an updated "Effective Date."
If the changes are significant, we will notify you directly, where feasible, to ensure you are aware of how your personal information is being used or shared.