Privacy Policy
American Association for Justice Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how AAJ collects, uses, maintains, shares and safeguards information collected from users (each, a “User”) of www.justice.org, community.justice.org, microsites, mobile applications, AAJ profiles on AAJ social media sites and any other digital services and platforms operated or used by AAJ (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Sites,” unless otherwise noted) or content, activities, services, features, or other resources offered on the Sites.
User ID and password
Certain areas of the Site may require the use of a User ID or email address and password as an additional security measure to help protect your information. The Sites have clear tools to allow you to log in and log out to help you protect your information.
Collection of Information
We may collect information from Users in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, when Users visit our Sites, fill out forms, join AAJ, register for AAJ events, make a purchase, and in connection with other activities, services, features, or other resources we make available on our Sites. Users may be asked for, as appropriate, their name, address, email address, fax number, phone number, bar date, information about your practice or business, credit card, or other financial information. AAJ may also receive information of individuals who are members of state trial lawyer affiliated associations. Users may always refuse to supply such information, except that it may prevent them from engaging in certain Site-related activities.
We may automatically collect certain other information, including personal information, about Users whenever they interact with our Sites. This information may include your browsing history, the browser name, the type of computer and technical information about Users’ means of connection to our Sites, such as the operating system and the Internet service providers utilized and other similar information.
Any user and event data collected and retained by Google Analytics will be automatically removed after 50 months. See Google: Safeguarding your data.
Cookie Policy Statement
Agreement to Terms
This Cookie Policy explains how American Association for Justice (AAJ) ("Company", "we", "us", and "our") uses cookies and similar technologies to recognize you when you visit our websites at https://justice.org/ and any sub-domains or add-on domains, ("Websites"). It explains what these technologies are and why we use them, as well as your rights to control our use of them.
In some cases we may use cookies to collect personal information, or that becomes personal information if we combine it with other information. In such cases our Privacy Policy (https://www.justice.org/privacy-policy) will apply in addition to this Cookie Policy.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small data files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used by website owners in order to make their websites work, or to work more efficiently, as well as to provide reporting information.
Cookies set by the website owner (in this case, American Association for Justice (AAJ)) are called "first party cookies". Cookies set by parties other than the website owner are called "third party cookies". Third party cookies enable third party features or functionality to be provided on or through the website (e.g. like advertising, interactive content and analytics). The parties that set these third party cookies can recognize your computer both when it visits the website in question and also when it visits certain other websites.
Why do we use cookies?
We use first and third party cookies for several reasons. Some cookies are required for technical reasons in order for our Websites to operate, and we refer to these as "essential" or "strictly necessary" cookies. Other cookies also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our Online Properties. Third parties serve cookies through our Websites for advertising, analytics and other purposes. This is described in more detail below.
The specific types of first and third party cookies served through our Websites and the purposes they perform are described below (please note that the specific cookies served may vary depending on the specific Online Properties you visit):
Essential website cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our Websites and to use some of its features, such as access to secure areas. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the Websites to you, you cannot refuse them. You can block or delete them by changing your browser settings however, as described below under the heading "How can I control cookies?".
Analytics and customization cookies
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our Website are being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our Websites for you. To refuse these cookies, please follow the instructions below under the heading "How can I control cookies?".
What about other tracking technologies, like web beacons?
Cookies are not the only way to recognize or track visitors to a website. We may use other, similar technologies from time to time, like web beacons (sometimes called "tracking pixels" or "clear gifs"). These are tiny graphics files that contain a unique identifier that enable us to recognize when someone has visited our Websites or opened an e-mail that we have sent them. This allows us, for example, to monitor the traffic patterns of users from one page within our Websites to another, to deliver or communicate with cookies, to understand whether you have come to our Websites from an online advertisement displayed on a third-party website, to improve site performance, and to measure the success of e-mail marketing campaigns. In many instances, these technologies are reliant on cookies to function properly, and so declining cookies will impair their functioning.
How can I control cookies?
