Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains how Solicitor Certificate Australia collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our online services.
Last updated: 27/01/2026
1. Introduction
(a) This website and any online booking, identity verification, video appointment, and related services provided through it (together, the Platform) are operated by Solicitor Certificate Australia (“we”, “us”, or “our”).
(b) We are committed to protecting your personal information and manage it in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
(c) By accessing or using the Platform, submitting an enquiry, booking an appointment, or using our services, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
(d) This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your personal information, how you can access or correct it, and how to make a complaint.
1.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:
Personal information has the meaning given in the Privacy Act.
Sensitive information has the meaning given in the Privacy Act.
Legal Practitioner means an Australian-qualified solicitor or law practice providing independent legal advice and, where appropriate, issuing a solicitor’s certificate.
Services means services provided through the Platform, including appointment facilitation, identity verification, document intake, and administrative support for solicitor certificate services.
User Data means all information and documents you upload, submit, or provide via the Platform.
2. Personal Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
We collect personal information reasonably necessary to operate the Platform and provide the Services, including:
identity and contact details (name, address, date of birth, email, phone);
booking and appointment details;
identity verification information and verification outcomes;
documents you upload (e.g. loan, guarantee, mortgage, disclosure documents);
payment and billing information (processed by Stripe);
technical and usage data (IP address, browser type, device identifiers, session data);
video appointment metadata (e.g. session time and attendance).
We record all video appointments. You are expressly notified and consent obtained.
2.2 Sensitive Information
We do not generally require sensitive information. If sensitive information is provided (intentionally or unintentionally), it will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act and only used where reasonably necessary or legally required.
3. How We Collect Personal Information
3.1 From you directly
We collect information when you:
submit enquiries or forms;
book appointments;
upload documents;
complete identity verification;
attend video appointments;
make payments;
communicate with us by email, chat, or phone.
3.2 From service providers and Legal Practitioners
We may receive information from Legal Practitioners and service providers involved in delivering the Services (e.g. appointment completion status or certificate confirmation).
3.3 From third parties
We may collect information from third-party providers including:
Referoo – for online identity verification;
Stripe – for payment processing (we do not store full card details);
Zoom and Microsoft Teams – for video conferencing services;
IT, hosting, analytics, and customer support providers;
publicly available sources where lawful and reasonably necessary.
If you provide personal information about another person, you confirm you are authorised to do so and have informed them of this Privacy Policy.
4. How We Use Personal Information
We may use your personal information to:
provide and administer the Platform and Services;
arrange and manage appointments with Legal Practitioners;
conduct identity verification and fraud prevention checks;
communicate with you about bookings and services;
process payments, refunds, and invoices;
improve, test, secure, and maintain the Platform;
comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations;
manage risk, enforce terms, and protect rights;
send service-related or permitted marketing communications.
5. Disclosure of Personal Information
5.1 Disclosure to third parties
We may disclose personal information to:
Legal Practitioners providing independent legal advice and solicitor certificates;
staff, contractors, and professional advisers assisting with the Platform;
service providers including Referoo, Stripe, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, hosting and IT providers;
regulators, courts, or government agencies where required or authorised by law;
another party with your consent or at your direction (e.g. confirmation to a lender or broker).
All service providers are required to take reasonable steps to protect your personal information.
5.2 Overseas disclosure
Some service providers (including Stripe, Referoo, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams) may store or process data outside Australia, including in the United States. We take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place when personal information is disclosed overseas.
6. Storage and Security
We take reasonable technical, administrative, and physical measures to protect personal information, including encryption in transit and controlled access systems.
However, no system is completely secure and you provide information at your own risk.
We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy or as required by law, after which it is securely destroyed or de-identified.
7. Notifiable Data Breaches
If a data breach is likely to result in serious harm, we will investigate and notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) as required under the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme.
8. Direct Marketing
We may send you service-related communications.
Where permitted, we may also send marketing communications. You can opt out at any time by using the unsubscribe option or contacting us.
9. Cookies and Analytics
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve the Platform. This may include collecting IP address, browser type, pages visited, and session data.
You can disable cookies via your browser settings, but some features may not function properly.
10. Access and Correction
You may request access to, or correction of, personal information we hold about you.
