Confidentiality: NEO's professional duty to you

Confidentiality lets you tell your legal representative the whole story, including the parts that hurt your case, so they can help you properly. The Paralegal Rules of Conduct require licensed paralegals to hold all information about a client's affairs in strict confidence.

What the duty covers

• Everything you tell us, and everything we learn about your matter, from any source.
• The fact that you are our client, in most situations.
• It applies to everyone at NEO, and it continues after your matter ends.

How NEO protects it

• Your file is kept in private, encrypted storage, available only to the people working on it.
• We use the secure client portal for sensitive documents rather than email attachments.
• Staff and contractors are bound by confidentiality, and access is limited by role.

Limited exceptions

The rules allow disclosure in narrow situations, such as with your consent, when the law or a court requires it, or to prevent a risk of death or serious bodily harm. We explain these if they could ever arise in your matter.

Sources

• Paralegal Rules of Conduct, Rule 3: duty to clients

NEO and PIPEDA: how we protect your personal information

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This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.