UK Client Terms & Conditions
These terms are provided for reference. The authoritative, always-current version is at esolicitors.com/terms. In the event of any discrepancy, the version on that page takes precedence.
CLIENT MASTER TERMS AND CONDITIONS
These Master Terms and Conditions (the "Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you (the "Client", "Buyer", "You", or "Your"), whether you are an individual or a company, partnership, or other legal entity and 'eSolicitors' which means Esol Corporation Limited with Company number 16927988 (the "Platform").
How These Terms Work
Please read these Terms carefully before using the Platform. These Terms govern your access to and use of the Platform's marketplace services. These Terms are presented to you contextually based on your role and location when you visit esolicitors.com/terms. If you are not registered as a lawyer on the Platform, you will see the client terms. You indicate your acceptance of these Terms at multiple points during your use of the Platform, each of which constitutes binding acceptance of the full Terms: (a) when you register on the Platform as a client; (b) when you request a Scoping Call through the Platform (which binds you to the scoping, engagement, and payment provisions); and (c) when you purchase a template or digital product from the template store (which binds you to the template purchase, use, and disclaimer provisions). Each acceptance point confirms your agreement to the Terms as a whole, with particular relevance to the provisions applicable to that action. You do not need to accept the Terms separately at each point if you have already accepted them, but the Platform may require you to reconfirm acceptance where there are financial implications or material updates.
By Registering, Requesting a Scoping Call, or Purchasing a Template, You Confirm That:
(a) You have read and understood these Terms in their entirety and agree to be bound by them.
(b) You are at least 18 years old. The Platform is not available to persons under the age of 18 and no person under 18 may use the Platform, purchase a Template Pack, or instruct a Solicitor through the Platform under any circumstances.
(c) You have the legal capacity to enter into contracts under the laws of England and Wales.
(d) If you are using the Platform on behalf of a business, you have authority to bind that business to these Terms.
(e) You understand and acknowledge that eSolicitors is a technology marketplace only. It does not provide legal advice or legal services of any kind. All legal advice is provided solely and exclusively by the solicitor you choose to instruct.
(f) You understand and acknowledge that eSolicitors is not regulated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Platform's existence, operation, or any listing on it does not constitute or imply any form of regulatory approval, endorsement, accreditation, or recommendation by any regulatory body.
(g) You understand that when you instruct a solicitor through the Platform, your contract for legal services is with that solicitor, not with the Platform.
(h) You will provide truthful, accurate, and complete information to the Platform and to any solicitor you instruct through the Platform.
(i) You will comply with your obligations under these Terms, including those relating to source of funds, identity verification, cooperation with your solicitor's regulatory obligations, and the truthfulness warranty.
(j) You understand that your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and other consumer protection legislation are not affected by these Terms.
The Platform is a technology marketplace connecting clients with qualified legal professionals, including solicitors regulated by the SRA and barristers regulated by the BSB. Where concerns arise, the Platform's approach is to provide reasonable opportunity for resolution before taking any formal steps under these Terms.
CONTENTS
Part A General Terms and Marketplace Model (Clauses 1-4)
Part B Using the Platform (Clauses 5-8)
Part C Your Relationship with Your Solicitor (Clauses 9-14C)
Part D Your Obligations: Truth, Accuracy, and Good Faith (Clauses 15-19)
Part E Source of Funds (Clauses 20-28)
Part F Cooperation with AML/KYC Requirements (Clauses 29-33)
Part G Fees and Payments (Clauses 34-41C)
Part H Your Consumer Rights (Clauses 42-46)
Part I Documents, Confidentiality, and Privilege (Clauses 47-52)
Part J Complaints (Clauses 53-60)
Part K Data Protection (Clauses 61-65)
Part L Liability and Disclaimers (Clauses 66-70B)
Part M General Provisions (Clauses 71-82, 71C, 81A)
PART A GENERAL TERMS AND MARKETPLACE MODEL
1. Definitions and Interpretation
1.1 In these Terms, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply:
"AI Scope Script" means the written summary of your matter generated by the Platform's AI system from the recorded Scoping Call, as described in clause 9A.3.
"AML" means anti-money laundering, including compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
"Applicable Law" means all laws, statutes, statutory instruments, regulations, orders, directives, and codes of practice in force from time to time in England and Wales that are applicable to the subject matter of these Terms.
"Approved Regulator" means a body designated as an approved regulator under Part 2 of the Legal Services Act 2007. In addition to the SRA and the BSB, approved regulators include CILEx Regulation (Chartered Legal Executives), the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB), the Faculty Office (Notaries Public), the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg) (Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) (for probate activities).