Requests must be made in writing and may require identity verification.
We aim to respond within 30 days.
11. Consent
By using the Platform and providing personal information, you consent to its collection, use, storage, and disclosure in accordance with this Privacy Policy and the Privacy Act.
12. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on the Platform. Continued use indicates acceptance of any updates.
13. Complaints
If you have a privacy concern or complaint, contact us with details.
We will respond within 10 business days and aim to resolve matters within 30 business days.
If you remain dissatisfied, you may complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
14. Contact Us
Privacy enquiries and complaints:
📧 support@solicitorcertificate.com.au
Thank you for engaging Solicitor Certificate Australia, a trading name of Legal Department Pty Ltd (ABN 42 694 206 874) (“SC Australia”), to provide legal services to you.
This document constitutes our Engagement Terms and Conditions, Costs Disclosure, and Costs Agreement for the purposes of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria), the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (Vic), and the Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015.
Please read this document carefully, as it sets out the scope of our engagement, the basis upon which we charge our fees, and your rights as a client.
You engage SC Australia to provide limited legal services, being:
We act only for you. We do not act for the lender, bank, broker, beneficiary, borrower (if different), or any other party.
1A. Provision of Documents
You must provide all documents issued or made available to you by the lender or any intermediary in connection with the relevant transaction.
This will usually include (but does not always include):
Where applicable, you must also provide:
You acknowledge and agree that:
We are not responsible for reviewing or advising on any document that has not been provided to us.
Our advice is limited to explaining:
We do not provide:
You acknowledge that you proceed based on your own assessment and/or advice from other professionals.
Where this engagement relates to a personal guarantee, indemnity, or bank guarantee, you acknowledge that:
Our role is limited to advising you of the legal consequences and risks only.
We are required to take reasonable steps to verify your identity in accordance with our professional obligations, including the principles reflected in Rule 11.2 of the Legal Profession Uniform Legal Practice (Solicitors) Rules 2015.
Verification may be completed via approved electronic verification systems and/or live video verification, where legally permitted. You agree to cooperate fully with all VOI requirements.
You agree to engage SC Australia to perform the legal services described above for a Fixed Fee.
Unless otherwise stated, all fees are inclusive of GST.
A tax invoice will be issued once the legal services are provided. You consent to receive invoices electronically via email.
Where you have provided a valid payment authorisation (including credit or debit card or online payment), you authorise us to process payment for any invoice issued.
You consent to being served with legal bills electronically in accordance with section 332 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria).
You may cancel or reschedule your appointment by providing notice before the scheduled advice session.
You acknowledge and agree that:
Where you cancel before the scheduled advice session, a refund may be issued at our discretion, less any administrative or processing costs already incurred.
If you fail to attend a scheduled appointment or cancel on short notice, you may forfeit some or all of the fees paid.
Appointments requested outside ordinary business hours (including early morning, evening, or weekend appointments) may attract additional fees and may be subject to stricter cancellation conditions, which will be disclosed before booking.
You may terminate this agreement at any time by providing written notice to SC Australia.
We may terminate our engagement for just cause by providing you with reasonable written notice.
Upon termination, you remain liable to pay for legal services provided up to the date of termination. This may include the following fixed fees and disbursements (inclusive of GST), where applicable:
You have the right to:
All information you provide will be treated confidentially and handled in accordance with professional obligations and applicable privacy laws.
You authorise SC Australia to correspond with you by email, including the transmission of personal, sensitive, or confidential information, invoices, and legal documents.
Your documents will be retained securely in electronic format for seven (7) years after the matter is completed or this agreement is terminated, in accordance with professional obligations.
After that period, you authorise us to destroy the documents without further notice.
You acknowledge that the provision of legal advice and/or a solicitor’s certificate does not guarantee:
The decision to proceed remains entirely yours.
You accept and agree to this Engagement Terms and Conditions and Legal Costs Agreement by:
Electronic acceptance is sufficient and binding.
If you have any questions, please contact us before proceeding.
Kind regards
Solicitor Certificate Australia
Legal Department Pty Ltd
ABN 42 694 206 874
support@solicitorcertificateaustralia.com.au
