The client: College Chambers, Southampton.
The brief: Responding to a Subject Access Request in keeping with GDPR
Dealing with a SAR can be quite burdensome on resources for chambers and organisations within the legal profession. They must provide copies of all data that is held on the individual, often having to provide duplicates of all documents, emails, and any other types of communication that contain the individual’s personal data, then redact any information made in references to other individuals.
Fully Briefed
While every individual has the right to access their own personal data, it’s been realised that it can take an extraordinary amount of time for the appointed data controller to gather up this information, and failure to respond, or an unexplained delay can result in regulatory enforcement action being taken by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
As trusted trainers in GDPR, part of our role is to help advise barristers, chambers, and their staff on procedures and protocols they can implement to ensure they are fully compliant in a cost-effective way, but when resources are limited, our advisory services are there to help you when you need it most, just a phone call away.
The SAR in question
When College Chambers were faced with a request for a case involving three barristers, interlocutory hearings and a five-day trial, their Senior Clerk, J-P Schulz, was “keen to approach it in a cautious and compliant manner”. Fortunately, upon learning of Briefed’s advisory services through our GDPR training, J-P contacted us for help.
“I had an idea, and of course, I’d received training on SARs, but until you get one, you’re never quite sure what you should and shouldn’t be doing, and I wanted to approach it in a very cautious way. I didn’t want to breach any confidentiality…that was my biggest concern.”
– J-P, Senior Clerk (Data Protection Lead)
The solution
Throughout the entire process of sifting through more than 4,000 documents, J-P received extensive guidance and assistance from our in-house barrister, Chris Kelly, whose invaluable input proved to be a crucial factor; as J-P himself stated, “Without Chris’s guidance, we would have been completely lost.”
Chris stated that they worked together “through many Team’s meetings and phone calls to gain understanding of the SAR. We assisted with outlining processes, timeframes, what was disclosable, what was not, and were there any exemptions we could rely upon.”
Thanks to Briefed, J-P and his team were able to manage the SAR in a timely manner and ensure it was dealt with efficiently and in compliance with GDPR. J-P was relieved and grateful for the guidance provided by Briefed, stating that without it, he “wouldn’t have known definitively how to handle the request and could have potentially breached confidentiality”.
About College Chambers
College Chambers is a highly respected Chambers in the South of England specializing in a variety of areas including Civil, Chancery, Employment, and Family Law. The Chambers was founded in 1989 by two members from renowned sets in London, Shawcross and Belben, and has continued to enhance its high reputation being continually ranked in Chambers and Partners and as a top-ranking ‘Leading Set’ in the Legal 500 UK Bar Guide.
The Chambers’ approach is focused on catering to the needs of their clients, providing concise and expedient solutions that are both effective and personalized. They strive to always be personable and approachable, remaining empathetic and friendly throughout the legal process.
College Chambers are also dedicated to maintaining an experienced and professional team, investing heavily in a responsive and supportive clerking team. They believe that working together, sharing knowledge and resources, ultimately benefits all their clients.