Privacy Policy

Last updated: [DATE] · Draft, pending legal review

This is a draft prepared for internal review. It is not yet in effect and should not be relied on until a qualified reviewer has checked it and the placeholders below are filled in.

1. Who this covers

This policy explains what Counsel (operated by [LEGAL ENTITY NAME]) collects, why, and how it is handled, for anyone who visits, posts a problem on, or responds to a problem on Counsel.

2. What we collect

Account information: when you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo from Google, and store them against your account.
Problem and response content: the text of any problem you post, any response an advocate makes, and any message sent in a case's private chat once a case is assigned.
Advocate registration details: for advocates, the practice areas, courts, bar enrolment information, and bio submitted during registration/verification.
Local device preferences: your language and theme (light/dark) preference, and an in-progress problem draft, are stored only in your browser's local storage — never sent to us until you actually submit.

We do not currently use any third-party analytics or advertising tracker. If that changes, this policy will be updated first.

3. What is public vs. private

A problem you post is public by design — its text is readable by anyone with the link, without needing an account. Your name is never shown next to it. An advocate's response is visible to the client who posted the problem, and to that advocate — not to other advocates. Case chat messages, once a case is assigned, are visible only to the client and the assigned advocate.

4. Where data is stored

Counsel runs on Google Cloud infrastructure (Firebase Authentication, Firestore, and Cloud Storage). We do not operate our own servers, and no data is shared with a third party beyond what is necessary to run that infrastructure.

5. How long we keep it

Account and problem data is kept for as long as the account or problem exists. If you want a problem you posted removed, use the removal-request link on the problem's page, or email support@bhama.app; requests are reviewed manually, since Counsel does not yet have automated self-service deletion.

6. Your choices

You can request a copy of your data or its deletion by emailing support@bhama.app.
You can change your display name and language/theme preference at any time from your account.

7. Children

Counsel is not directed at children and is not knowingly used to collect data from them.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the product changes. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated date.

9. Contact

Questions about this policy or your data: support@bhama.app.