"Barrister" means a barrister registered with the Bar Standards Board and authorised to accept instructions through the Platform, whether through a solicitor or on a direct access basis.
"Beneficial Owner" means an individual who ultimately owns or controls more than 25% of the shares or voting rights in a legal entity, or who otherwise exercises control over the management of the entity, within the meaning of regulation 5 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
"BSB" means the Bar Standards Board.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday in England and Wales on which clearing banks in the City of London are open for general commercial business.
"CCR 2013" means the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
"CDD" means Customer Due Diligence as required by Part 3 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
"Chambers" means a set of barristers sharing premises and administrative services, but practising independently. A Barrister who practises from Chambers is not employed by the Chambers and is not a partner in the Chambers. Each Barrister in Chambers has their own practising certificate, their own clients, and their own professional indemnity insurance (through BMIF or an equivalent provider). Chambers are not SRA-authorised entities. The clerking and administrative staff of Chambers are employed by the Chambers entity, not by the individual Barrister.
"Client" means You, being the individual, company, partnership, limited liability partnership, trust, or other legal entity instructing or proposing to instruct a Solicitor through the Platform. References to "You" and "Your" apply equally whether the Client is a natural person or a legal entity.
"Client Care Letter" means the letter or document your Solicitor provides at the outset of the engagement setting out the terms on which they will act, the scope of work, costs information, and the complaints procedure.
"Client Money" means money held or received by a Solicitor on behalf of a client, or money held or received by a Solicitor as a trustee, as defined by Rule 2.1 of the SRA Accounts Rules.
"Confirmation Period" means the period following notification of service delivery during which You may confirm satisfactory delivery or raise a dispute, as set out in clause 38.
"Consumer" means an individual acting for purposes wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft, or profession, as defined by section 2(3) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
"CRA 2015" means the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
"Crypto Assets" means any cryptographically secured digital representation of value or contractual rights that uses distributed ledger technology, including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, utility tokens, and security tokens.
"DMCCA 2024" means the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
"Dual Qualified Solicitor" means a solicitor holding practising qualifications in England and Wales and one or more other jurisdictions.
"Dual-Regulated Solicitor" means a Solicitor who, in addition to being authorised by the SRA, also holds a current authorisation from another Approved Regulator (for example, a solicitor who is also a notary public, a solicitor who is also a registered patent attorney, or a solicitor who is also a costs lawyer).
"eSolicitors" means Esol Corporation Limited with Company number 16927988, a technology company that operates the Platform. eSolicitors is not a Law Firm, not regulated by the SRA, BSB, the Law Society, or the FCA, and does not provide legal services or legal advice.
"ECCTA 2023" means the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
"EDD" means Enhanced Due Diligence as required by regulation 33 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
"FCA" means the Financial Conduct Authority.
"Freelance Solicitor" means a solicitor authorised by the SRA to provide legal services directly to the public outside a traditional firm structure.
"Gift" means funds provided to You by a Third Party without any expectation of repayment or consideration.
"Held Funds" means funds paid by You through the Platform that are held by Stripe pending release to the Solicitor in accordance with clause 38.
"Initial Consultation Connection Fee" means the fee charged by the Platform in consideration for facilitating the initial connection between a Client and a Solicitor, as set out in clause 34.
"LASPO" means the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
"Legal Ombudsman" means the independent body established under the Legal Services Act 2007 for the handling of complaints about legal services providers in England and Wales.
"Legal Professional" means any barrister (including a public access barrister authorised by the BSB), solicitor, Law Firm, or other person authorised by an Approved Regulator under the Legal Services Act 2007 to provide legal services, who is registered and listed on the Platform. References in these Terms to "Solicitor or Legal Professional" or "Your Solicitor" include all categories of Legal Professional unless the context requires otherwise.
"Legal Services" means the legal services You are instructing or proposing to instruct through a Solicitor on the Platform.
"Legal Services Board" or "LSB" means the Legal Services Board, the oversight regulator for all Approved Regulators under the Legal Services Act 2007.
"Litigation Funding" means funding provided by a third party litigation funder to fund all or part of your legal costs in exchange for a share of any damages recovered or other agreed return.
"Loan" means funds borrowed from any source, whether formal or informal.
"LSAG Guidance" means the Legal Sector Affinity Group Anti-Money Laundering Guidance for the Legal Sector, as updated from time to time.
"Milestone Proposal" means the milestone-based costs proposal prepared by the Solicitor for your approval, as described in clause 9A.4.
