Privacy Policy &
Data Protection

Hila Law Group ("the Firm," "we," "us," or "our") is a U.S. immigration law firm based in Los Angeles, California. We are committed to protecting the privacy of every person who contacts us, visits our website, or entrusts us with their legal matter. The information you share with us is treated with the highest level of confidentiality, consistent with our professional and ethical obligations as a licensed law firm.

This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through our website (hilalawgroup.com), our Immicompliance client portal, our telephone consultations, email communications, and any other interactions you have with our firm. This policy does not apply to third-party websites, applications, or services that may be linked from our site.

The data controller responsible for your personal information is:

Hila Law Group practices exclusively in U.S. immigration law and appears before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), immigration courts, and other federal agencies nationwide. All legal services are provided from our Los Angeles office and are governed by the laws of the State of California and applicable federal law.

We collect information in several ways — directly from you, automatically through your use of our website, and in some cases from third parties. The type of information collected depends on the nature of your interaction with us.

Information You Provide Directly

• Contact information — your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address when you fill out a contact form, schedule a consultation, or reach out to us by phone or email
• Case-related information — immigration history, nationality, country of birth, visa status, employment history, family information, and other details necessary to evaluate or handle your immigration matter
• Identity documents — passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, tax records, and other documents you upload through our Immicompliance portal or send to us during the course of representation
• Payment information — billing name, address, and payment method details when you pay for legal services (payment card data is processed by a third-party payment processor and is not stored on our systems)
• Communications — any messages, questions, or feedback you send us by email, phone, text message, or through our portal
• Consultation notes — information shared during free consultations, whether in person, by phone, or by video call

Information Collected Automatically

• IP address and device information — your IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers when you visit our website
• Usage data — pages visited, time spent on each page, links clicked, and referring URLs
• Cookies and similar technologies — session cookies and analytics cookies that help us understand how visitors use our website (see Section 6 for more detail)
• Log data — server logs recording website activity, access times, and error reports

Information from Third Parties

• Referrals from other attorneys, clients, or community organizations who provide your name and contact information
• Publicly available government records and court documents relevant to your case
• USCIS, immigration courts, or other agencies in connection with your pending immigration matter

We use the information we collect only for lawful purposes directly related to the provision of legal services and the operation of our firm. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes under any circumstances.

Primary Uses

• To evaluate your immigration situation and provide legal advice and representation
• To prepare, file, and track immigration applications, petitions, and court filings on your behalf
• To communicate with USCIS, immigration courts, U.S. embassies, consulates, and other government agencies in connection with your case
• To respond to your inquiries, schedule consultations, and provide case updates
• To process payments and maintain billing records
• To give you access to your case file through the Immicompliance client portal
• To send you secure messages and case deadline notifications through our portal and SMS system
• To comply with our legal, ethical, and professional obligations as a licensed law firm

Secondary Uses

• To improve our website and user experience based on aggregated, anonymized usage data
• To analyze website traffic and understand how visitors find and interact with our site
• To send you important updates about changes to immigration laws or procedures that may affect your case (only if you are an existing client)
• To maintain records for conflict-of-interest checks before accepting new clients
• To fulfill our obligations under applicable law, court orders, or legal process

We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for commercial purposes. We disclose your information only in the following limited and necessary circumstances:

Government Agencies — Required for Your Case

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• U.S. Department of State (embassies and consulates)
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) — immigration courts
• U.S. Department of Labor (for PERM and employment-based cases)
• Other federal, state, or local agencies as required by law or your case

Trusted Service Providers

We work with a limited number of carefully selected service providers who assist us in operating our firm and delivering services to you. These providers are contractually required to protect your information and may only use it for the specific purpose for which it was shared:

• Immicompliance — our secure client portal provider for case management, document storage, and secure communications
• Payment processor — a third-party provider for secure billing and payment collection
• Cloud storage and email providers — used for secure file storage and encrypted communications
• Website hosting and analytics — for operating and improving our website

Legal Requirements

• When required by a valid court order, subpoena, or legal process
• When necessary to prevent fraud, illegal activity, or imminent harm
• When required to comply with applicable law or professional ethics rules
• When necessary to protect the legal rights of Hila Law Group in a legal dispute

With Your Consent

We may share your information with other parties — such as co-counsel, translators, or expert witnesses — only with your explicit written authorization.

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our site. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device when you visit a website.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies — required for the website to function correctly, such as session management and security. These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies — help us understand which pages are visited most, how long visitors stay, and where they come from. We use this data in aggregate to improve our website. We may use Google Analytics or similar tools for this purpose.
• Functional cookies — remember your preferences, such as language selection, to improve your experience on return visits.

Managing Cookies

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some functionality of our website. To opt out of Google Analytics tracking, you may use the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. We do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" signals from browsers, as there is no uniform standard for this technology.

