TERMS OF USE
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (“NLS”) owns and operates this website (“Website”). These Terms of Use apply only to NLS’ online practices occurring on the Website, and do not apply to NLS practices conducted offline. By visiting the Website, you are accepting the practices and policies described in these Terms of Use, and you further are indicating that you agree to be bound by them. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, you should not visit this Website or use any of the “links” on this Website. NLS may update these Terms of Use from time to time, so please check periodically for changes. The date these Terms of Use were last updated is stated at the very end of these Terms of Use.
This Website and its contents, as a whole and in part are protected by copyright, trade name and other intellectual property, and are owned or controlled by NLS. By downloading any materials or accessing or using any part of the Website, you will be bound by these Terms of Use. NLS may change, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Website at any time. By downloading, accessing, or using the Website in order to view information and materials of any kind, you represent that you: (i) are at least eighteen (18) years of age, or between thirteen (13) and seventeen (17) years of age and using the Website with parental or legal guardian consent and supervision.
Personal information you provide and how it is used: You may freely visit the Website anonymously and without being required to provide us with any personal information; however, certain requests and features do require that you provide NLS with some personally identifying information as more particularly described below. Personal information is data that can be used to identify or contact you. Please do not send confidential information to us directly through this Website, or by email to any of the contact email addresses listed on this Website.
Donate: NLS uses NeonOne services to process donations and transactions. For a description of how they protect the information collected, see the NeonOne privacy policy at https://neonone.com/privacypolicy/. If you make a donation through the Website via the “donate” button, on behalf of NLS, NeonOne will ask you to provide certain personally identifying information, such as your name and home address, as well as your credit card billing information, in order to process the donation. The credit card information that you provide at the time of donation is used only to process your donation and will not be stored or used for any other purpose; however, if you opt to make a recurring donation, your credit card information will be stored and used for the purpose of processing your recurring donation.
Emails: There are various opportunities for Website visitors to sign up for NLS emails (e.g., NLS’ Newsletter). If you opt to join NLS’ mailing list to receive the latest updates on news and events, NLS will ask you to provide certain personally identifying information, including your email address, and first and last name. You may unsubscribe from these emails at any time by using the link provided in the footer of all such emails.
Non-personal information NLS collects by automated means and how NLS uses it: NLS also collects certain non-personal information (data in a form that does not support direct association with any specific person or individual) by automated means when you visit the Website. Much of this information is collected through the use of third party tracking services, which includes Google Analytics. The information collected may include usage information, such as the numbers and frequency of users to the Website, pages visited, web browsing histories, your location and device, social networking activities and similar data. When gathered, this data is used in the aggregate, and not in a manner that is intended to identify you personally. From time to time, this type of aggregate information may be shared with third parties. In addition to the third party tracking services mentioned above, NLS also collects this information through various other means, including “cookies,” “web beacons,” and IP addresses, as further explained below.
Cookies; Scripts – A cookie is a piece of information that a web server may place on your computer when you visit a website. Cookies are commonly used by websites to improve the user experience. Many cookies last only through a single website session, or visit. Others may have an expiration date or may remain on your computer until you delete them. NLS may use “session cookies” to enhance the user experience and for other web-related purposes. These session cookies are not linked to personally identifiable information. NLS may also use cookies for other purposes, including to maintain continuity during a user session, to gather data about the usage of the Website for research and other purposes, or to store a user name or related login credentials so that you do not have to provide this information every time you return to the Website. NLS may also employ the use of scripts on the Website. Scripts are small computer programs embedded within web pages that give those pages extra functionality.
Most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookie/scripts, how to be notified when you receive a new cookie/script, and how to disable existing cookies/scripts. If you disable the use of cookies/scripts, you may not be able to take full advantage of all the features on the Website.
Pixel Tags – NLS’ Website may contain pixel tags (also known as Internet tags, web beacons and clear GIFs). These web beacons allow third parties to obtain information such as the IP address of the computer that downloaded the page on which the beacon appears, the URL of the page on which the pixel tag appears, the time the page containing the tag was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies set by the third party. Pixel tags also may be used to track whether you have opened an HTML email. When the email is opened, a part of the code that makes up the HTML page calls a web server to load the pixel tag that then generates a record showing that the email has been viewed. Pixel tags also may recognize when the email was opened, how many times it was forwarded and which URLs (links within the email) were clicked.
IP Addresses – When you visit and interact with the Website, third parties with whom NLS has contracted to provide services may collect Internet Protocol addresses (each an “IP Address”), as well as browser type, Internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and page navigation. An IP Address is a unique identifier number that certain electronic devices use to identify and to communicate with each other on the Internet; your Internet Service Provider automatically assigns an IP Address to the computer that you are using. NLS gathers this information to track Website visitor movement in the aggregate, and to gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. NLS may use this information to enhance the Website or for other lawful purposes.
NLS may disclose all the information (described herein) that it collects, as stated in this Privacy Policy including in accordance with the terms set forth in this section. NLS works with a variety of third party partners in order to allow it to make the Website available to you, to host and store the information NLS collects from you, and to provide certain functionality and features. NLS also may share the personally identifiable information you provide it with partners and third parties in regard to direct mail opportunities.
Except as stated in this Privacy Policy, NLS does not reveal personally identifiable information about you to third parties for their independent use unless: (1) you expressly authorize NLS to do so; (2) it is necessary to allow NLS and its service providers or agents to provide services on NLS’ behalf; (3) it is to provide products or services to you; (4) it is disclosed to entities that perform marketing or data aggregation services for NLS; (5) it is necessary in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of NLS or the merger of NLS into another entity or any consolidation, share exchange, combination, reorganization, or like transaction in which NLS is not the survivor; or (6) NLS is required or permitted to do so for any or all of the following reasons: (i) to comply with a subpoena, legal process, government request or any other legal obligation; (ii) to prevent, investigate, detect, or prosecute criminal offenses or attacks on the technical integrity of the Website or our network; and/or (iii) to protect the rights, privacy, property, business, or safety of NLS, its partners and employees or the visitors to the Website.
