OpenCounsel

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 2026

1. Introduction

OpenCounsel ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our legal services matching platform. This policy complies with the Ghana Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843).

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

  • Personal Information: Name, phone number, email address
  • Case Information: Descriptions of your legal issues, case category, urgency level, and preferred location
  • Communication Data: Messages exchanged through our platform
  • Usage Data: How you interact with our platform, including pages visited and features used
  • Device Information: Browser type, IP address, and device identifiers

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Match you with qualified legal professionals based on your case needs
  • Facilitate communication between you and lawyers
  • Send you notifications about your case status and lawyer responses
  • Improve our platform and services
  • Ensure platform security and prevent fraud
  • Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

  • With Matched Lawyers: Your case details are shared with verified lawyers who may be able to assist you
  • Service Providers: We use third-party services for notifications and platform operations
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law or court order

We never sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including:

  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest
  • Secure server infrastructure
  • Access controls limiting who can view your information
  • Regular security assessments and updates

6. Your Rights Under Ghana Data Protection Act

Under the Ghana Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), you have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate personal data
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances
  • Object: Object to processing of your personal data
  • Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@opencounsel.com

7. Cookies

We use minimal, functional cookies necessary for the operation of our platform. These cookies help us:

  • Keep you logged in during your session
  • Remember your preferences
  • Ensure platform security

8. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate our platform:

  • Twilio: For WhatsApp and SMS notifications about your case
  • SendGrid: For email communications

These service providers are bound by their own privacy policies and data protection obligations.

9. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

This policy complies with the Ghana Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) and is designed to ensure the protection of your personal data in accordance with Ghanaian law.