Privacy Policy

Pittman & Steele, PLLC | Last updated: 08/20/2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Pittman & Steele, PLLC (“Pittman Steele,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, retains, and protects personal information in connection with our legal services, websites, communications, and related systems.

About This Privacy Policy

Who We Are

We are a U.S. law firm based in Burlington, North Carolina. We respect the privacy of the individuals and organizations whose information we handle and use reasonable practices designed to protect personal information.

What This Privacy Policy Covers

This Privacy Policy applies when you:

  • visit or use our website at www.pittmansteelelaw.com or other websites we operate;

  • use a client-facing portal, web application, desktop application, or mobile application operated by or for us;

  • communicate with us by phone, email, SMS/text message, messaging service, or another channel;

  • request a consultation, submit an intake form, or otherwise inquire about our services; or

  • have information processed in our client, case, document, billing, communications, or other internal systems.

This Privacy Policy also may apply to personal information we process about other individuals in connection with legal services, such as family members, petitioners, beneficiaries, witnesses, employees, or other persons relevant to a matter.

This Privacy Policy does not limit or replace attorney-client privilege, our professional duties under applicable rules of professional conduct, court orders, engagement agreements, or other legal obligations. Where those obligations require different handling of information, they control.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

Depending on your interaction with us, we may collect information such as:

  • contact information, including your name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number;

  • identification and matter-related information, including date of birth, identification details, and case numbers;

  • information about a spouse, partner, child, family member, employer, school, or other person when relevant to a legal matter;

  • employment, education, financial, and other background information when relevant to a matter;

  • documents and records you upload, send, or otherwise provide to us;

  • appointment requests, intake questionnaire responses, and consultation information;

  • communications with us, including emails, text messages, telephone communications, and notes relating to consultations or representation; and

  • images or video captured by security cameras located in public areas of our offices.

Information Collected Automatically

When you use our websites or online services, we may automatically collect:

  • device and browser information, such as IP address, browser type, and operating system;

  • usage information, such as pages visited, links selected, referring URLs, and session information;

  • approximate location derived from IP address; and

  • security, diagnostic, and audit logs.

Cookies and Analytics

We may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, and similar technologies to understand how our online services are used, improve performance and usability, and help protect our systems. You can usually control cookies through your browser settings. Some features may not function properly if certain cookies are disabled.

Information From Other Sources

We may receive information about you from sources such as:

  • government agencies, courts, and public records;

  • employers, schools, and other institutions;

  • other attorneys, law firms, professionals, or persons involved in a matter; and

  • service providers acting on our behalf.

 

How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to:

  • evaluate potential matters and perform conflict checks;

  • provide, manage, and improve legal services;

  • manage consultations, appointments, client intake, and case workflows;

  • communicate with clients, prospective clients, and others about inquiries or matters;

  • prepare and file pleadings, applications, submissions, and other legal documents;

  • manage records, billing, business operations, and administrative functions;

  • protect our systems, monitor access, prevent fraud or misuse, and maintain security and audit records;

  • comply with legal, regulatory, court, contractual, and professional obligations; and

  • improve our websites, portals, tools, and services, including through analytics, testing, and research.

We do not use personal information for purposes that are materially incompatible with the purpose for which it was collected unless permitted by applicable law.

How We Disclose Personal Information

We may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, subject to applicable law, attorney-client privilege, confidentiality obligations, and professional rules. Recipients may include:

  • Our attorneys, staff, contractors, and other personnel who need the information to perform their responsibilities;

  • service providers that support our business, including document and case management, cloud hosting, information technology, cybersecurity, e-signature, communications, videoconferencing, telecommunications/SMS, and analytics providers;

  • courts, government agencies, and other public authorities when information must be filed, submitted, or disclosed;

  • other attorneys, experts, interpreters, consultants, or professionals involved in a matter, when appropriate; and

  • other persons when disclosure is authorized by you, necessary to provide legal services, required or permitted by law, or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, systems, or property.

We use contractual, professional, and other safeguards appropriate to the relationship when service providers process personal information on our behalf. We do not sell personal information, and we do not permit service providers to use client information for their own independent advertising or profiling purposes.

