Lawyer’s Terms and Conditions of Use
Effective Date: 21-07-2025
1. LAWYER REGISTRATION AND PROFILE MANAGEMENT
1.1 Registration Requirements
To register as a lawyer on the Lawyer-Talk platform, you must be a duly licensed and qualified legal practitioner in good standing with your jurisdiction’s Bar Council or equivalent authority. Mandatory information required includes:
- Full Name (as per official legal records)
- Bar Council Registration Number (valid and verifiable)
- Practice Areas (e.g., Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Corporate Law)
- Educational Qualifications (verified law degrees and certifications)
- Professional History (years of practice, affiliations, notable cases)
- License Verification (proof of a current, valid license and good standing certificate)
1.2 Profile Management and Updates
Lawyers must maintain accurate, up-to-date profiles. Failure to update material information may result in suspension or termination of your account. Lawyers are solely responsible for ensuring correctness and completeness of their information.
2. OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1 Professional Conduct
All lawyers must maintain the highest ethical and professional standards, including:
- Delivering competent, clear, and legally sound advice
- Ensuring confidentiality of all user and case-related data
- Avoiding discriminatory or unprofessional behavior
- Complying with laws, regulations, and Bar Council rules
2.2 Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards
You are required to:
- Maintain client confidentiality, unless legally mandated to disclose
- Disclose conflicts of interest immediately
- Stay updated on relevant laws, rules, and case precedents
2.3 Availability and Response Time
- Respond to user queries within 48 hours
- Clearly state consultation availability and pricing
- Notify and reschedule appointments only in emergencies
3. PAYMENT AND FEES
3.1 Fee Structure
- Lawyers may independently set consultation fees
- Lawyer-Talk will charge a commission of 35% to 55% per consultation
- Fees must comply with Bar Council and ethical standards
3.2 Payment Schedule
- Payments are processed within 14 business days post-consultation
- Paid electronically to registered accounts
- Refunds are governed by the platform’s Refund Policy
3.3 Taxation
Lawyers are responsible for calculating, collecting, and remitting applicable taxes (including GST and Income Tax). Proper documentation must be maintained for audits.
4. LAWYER’S LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMER
4.1 Limitation of Liability
Lawyer-Talk:
- Does not guarantee legal outcomes
- Does not endorse specific legal advice
Users acknowledge:
- Lawyer-Talk is a technology platform, not a law firm
- Users must exercise independent discretion before acting on advice
4.2 Confidentiality and Data Security
Lawyers must:
- Abide by platform security protocols
- Use encrypted and secure communication tools
- Retain legal records in accordance with applicable laws
4.3 Indemnification
Lawyers shall indemnify Lawyer-Talk against:
- Any third-party claims arising from their legal services
- Breaches of law, duty, or these Terms
5. PERFORMANCE AND RATING SYSTEM
5.1 Lawyer Rating System
Users may rate lawyers based on:
- Professionalism
- Timeliness
- Accuracy and clarity of advice
- Overall satisfaction
5.2 Responding to Feedback
Lawyers may respond respectfully. Retaliation, manipulation, or abuse in reviews is prohibited.
6. ACCOUNT SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION
6.1 Grounds for Suspension or Termination
Accounts may be suspended or terminated for:
- Ethical violations
- False information
- Prolonged unavailability or poor performance
6.2 Consequences
Post-termination:
- Access to platform is revoked
- Final payments will be disbursed as per policy
7. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
7.1 Mediation and Arbitration
Disputes shall first be resolved through mediation. If unresolved, they shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
7.2 Platform’s Role
Lawyer-Talk acts as a neutral facilitator and bears no liability for outcomes of legal consultations.
8. VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL AND REMOVAL
8.1 Voluntary Withdrawal
Lawyers may request account deactivation. Payments for completed consultations will still be processed.
8.2 Platform’s Right to Remove
Lawyer-Talk may remove lawyers for breaches of terms, poor user feedback, or inactivity.
9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All platform content (excluding lawyer-uploaded materials) is proprietary to Lawyer-Talk and may not be copied or used without permission.
10. NON-SOLICITATION CLAUSE
Lawyers must not solicit clients outside the platform during or after their tenure on Lawyer-Talk.
11. NON-DISPARAGEMENT CLAUSE
Lawyers agree not to publicly criticize or disparage the platform or its users. Breach may result in legal and professional consequences.
12. FORCE MAJEURE
Lawyer-Talk is not responsible for service interruptions due to natural disasters, government actions, cyberattacks, or other uncontrollable events.
13. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PLATFORM DATA
Lawyers shall not share, distribute, or misuse platform data or analytics for any commercial advantage.
14. UPDATES TO TERMS
These Terms may be modified. Continued use of the platform implies acceptance of updated terms.
15. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
These Terms shall be governed by the laws of India. Jurisdiction shall lie with the courts of Delhi.
16. GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM
Users and lawyers may contact our Grievance Officer:
- Name: Kajal Singh
- Email: support@lawyer-talk.com
- WhatsApp: +91 72075 83477
- Business Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM IST
Complaints will be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 15 business days.
17. INDEPENDENT STATUS
Lawyers are independent contractors, not employees or agents of Lawyer-Talk. They are fully responsible for their practice and compliance.
18. TAX COMPLIANCE
Lawyers shall:
- Maintain tax records
- File returns in accordance with Indian tax laws
- Ensure GST registration if applicable
19. TERMINATION OF SERVICES
Lawyer-Talk reserves the right to alter, suspend, or discontinue services. Users and lawyers will be notified where feasible. Final dues will be settled in accordance with policy.
20. COMPLIANCE WITH BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA RULES
Lawyer-Talk operates in strict compliance with Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules. Lawyer profiles are informational and not promotional. The platform does not solicit or advertise legal services, and all interactions are user-initiated.
Lawyers confirm their use of this platform aligns with Bar Council regulations and undertake not to solicit or advertise services via the platform.