Effective February 12, 2026
The St. Joseph County Bar Association ("Association," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of visitors to our website (the "Site") and our members. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Site or use our services.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you disagree with its terms, please discontinue use of the Site. This Policy applies to information collected through the Site and does not govern information collected offline or through other channels.
We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:
• Create or update a member account• Register for a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program, event, or seminar• Complete a membership application or renewal form• Subscribe to our newsletter or legal news alerts• Submit a referral request through our Lawyer Referral Service• Contact us via email, phone, or web form• Make a payment for dues, events, or publications
When you visit the Site, our servers and third-party analytics tools may automatically collect certain technical and usage data, including:
• IP address and approximate geographic location• Browser type, version, and operating system• Pages visited, time spent on each page, and navigation paths• Referring URLs and search terms used to find our Site• Date and time of your visit
We collect this information through cookies, web beacons, server logs, and similar tracking technologies as described in Section 5 below.
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
• Administering your membership and providing member benefits and services• Processing payments for dues, CLE registrations, and publications• Sending communications related to your membership, upcoming events, CLE programs, and bar association news• Operating and improving our Lawyer Referral Service• Facilitating the publication of a member directory, where applicable and with your consent• Analyzing Site usage to improve the content, functionality, and user experience of our website• Complying with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, and the rules of professional conduct• Responding to your inquiries, requests, and communications• Investigating complaints and enforcing our policies
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
We may share your information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating the Site and delivering services (e.g., payment processors, email marketing platforms, event registration systems, and web hosting providers). These vendors are contractually obligated to use your information solely to perform services on our behalf and to maintain appropriate confidentiality and security standards.
With your consent, certain information — such as your name, firm, contact information, and practice areas — may be included in our public or member-only directory. You may review and update your directory listing preferences through your member account or by contacting us directly.
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in good-faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to: (a) comply with a legal obligation or governmental request; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of the Association; or (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the safety of members or the public.
In the event of a merger, reorganization, or dissolution of the Association, personal information may be transferred to a successor organization, provided that the successor is bound to honor the terms of this Privacy Policy or provides you with prior notice and the opportunity to opt out.
We recognize that attorney-client privilege, professional confidentiality obligations, and the sensitivity of legal practice information require heightened care. We take particular precautions with membership records, including bar numbers, practice area information, and disciplinary history (where applicable). Such records are accessible only to authorized Association staff and officers with a legitimate need to access them.
Members who use the Lawyer Referral Service should be aware that, by participating, they authorize the Association to share their contact information and practice details with prospective clients seeking a referral.
Our Site uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and gather usage data. Cookies are small data files placed on your device that allow us to recognize returning visitors, maintain session continuity, and analyze traffic patterns.
Types of cookies we may use include:
• Essential cookies—necessary for the Site to function properly (e.g., login sessions, shopping cart)• Analytics cookies—help us understand how visitors use the Site (e.g., Google Analytics)• Preference cookies—remember your settings and preferences for a better experience
You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that some features of the Site may not function properly if cookies are disabled. For more information about managing cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
The Site may contain hyperlinks to external websites operated by third parties, including courts, government agencies, affiliated bar associations, and legal organizations. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites, and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
We implement reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include SSL/TLS encryption for data transmissions, restricted access controls for staff, and regular review of our security practices.
However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please notify us immediately using the contact information provided in Section 11.
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, to maintain membership records required for organizational purposes, and to comply with applicable legal obligations. When your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our records retention schedule.
The Site is not directed to individuals under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take prompt steps to delete it. If you believe we may have collected such information, please contact us as described in Section 11.
Depending on your jurisdiction and circumstances, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:
• Access and receive a copy of the personal information we hold about you• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information• Request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal and operational obligations• Opt out of marketing or promotional communications at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email or contacting us directly• Update your member directory listing preferences through your member account portal
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:
St. Joseph County Bar Association
Attn: Privacy Officer / Executive Director
101 S. Main Street
South Bend, IN 46601
We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify members by email or through a prominent notice on the Site. Your continued use of the Site after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.
We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.