Dispute Resolution & Platform Policies

1. How LawBar Works (and What LawBar Is Not)

LawBar is a communication and technology platform. We provide the technology for users to find and consult independent advocates.

• Advocates on LawBar are independent legal professionals — not employees or agents of LawBar.
• LawBar does not provide legal advice. Any advice or opinion you receive comes solely from the independent advocate you consult.
• The professional relationship is between you and the advocate. LawBar facilitates the connection and the technology; it is not a party to that relationship.
• LawBar does not take any share of an advocate's fees. Advocates set and keep their consultation fees. LawBar charges users a separate platform fee for use of the technology and access.
• LawBar does not guarantee any legal outcome. Legal results depend on facts, law, and factors outside any advocate's or platform's control.

2. The Free Consultation Window

Your first consultation with each advocate begins with a free initial period (first 5 minutes). This is your opportunity to assess whether the advocate is the right fit before any charges apply. If you are not satisfied during this window, end the consultation at no cost. Return consultations with the same advocate are billed per minute from when they join. Charges on first consultations begin only after the free period, on a transparent per-minute basis shown to you before and during the consultation.

3. Fees and Payments

• The advocate sets their per-minute consultation rate and keeps the full amount of their fee.
• LawBar charges the user a small, clearly-displayed platform fee for the technology and access. This is shown separately at checkout.
• If you choose to engage an advocate for ongoing work beyond the consultation (see Section 8), a one-time engagement fee of ₹299 applies. It is charged only if the advocate accepts your request — not when you send it.
• All charges are shown transparently before they apply.

4. Refund Policy

LawBar uses a fair, tiered refund approach.

Quality and conduct complaints are reviewed by LawBar case-by-case. We examine available records and may issue refunds and/or act against an advocate where warranted. Refund decisions are made by LawBar, not by the advocate.

5. Filing a Dispute

If something went wrong, raise a dispute within 7 days of a consultation through the in-app dispute form or by writing to support@lawbar.in. Include the session details and a description of the issue. LawBar will review available records and respond within 3–5 business days. Both parties may be asked for their account. LawBar's decision, based on the evidence and these policies, is final.

6. Conduct Expected of Users

To keep LawBar safe and fair, users must not:

• Abuse, threaten, or harass an advocate.
• Request assistance with anything illegal or unethical. (Advocates may decline such requests; time spent remains chargeable.)
• Misuse, record, or distribute consultation content without consent.
• Attempt to extract extended free legal work and then claim dissatisfaction to avoid payment.

Violations may result in warnings, suspension, or removal.

7. Conduct Expected of Advocates

Advocates on LawBar agree to:

• Provide professional, courteous consultations within their areas of competence.
• Be responsive when marked available and honor accepted consultation requests.
• Avoid misconduct, misrepresentation, or unprofessional behavior.
• Comply with all applicable rules of professional conduct, including those of the Bar Council of India and their State Bar Council.

Advocates who repeatedly miss requests, receive substantiated complaints, or violate these standards may be suspended or removed.

8. Keeping Consultations On-Platform, and Engaging Further

To protect both users and advocates, enable dispute resolution, and maintain a secure record, initial consultations must remain on the LawBar platform.

Exchanging personal contact details during the free or per-minute consultation is not permitted, and the platform may block such messages.

This protects both parties: it preserves a record for dispute resolution, ensures payment protection, and maintains confidentiality safeguards.

If you wish to engage an advocate for ongoing work after a consultation, LawBar offers a dedicated "Continue with this Advocate" option — the proper, protected way to take the relationship further.

• The option is available after you have completed a consultation with that advocate.
• The fee is a flat ₹299, paid by the user.
• To send a request, you must have at least ₹299 available in your wallet. Your balance is checked when you request, but nothing is deducted until the advocate accepts.
• The ₹299 is charged only when the advocate accepts — not when you send the request. If the advocate declines, or does not respond within 24 hours, there is no charge.
• When the advocate accepts, both parties' contact details (phone, and email where available) are shared with each other, and a continued channel opens for ongoing work.

Repeated attempts to circumvent the platform — including trying to exchange contact details during a consultation instead of using this process — may result in warnings and, ultimately, suspension or removal.

9. Regulatory & Professional Compliance

LawBar operates with awareness of the regulatory framework governing legal services in India, including Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules (framed under the Advocates Act, 1961), which governs how advocates may solicit work or advertise.

• LawBar positions itself as a technology and communication platform that advocates use to offer consultations — not as an advertiser or solicitor of work on any advocate's behalf, and not as a marketplace that ranks or promotes advocates.
• LawBar does not take a share of any advocate's fees. Its revenue comes from platform fees charged to users for use of the technology.
• Information shown on LawBar (such as advocate profiles, experience, practice areas, and verification status) is intended as factual information to help users make informed choices, consistent with permissible professional information — not as promotional ranking or advertising.
• Verification is provided free of charge as a user-safety measure to confirm an advocate's identity and credentials. It is not a paid or promotional badge.
• Advocates are responsible for ensuring their use of LawBar complies with their professional obligations, including BCI and State Bar Council rules.
• LawBar continues to review its practices in light of evolving regulatory guidance and judicial decisions affecting online legal-services platforms.

This section reflects LawBar's good-faith approach to compliance. It is not a representation that any particular advocate's participation is free from professional-conduct risk. Advocates should satisfy themselves, including through their own counsel where appropriate, regarding their compliance obligations.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, LawBar is not liable for the legal advice provided by independent advocates, for the outcome of any legal matter, or for the conduct of users or advocates. LawBar's responsibility is limited to providing the platform and facilitating consultations as described. Nothing here excludes liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

11. Changes to These Policies

LawBar may update these policies from time to time. Material changes are reflected by the "last updated" date above.