You can set or amend your web browser controls to accept or refuse cookies. If you choose to reject cookies, you may still use our website though your access to some functionality and areas of our website may be restricted. As the means by which you can refuse cookies through your web browser controls vary from browser-to-browser, you should visit your browser's help menu for more information.
How often will you update this Cookie Policy?
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to the cookies we use or for other operational, legal or regulatory reasons. Please therefore re-visit this Cookie Policy regularly to stay informed about our use of cookies and related technologies.
Purchases on www.justice.org
When you buy one of our products or services online, for example, a Section membership or registration for an AAJ Education program, this activity is entered into your member record in AAJ's database. We use the information to tailor our future communications, so we can send news about resources pertinent to Users’ interests. Nonmembers of AAJ may buy certain items, such as seminar registrations and AAJ Press publications. When making these purchases online, nonmembers are asked to provide their name, address, phone number, fax number, and email address.
Membership Directory
As a professional organization, the information Users provide may be published on the Sites to allow other lawyers and the public to find you, including on membership directories. Directories do not include sensitive information, such as credit card or bank information. Users may request their information be suppressed from directory lists by contacting us at member.updates@justice.org.
Fulfilling Service Requests
When fulfilling service requests initiated by Users, we may share Users’ information with certain third parties to fulfill the requests.
Links
The Sites may contain links to other websites. Please be aware that AAJ is not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites, including those you may reach through banner ads placed on our Sites. We encourage Users to be aware when they leave our Sites and to read the privacy statements of each website that collects personal information. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by our Sites.
Email Addresses
If you are an AAJ member, you must provide a unique email address to access the members-only portion of justice.org. AAJ regularly emails members with legislative news and information about AAJ products and services that we believe may be of interest to you. In addition, AAJ may send offers via email to members on behalf of certain non-affiliated businesses whose products or services may be of interest. When we do this, we do not give that company your e-mail address, your name, or any other information that identifies you personally. AAJ may share member e-mail addresses to affiliated state trial lawyer organizations. Additionally, we may share email addresses with third parties as necessary for AAJ to perform certain services on our behalf such as delivering products, processing event registrations, conducting AAJ national officer elections, and responding to your service requests. And AAJ may share email addresses with third parties as needed to take security measures to help protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure, or destruction of data.
We do not sell or rent email addresses to unrelated third parties or AAJ members. However, please note that your email address may be visible to other attorneys and businesses, as well as the general public through the directory lists described above.
In each email, there is a clear way for Users to opt out of receiving future emails. If you would like to opt out of certain types of emails or all emails right now, you may do so as follows:
- To opt out of emails about AAJ products and services, email member.updates@justice.org.
- To opt out of all emails that AAJ sends, email member.updates@justice.org.
How We Use Collected Information
The Sites may collect and use Users’ personal information in providing services including (but not limited to):
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Sending invoices, order confirmations, and customer service messages
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Processing membership applications, education program registrations, contributions, and product purchases
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Responding to User emails or online requests
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Preventing fraud or other harm and providing technical service
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Evaluating, surveying and improving our Sites and services
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Fulfilling and/or delivering AAJ products and services
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Publishing membership directories and event registration lists
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Sharing with third parties as required by law
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Sharing your information with elected officials and petition receipts using Phone2Action and Capitol Canary
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For any specific purpose for which we request your permission
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Any other legitimate business purpose
Sharing Your Information
We may disclose your personal information to third parties if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to legal requirements or comply with legal process served on AAJ; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of AAJ; or (c) protect the personal safety of AAJ personnel or members of the public in appropriate circumstances.
We may also disclose your information with third-party service providers to fulfill service requests initiated by you or to administer the Sites. We may share your mailing address with third parties in order to provide them an opportunity to offer products or services that may be of interest to you, which helps contribute non-dues revenue to AAJ.
We reserve the right to disclose your information to members of our corporate family, such as affiliates, to the extent permitted by law; if we undergo bankruptcy or liquidation; or to any other third parties, with your specific consent.
