Announcement: Law Directory – notice of data breach

30/09/2024 13:00:06

In July, the Law Society became aware of a limited data breach in the printed edition of the Law Directory.

The data breach affected approximately 50 people in the printed edition and does not impact the digital version of the Law Directory. Those affected have been contacted and we have apologised for this breach of their personal data. We have also notified the Data Protection Commission and have launched an internal review into how this breach occurred which will inform the update to our procedures to ensure there is no repeat.

The Digital Law Directory is up to date and available online for the latest information.

Steps we have taken to mitigate the damage

  • We have halted the distribution of the printed edition of the Law Directory
  • We have ordered the destruction of all remaining copies in our possession
  • We have removed the option of ordering the printed Law Directory through the Law Society website.

It is the Law Society’s policy to adhere to the lawful processing of all personal data. The details of the policy are set out in our privacy notices. While the Law Society has operated under the guidance of the GDPR legal framework, this breach indicates that our processes were not sufficiently robust and will be revisited and informed by our internal review.

We also want to take this opportunity to remind you to use the information in the Law Directory only for the professional purposes for which it is intended and with respect for people’s privacy.

We take your privacy seriously and deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this incident.

Please contact a member of the Solicitor Services team on [email protected] if you need further assistance or would like more information.