We take the security of your personal information extremely seriously. As a law firm handling sensitive immigration and personal data, we have implemented industry-standard technical and organizational safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

Security Measures We Use

• SSL/TLS encryption — all data transmitted between your browser and our website is encrypted in transit
• Secure client portal — Immicompliance uses end-to-end encryption for document storage, communications, and case data
• Access controls — only authorized firm personnel have access to client files, on a need-to-know basis
• Secure document storage — case files and personal documents are stored on encrypted, access-controlled systems
• Secure SMS communications — client communications through our portal use encrypted messaging channels
• Regular security reviews — we periodically review and update our security practices to address new risks

While we take every reasonable precaution to protect your data, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to promptly notifying you if we become aware of any breach that may affect your personal information, in accordance with applicable California and federal breach notification laws.

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with our legal and professional obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

• Active client files — retained for the duration of your representation and for a minimum of seven (7) years after the conclusion of your matter, in accordance with California State Bar rules for retention of client files
• Closed cases — after the retention period, case files are securely destroyed or permanently anonymized
• Consultation-only contacts — information from individuals who consulted with us but did not become clients is retained for up to two (2) years for conflict-of-interest checking purposes
• Website analytics data — aggregated, anonymized usage data is retained for up to twenty-six (26) months
• Marketing communications (opt-in only) — retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion

You may request earlier deletion of your personal information (subject to our legal retention obligations) by contacting us at the details provided in Section 16.

Depending on where you live, you may have specific rights regarding your personal information. Hila Law Group is committed to honoring these rights to the fullest extent permitted by law.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 16. We will respond to all valid requests within thirty (30) days. In some cases, we may need to verify your identity before processing your request. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). These rights include all those listed in Section 9, plus the following:

• Right to Know — you have the right to know what categories of personal information we collect, the purposes for collection, and whether we share it with third parties
• Right to Opt Out of Sale — we do not sell your personal information. You do not need to opt out, but if our practices change, we will notify you and provide a clear opt-out mechanism
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information — you may request that we limit our use of sensitive personal information (such as immigration status, national origin, or biometric data) to purposes strictly necessary to provide you with our services
• Right to Non-Discrimination — we will not deny, charge different prices for, or provide a different level of service to you based on your exercise of these rights
• Right to Correct Inaccurate Information — you may request that we correct inaccurate personal information we hold about you

To submit a CCPA/CPRA request, please contact us at the details in Section 16 or submit a written request to our Los Angeles office. We will verify your identity and respond within forty-five (45) days, with an extension of an additional forty-five (45) days where reasonably necessary.

Hila Law Group serves clients from over 50 countries, including Israel, and our website is accessible worldwide. If you are accessing our website or services from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers are located and where our firm operates.

The data protection laws in the United States may differ from those in your country of residence, including the European Union or Israel. By using our website or engaging our services, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in the United States in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Israeli Users: As a firm with deep connections to the Israeli community and an attorney licensed by the Israel Bar Association, we are particularly mindful of the privacy requirements under Israel's Privacy Protection Law (5741-1981) and the regulations of the Israeli Privacy Protection Authority. We handle information relating to Israeli clients with the same high standards applied to all client data under California and U.S. federal law.

EU/EEA Users: If you are located in the European Economic Area, your personal data may be subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We process your data on the legal basis of legitimate interest (providing legal services you have requested) and, where applicable, your explicit consent. You may exercise your GDPR rights as described in Section 9.

Our website and general services are not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verified parental or guardian consent.

We do, however, collect and process information about minors in the course of providing legal immigration services — for example, when handling Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petitions, family-based petitions that include minor children, or DACA applications. In these cases, all information is collected under the supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or authorized adult representative, and is used solely for the purpose of the legal representation.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13 without appropriate consent, please contact us immediately at the details in Section 16 and we will take prompt steps to delete such information.

All information shared with Hila Law Group in the context of an attorney-client relationship is protected by attorney-client privilege and the duty of confidentiality under the California Rules of Professional Conduct and applicable law. This is a fundamental and non-negotiable protection that exists independently of this Privacy Policy.

This means that information you share with us during a consultation or in connection with a potential or existing legal matter is held in strict confidence and will not be disclosed to anyone outside the firm without your written consent, except as required by law or court order, or as necessary to provide your legal representation (e.g., filing documents with government agencies).

The attorney-client privilege protections described in this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, your rights under this Privacy Policy and applicable privacy law.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services — such as USCIS.gov, government agency portals, or legal resource websites. These links are provided for your convenience and informational purposes only.

We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices or content. Clicking on a link to a third-party website means you are leaving our site and your information will be governed by that website's own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any website you visit.

Our Immicompliance client portal is operated by a third-party provider. Access to and use of the portal is also subject to Immicompliance's own terms of service and privacy practices, in addition to the protections described in this policy. We carefully vet all third-party providers we use for client data handling.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the services we offer. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Post the revised policy on our website at hilalawgroup.com/privacy
• Notify existing clients of material changes by email or through the Immicompliance portal

Your continued use of our website or services after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

If you have questions or concerns about any changes to this policy, please contact us before continuing to use our services.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us. We are committed to addressing all privacy inquiries promptly and thoroughly.