California Privacy Rights
Last Updated February 22, 2024
Your privacy is important to us at American Association for Justice (“AAJ,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), and we are committed to safeguarding, preserving, and respecting your privacy rights. California residents have certain rights with respect to the collection, use, transfer, and processing of personal information, as defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.100 et seq., as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (“CRPA”) and implementing regulations. AAJ, as a non-profit entity, is not subject to the CCPA. However, AAJ strives to provide California residents with the rights they would otherwise be entitled to under the Act.
This California Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes how we collect, use, disclose, and secure the personal information we gather about you through our “Sites”, ww.justice.org, community.justice.org, as well as our microsites, mobile applications, AAJ profiles on social media platforms, and when you otherwise interact with any other digital services and platforms operated or used by AAJ (collectively, the “Services”).
We reserve the right to limit these rights where permitted under applicable law, including where your identity cannot be reasonably verified or to the extent your rights adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.
What Information Do We Collect?
The below examples are illustrative examples from the CCPA and do not reflect the specific pieces of information we collect.
In the previous 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information:
Category[1]
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Examples
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Collected
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A. Identifiers
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A real name, alias, postal address, unique personal identifier, online identifier, Internet Protocol address, email address, account name, or other similar identifiers.
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Yes |
B. Personal Information
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A name, signature, physical characteristics or description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver’s license or state identification card number, insurance policy number, education, employment, employment history, bank account number, credit card number, debit card number, or any other financial information, medical information, or health insurance information.
Some personal information included in this category may overlap with other categories.
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Yes |
C. Protected Classification Characteristics Under California or Federal Law
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Age (40 years or older), race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion or creed, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy or childbirth and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, veteran or military status, genetic information (including familial genetic information).
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Yes |
D. Commercial Information
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Records of personal property, products or services purchased, obtained, or considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies.
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Yes |
E. Biometric Information
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Genetic, physiological, behavioral, and biological characteristics, or activity patterns used to extract a template or other identifier or identifying information, such as, fingerprints, faceprints, and voiceprints, iris or retina scans, keystroke, gait, or other physical patterns, and sleep, health, or exercise data.
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No |
F. Internet or Other Similar Network Activity
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Browsing history, search history, information on a consumer’s interaction with a website, application, or advertisement.
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Yes |
G. Geolocation Data
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Physical location or movements.
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Yes |
H. Sensory Data
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Audio, electronic, visual, thermal, olfactory, or similar information.
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No |
I. Professional or Employment-Related Information
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Current or past job history or performance evaluations. Professional information ordinarily collected as part of standard business to business relationships, including business contact information and communications.
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Yes |
J. Non-Public Education Information
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Education records directly related to a student maintained by an educational institution or party acting on its behalf, such as grades, transcripts, class lists, student schedules, student identification codes, student financial information, or student disciplinary records.
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Yes |
K. Inferences Drawn of the Consumer
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Inferences drawn from personal information identified above to create a profile about a consumer reflecting a consumer’s preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes.
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Yes |
L. Sensitive Personal Information |
Personal information that reveals (a) Social Security, driver’s license, state identification card, or passport number; (b) account log-in, financial account, debit card, or credit card number in combination with any required security or access code, password, or credential allowing access to an account; (c) precise geolocation; (d) racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, or union membership; (e) the contents of a consumer’s mail, email, and text messages unless the business is the intended recipient of the communication; or (f) genetic data.
Biometric information processed for the purpose of uniquely identifying a consumer, personal information collected and analyzed concerning a consumer’s health, sex life, or sexual orientation.
Some Sensitive Personal Information included in this category may overlap with other categories. |
Sources from Which Personal Information Is Collected
We collect your personal information directly from you, from your interaction with the Site, from publicly available sources, and from third parties which collect the personal information directly from you.
