Last Updated: 17/09/2026
This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which sets out how and why we collect, store, use, and share personal data generally.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other internet-enabled device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, provide a smoother browsing experience, remember your preferences, and provide analytical data to website owners.
Cookies can be:
Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that remain on your device until you close your web browser.
Persistent Cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them.
First-Party Cookies: Set directly by our website (
shaarbridgesolicitors.com).Third-Party Cookies: Set by external service providers operating on our behalf (e.g., analytics services or embedded video tools).
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for several practical reasons:
Enabling core website functionalities such as security, network management, and accessibility.
Understanding how visitors interact with our website to improve structure, content, and user experience.
Remembering your preferences (such as language or region settings).
Measuring the effectiveness of our online communications and legal services outreach.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Below is a breakdown of the categories of cookies used on our website:
A. Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the operation of our website. They allow you to navigate the site and use core features, such as accessing secure areas or completing contact/enquiry forms. Without these cookies, basic parts of our website cannot function.
Lawful Basis: Legitimate interests / Necessary for website operation (Consent is not required under PECR for strictly necessary cookies).
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
PHPSESSID / session_id | Shaar Bridge Solicitors | Maintains user session state across page requests. | Session |
cookie_consent_status | Shaar Bridge Solicitors | Stores your cookie preference selection from the consent banner. | 1 Year |
__cf_bm | Cloudflare (if applicable) | Manages bot traffic and protects website security. | 30 Minutes |
B. Analytical & Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count site visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our website. They help us understand which pages are the most and least popular, and see how visitors move around the site. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and anonymous.
Lawful Basis: Consent (Granted via our Cookie Banner).
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
_ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. | 2 Years |
_ga_[CONTAINER_ID] | Google Analytics | Persists session state and tracks interaction data. | 2 Years |
_gid | Google Analytics | Stores and updates a unique value for each page visited. | 24 Hours |
C. Functionality Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages (such as live chat tools or embedded maps).
Lawful Basis: Consent (Granted via our Cookie Banner).
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
tidio_state_* | Tidio LLC | Saves the live chat state, visitor identity, and recent messages so you can navigate the website without losing your ongoing chat session. | Persistent |
__tidio_internal_* | Tidio LLC | Enables real-time messaging performance, session synchronization, and widget display settings. | Persistent |
tidio_script_check | Tidio LLC | Detects whether the chat script has loaded correctly in your browser. | Session |
NID / CONSENT | Google Maps | Remembers preferences for embedded office location maps. | 6 Months |
D. Marketing & Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by third-party advertising partners (such as Google Ads or LinkedIn). They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant legal service advertisements on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.
Lawful Basis: Consent (Granted via our Cookie Banner).
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
_gcl_au | Google Ads | Used by Google AdSense for experimenting with advertisement efficiency across websites. | 3 Months |
li_sugr | Used to collect browser data to optimize ad relevance on LinkedIn. | 3 Months |
4. How to Manage and Control Cookies
When you first visit our website, you will be presented with a Cookie Consent Banner that allows you to accept all cookies, customize your preferences by category, or reject non-essential cookies.
You can also control and manage cookies through your web browser settings at any time:
Changing Preferences via Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to block, delete, or manage cookies:
Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data.
Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data.
Microsoft Edge: Settings → Site Permissions → Cookies and site data.
Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data.
Please note: If you block or disable strictly necessary cookies, certain features of our website may not function properly.
Opting Out of Analytics
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on page at: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
5. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or how we operate our website. Any updates will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.
6. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us:
Firm: Shaar Bridge Solicitors
Address: 26 Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3HD
Telephone: 01234 810 786