NLS complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (“COPPA”). COPPA requires that web site operators never knowingly request personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13 without requesting verifiable parental consent.
In accordance with COPPA, NLS does not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. NLS recommends that no one under the age of 18 submits personally identifiable information to the Website. In the event that NLS determines that a user of this Website is under the age of 13, NL will not maintain or use his/her/their personally identifiable information.
The Website is not intended for children under 13 years of age; however, if a parent or guardian of a child who is under 13 years of age discovers that any personal information of the child has been submitted to NLS through the Website without the parent’s or guardian’s consent, NLS will use commercially reasonable measures to remove such personal information from the Website at the parent’s or guardian’s request. To request the removal of personal information of a child under 13 years of age, the parent or guardian must contact NLS as set forth in the Contact Section, and provide all information requested to assist it in identifying the information to be removed.
NLS also may provide links to a variety of third-party social media sites, platforms and/or websites – such as Facebook, X and others – as a service to you, and in order to provide you i) additional information and/or content related to NLS, or ii) additional venues through which you can learn about and discuss NLS activities. NLS encourages you to review and understand their privacy practices and policies, if any, before providing any personally identifying information to them. NLS is not responsible for the content or information of these websites and platforms, or any other use of the linked websites and platforms.
NLS maintains presence on several social media/networking platforms, such as Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. NLS may incorporate some third-party social media/ networking features onto the Website that may allow you to share and/or publicly post content or information from the Website to your profile on a third-party social network. Through these platforms and features, NLS may receive some personal information and some Website usage information about you, and this Policy applies to that information as well. In addition, third party social networking platforms and blogging platforms have their own privacy policies that explain how these third parties will use and protect your information. If you choose to use the third party social networking features on the Website, NLS may suggest language for you to post on your social network (such as “John Smith read our NLS News”).
NLS maintains – and asks that any third-party partners who may store information on our behalf to maintain – administrative, technical and physical safeguards for the Website designed to protect your personal information against theft, loss, misuse or unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction of the personal information that we collect from you. NLS restricts access to personal information collected about you on the Website to its employees, those who are otherwise specified in this Privacy Policy, or others who need to know such information to provide services to you or in the course of conducting our business operations or activities; however, no website, application or transmission can guarantee security. Thus, while NLS has established and maintains what it believes to be reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personally identifying information obtained through the Website and strives to protect your personal information, it cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to NLS. When you link to one of the social media platforms, the personal information you share is visible to other users and can be read, collected, or used by them. You are responsible for the personal information you choose to submit in these instances, and understand, acknowledge, and agree that you transmit certain personal information over this Website at your own risk.
The security of your personal information is important to NLS. NLS will use commercially reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect your personal information from loss and unauthorized access, alteration, destruction, disclosure and use. Due to the inherent nature of the Internet as an open global communications vehicle, NLS cannot guarantee that any information, during transmission through the Internet or while stored on its system or otherwise in its care, will be absolutely safe from intrusion.
If you correspond with NLS by e-mail or using web forms like a “contact us” feature on the Website, you should be aware that your transmission might not be secure. A third party could view the information you send in transit by such means. NLS will have no liability for disclosure of your information due to errors or unauthorized acts of third parties during or after transmission.
If NLS believes that the security of your personal information in its care may have been compromised, it may seek to notify you of that development. If a notification is appropriate, NLS will endeavor to notify you as promptly as possible under the circumstances. If NLS has your e-mail address, it may notify you by e-mail. Through these Terms of Use, you consent to NLS’ use of e-mail as a means of such notification.
You agree to indemnify, defend and hold NLS and its respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents harmless from and against any and all claims, actions, demands, damages, costs, liabilities, losses and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs) arising out of your use of the Website. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL NLS HAVE ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR SPECIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE BREACH OF THESE TERMS OF USE, HOWEVER OCCASIONED.
These Terms of Use and the incorporated Privacy Policy will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to any principles of conflicts of law. You agree that any action at law or in equity that arises out of or relates to any use of the Website will be filed only in the state or federal courts located in Erie County, and you hereby consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be invalid by a court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these Terms of Use, which shall remain in full force and effect.
NLS does not represent or warrant that the Website, or any part thereof, is appropriate or available for use in any particular geographic location. If you choose to access our Website, you do so on your own initiative and at your own risk, and are responsible for complying with all local laws, rules, and regulations applicable in your jurisdiction. The Website is hosted in the United States and is governed by United States law. If you are visiting the Website from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored and processed in the United States where NLS servers are located and its central database is operated. The data protection and other laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country. By using the Website, you consent to your information being transferred to NLS facilities and to the facilities of those third parties with whom NLS shares it as described in the above Section 2. Privacy Policy.
NLS reserves the right to revise these Terms of Use at any time.
Except as set forth in this Section, these Terms of Use contain the entire agreement, and supersede all prior oral and written agreements, proposals and understandings, between NLS and you, with respect to information collected on this Website, including personal information. If you use the Website or otherwise have business dealings with NLS, such use or dealings will be subject to these Terms of use, plus any other written agreement between the parties that is applicable thereto.
If you have questions or comments about these Terms of Use, or your dealings with this Website, you may write to:
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. 47 Court Street Buffalo, NY 14203 Attn: Website
(716) 847-0650
Last updated: April 2025