Retention of Your Personal Information
We will retain your personal information until the personal information is no longer necessary to accomplish the purpose for which it was provided. We may retain your personal information for longer periods for specific purposes to the extent that we are obliged to do so in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, to protect you, other people, and us from fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access, as necessary to protect our legal rights, or for certain business requirements.
We will delete your personal information when it is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or upon your request, subject to exceptions as discussed in this Statement or under applicable law, contract, or regulation.
Business or Commercial Purposes for Which Personal Information Is Collected
Your personal information is used for the following purposes:
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To present our Services and its contents in a suitable and effective manner for you and your device;
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To provide our Services to you, including but not limited to purposes such as order fulfilment and the delivery of requested notices, updates, and presentations;
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To contact you to provide you with information or services that you request from us;
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To advertise opportunities, services, or special events that we think may be of interest to you;
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To provide customer support, troubleshoot issues, manage accounts, and respond to requests, questions, or comments;
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To carry out our obligations and enforce our rights arising from any contracts; and
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To notify you about any additions, upgrades, or changes in our Services.
Third Parties with Whom Personal Information Is Disclosed, Shared, or Sold
In the preceding 12 months, we have disclosed the following personal information about consumers for business purposes:
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We disclose personal information in each of the categories listed above with service providers that allow us to provide our Services.
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We disclose content posted on our social media platforms (e.g., if a consumer “comments” on a story) with other consumers. Such posts may include personal information in categories A and B, but the content depends on the individual posts.
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We may disclose all of your information, including your personal information, with our subsidiaries and affiliates in connection with providing the Services to you or otherwise in connection with our operations.
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We may disclose your email address to our affiliates, including affiliated trial lawyer organizations in support of our Services.
In the preceding 12 months, we have shared for cross-contextual behavioral advertising the personal information in categories A (identifiers), B (personal), D (commercial), F (internet), G (geolocation), and K (inferences).
In the preceding twelve (12) months, we have not sold the personal information of any consumer for monetary consideration. However, our use of cookies and other online tracking technologies may be considered a sale of personal information under the CCPA. Categories of personal information that we have sold under the CCPA include categories A (identifiers), B (personal), D (commercial), F (internet), G (geolocation), and K (inferences). Categories of third parties to whom personal information is sold under the CCPA include data analytics providers and advertising and marketing providers.
You can opt out of our tracking technologies for analytics and advertising service providers by clicking the Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information link or by broadcasting the Global Privacy Control signal during your browsing session. Please note that your use of our website will still be tracked by AAJ and its service providers.
We do not have actual knowledge that we sell or share the personal information of consumers under sixteen (16) years of age.
Individual Rights
a. Right to Know About Personal Information Collected, Disclosed, Shared, or Sold
You have the right to request that we disclose the personal information we collect, use, and disclose about you to third parties. There are two types of Rights to Know requests that you can make:
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Right to Know (Abbreviated Request): If you make a Right to Know (Abbreviated Request), you will receive the following information about you:
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Right to Know (Specific Pieces of Information Request): If you make a Right to Know (Specific Pieces of Information Request), you will receive the following information about you:
This information will be provided to you free of charge, unless we determine that your request is manifestly unfounded or excessive. You may request this information twice in a 12-month period.
There are certain exceptions to a consumer’s Right to Know. We will state in our response if an exception applies.
b. Right of Deletion
You have the right to request that we and our service providers delete any personal information about your which we have collected from you upon receipt of a verifiable request. This right is subject to certain exceptions. We will state in our response if an exception applies.
c. Right to Opt-Out of the Sale or Sharing of Personal Information
You have the right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information by a business subject to certain laws and regulations.
Please note that opt-out choices may be stored via cookies. If you clear cookies, if your browser blocks cookies, or if you view the page from a different browser or device, your opt-out choice may no longer be logged or recognized.