Data Retention

As a law firm, we retain records as necessary to satisfy legal, regulatory, professional, conflict-checking, business, security, and recordkeeping obligations. Under North Carolina State Bar guidance, absent a client’s consent to earlier disposal, a closed client file generally must be retained for at least six (6) years after the representation concludes. We may retain certain records longer when required or appropriate due to law, court order, professional obligations, an ongoing or reasonably anticipated dispute, conflict-checking needs, or other legitimate recordkeeping requirements.

Records that are not part of a client file are retained for periods appropriate to their purpose, sensitivity, and applicable legal or business requirements.

Deletion Requests

You may ask us to delete personal information by using the contact information below. We will evaluate and respond to requests within the time required by applicable law. We may be unable to delete information that we must or are permitted to retain for legal, ethical, professional, conflict-checking, security, recordkeeping, or dispute-related reasons. Where appropriate, we may restrict use of retained information rather than delete it.

Backups

Deleted information may remain for a limited period in protected backup systems used for security, continuity, and disaster recovery. Backup information is not ordinarily used for active business purposes and is handled in accordance with our backup and security practices.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and the law that applies to a particular interaction, you may have rights concerning your personal information. These may include rights to request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, or portability, or to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

These rights are not absolute and may be limited by legal and professional obligations applicable to law firms, including duties to preserve client files, protect privileged or confidential information, perform conflict checks, comply with court orders, and establish or defend legal claims.

To submit a privacy request, contact us at privacy@pittmansteelelaw.com. We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity and authority before acting on a request.

Visitors Outside the United States

We are based in the United States, and our primary systems and service providers operate there. If you provide information to us from another country, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or another jurisdiction in which a service provider operates. Where applicable law imposes specific requirements on such processing or transfers, we will address those requirements as applicable to the particular circumstances.

Children’s Privacy

Our websites and general online services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly use those services to solicit personal information directly from children under 13. Our legal work may, however, require us to receive or process information about minors from parents, guardians, clients, government agencies, courts, or other appropriate sources. We handle such information in accordance with applicable law and our professional obligations.

Security

We use administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. Depending on the system and context, safeguards may include encryption in transit, authentication and access controls, logging and monitoring, network protections, backups, and security review procedures.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. If we become aware of a security incident involving personal information, we will evaluate the incident and provide notices as required by applicable law.

SMS and Text Messaging

We may use SMS/text messaging to communicate with clients, prospective clients, and others about inquiries, appointments, and legal matters. We do not use our SMS program for marketing or mass promotional messaging.

Consent and Message Practices

  • Except when we are directly responding to a text message you initiated in circumstances where a response is permitted, we send SMS messages only after the recipient has expressly consented to receive the applicable type of messages.

  • We maintain records of SMS consent, opt-ins, and opt-outs as appropriate to our messaging program and provider requirements.

  • Message frequency varies depending on your inquiry or matter. Standard message and data rates may apply under your mobile service plan.

  • We do not use automated SMS messaging.

Opting Out

You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE to a message. We honor text-based opt-out requests and track opt-outs so that further messages of the applicable type are not sent. You may also contact us by email or phone to ask us to stop sending text messages. Opting out of SMS does not prevent us from communicating with you through other appropriate channels.

SMS Privacy

SMS-related information may include your mobile number and contact information, message content and timestamps, delivery or status information, and consent or opt-out records. We use this information to provide and manage communications, document messaging preferences, maintain security and records, and comply with applicable carrier, provider, legal, and professional requirements.

We do not buy, sell, rent, or share SMS opt-in information or mobile telephone numbers with third parties for the purpose of allowing those third parties to send their own SMS messages or marketing. We may provide information to communications service providers acting on our behalf solely as needed to transmit, manage, secure, or document our messages.

Business Changes

If we undergo a reorganization, combination, transfer of practice, or similar business change, information may be transferred as part of that process to the extent permitted by law and professional obligations. Any such transfer remains subject to applicable duties concerning confidentiality, privilege, and the handling of client information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal obligations, or services. The “Last updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy shows when it was most recently revised. When required by applicable law, we will provide additional notice of material changes.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or a privacy request, contact:

Email: privacy@pittmansteelelaw.com

Phone: +1 (336) 270-4440