For more information, please visit our Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information page.
d. Right to Non-Discrimination
You have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising the privacy rights conferred by California law. We will not discriminate against you because you exercised any of your privacy rights, including, but not limited to, by: denying goods or services to you; charging different prices or rates for goods or services, including through the use of discounts or other benefits or imposing penalties; providing a different level of quality of goods or services to you; or suggesting that you will receive a different price or rate for goods or services or a different level or quality of goods or services. We will also not retaliate against any employee, applicant for employment, or independent contractor for exercising their rights under the CCPA.
e. Right of Correction
We strive to ensure that our records are up to date and contain accurate information. If we maintain inaccurate personal information about you, you have the right to request that we correct the inaccurate personal information upon receipt of a verifiable request. Taking into account the nature of the personal information and purposes of processing the personal information, you have the right to request that we correct inaccurate personal information about you, if applicable. When submitting such a request, please provide all information reasonably necessary for us to determine the accuracy of the information at issue.
f. Right to Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information
If we process Sensitive Personal Information, we will only do so for the purposes specifically authorized by California law and in a manner that is necessary and proportionate for those purposes. As such, we do not perform any processing for which a Right to Limit request is available.
g. Submitting Requests
You can submit your request by emailing us at membership@justice.org or by calling us at 800-424-2727. We will endeavor to respond to your requests as quickly as possible.
h. Verifying Requests
To ensure the protection of your personal information, we must verify that the individual submitting a request to know, request to delete, or request to correct is the consumer to whom the request relates prior to processing the request. To verify a California consumer’s identity, we may request up to three pieces of personal information about you when you make a request to compare against our records. We may also request that you sign a declaration under the penalty of perjury from the consumer whose personal information is the subject of the request.
Making a verifiable consumer request does not require you to create an account with us.
We will only use personal information provided in your request to verify your identity and will delete any information you provide after processing the request. We reserve the right to take additional steps as necessary to verify the identity of California consumers where we have reason to believe a request is fraudulent.
i. Authorized Agents
You may choose a person or a business registered with the California Secretary of State that you authorize to act on your behalf to submit your requests (“Authorized Agent”). If you choose to use an Authorized Agent, we require that you provide the Authorized Agent with written permission to allow them to submit your request and that you verify your identity directly with us. Failure to do so may result in AAJ denying your request.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us by email at membership@justice.org or by phone at 800-424-2727.
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Canada Anti-Spam Law (CASL)
AAJ complies with CASL. Non-AAJ Members or associates who have provided us a Canadian mailing address will not receive unauthorized Commercial Electronic Messages (CEMs as defined under CASL) unless these individuals have opted-in to receive CEMs.
Children’s Privacy
We do not knowingly solicit information from, and the Site is not intended for, children under 13 years of age, and children under 13 years of age should not provide personal information online. If a parent or a guardian becomes aware that his or her child under the age of 13 years has provided us with information without their consent, he or she should contact us. We will delete such information from our files.
Do Not Track
The Sites do not respond to “do not track” signals by Web browsers.
Security
AAJ implements commercially reasonable security measures to help protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure, or destruction of data. When we allow third-party service providers or certain companies access to User information in order to operate, develop or improve our services, those third-party service providers and companies are bound by confidentiality obligations and may be subject to discipline, including termination and civil and criminal prosecution if they fail to meet these obligations. However, no data transmission over the Internet may be guaranteed to be 100% secure and AAJ cannot guarantee or warranty the security of any information a User transmits to us, or to or from our online products and services.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
AAJ reserves the right to amend or update this Privacy Policy at any time, for any reason. When we do, we will post a notification indicated by the “Last Updated” date on the main page of the Sites. You acknowledge and agree that it is the Users’ responsibility to review this Privacy Policy periodically and become aware of modifications.
Your Acceptance of this Privacy Policy
By using the Sites, you signify your acceptance of this Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy is effective as of the “last updated” date listed. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of changes to this Privacy Policy is deemed your acceptance of those changes.
Contacting Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of the Sites, or your dealings with the Sites, please contact us via email at membership@justice.org or by calling 800-424-2727.
This document was last updated on February 22, 2024.
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