"MLR 2017" means the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended).
"NCA" means the National Crime Agency.
"OFSI" means the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.
"Own Funds" means funds that belong to You, are held in accounts in your own name, and were generated, earned, saved, or accumulated by You from a lawful source.
"PEP" means a Politically Exposed Person within the meaning of regulation 35(12) of the MLR 2017.
"PII" means Professional Indemnity Insurance complying with SRA Indemnity Insurance Rules.
"Platform" means the eSolicitors technology marketplace, including the website, mobile application, and all associated tools, features, and services.
"POCA" means the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
"REL" means a Registered European Lawyer registered with the SRA before 1 January 2021.
"RFL" means a Registered Foreign Lawyer registered with the SRA.
"Sanctions" means any financial or trade sanctions imposed, administered, or enforced by the United Kingdom (including through OFSI), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control.
"SAR" means a Suspicious Activity Report made to the NCA under Part 7 of POCA or under the Terrorism Act 2000.
"Scoping Call" means the initial call between You and the Solicitor booked by You through the Platform after You pay the Initial Consultation Connection Fee, as described in clause 9A.2.
"Solicitor" means any solicitor admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales and holding a current SRA practising certificate, and includes a Law Firm, RFL, REL, Dual Qualified Solicitor, Freelance Solicitor, Of Counsel solicitor, and Consultant Solicitor registered and listed on the Platform. The term does not include Barristers, who are separately defined and separately regulated by the BSB. References in these Terms to "Your Solicitor" include Barristers and all other categories of Legal Professional unless the context requires otherwise.
"Source of Funds" means the origin of the specific funds being used or proposed to be used to pay for Legal Services, including how and from where those funds were obtained.
"Source of Wealth" means the origin of your overall wealth and the means by which you have accumulated it over time, as distinct from the Source of Funds for a specific transaction.
"SRA" means the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
"SRA Compensation Fund" means the fund maintained by the SRA under section 36 of the Solicitors Act 1974 to provide a source of funds for making grants to people who have suffered loss as a result of the dishonesty of a solicitor or the failure to account for money.
"Stripe" means Stripe Payments UK Ltd, authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an electronic money institution under firm reference number 900461.
"Third Party" means any person or entity other than You.
"Third Party Funds" means funds provided, loaned, gifted, or otherwise made available by any Third Party to pay for all or part of your Legal Services.
"Tipping Off" means the offence under section 333A of POCA of disclosing that a SAR has been made, or that a money laundering investigation is being or is about to be carried out, in circumstances where the disclosure is likely to prejudice any investigation.
"Vulnerable Client" means a client who may need additional support due to age, disability, mental capacity, language barriers, financial situation, bereavement, domestic abuse, or other factors, as recognised by the SRA Standards and Regulations and the Equality Act 2010.
1.2 References to statutes, regulations, or rules include any amendments, re-enactments, or replacements in force from time to time, including the Legal Services Act 2007, the Solicitors Act 1974, the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended), the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, the Equality Act 2010, the Data Protection Act 2018, the UK GDPR, and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
1.3 Headings are for convenience only. Words in the singular include the plural and vice versa. "Include" and "including" are not limiting. References to clauses and Parts are to clauses of, and Parts of, these Terms.
2. Platform Status and Regulatory Position
2.1 You acknowledge and agree that:
2.1.1 The Platform is a technology marketplace that facilitates introductions between Clients seeking legal services and Solicitors who provide those services.
2.1.2 The Platform does not provide legal advice.
2.1.3 The Platform does not provide legal services, whether reserved or unreserved.
2.1.4 The Platform is not a Law Firm, legal practice, or Alternative Business Structure.
2.1.5 The Platform is not regulated by the SRA, the BSB, the Law Society, or the FCA. The Platform has no obligation to be so regulated because it does not carry on reserved legal activities, does not provide legal services, and does not provide legal advice.
2.1.6 The Platform is not endorsed by, accredited by, affiliated with, or recommended by the SRA, the BSB, the Law Society, the FCA, or any other regulatory body.
2.1.7 The Platform does not hold Client Money and does not operate a Client Account.
2.1.8 The Platform does not conduct Customer Due Diligence (CDD) for the purposes of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. CDD is solely the Solicitor's responsibility. However, the Platform may collect identity information (including photographic identification) and conduct sanctions and PEP screening at the point of card entry for fraud prevention and Platform integrity purposes. You consent to the Platform sharing this information with the matched Solicitor to assist with the Solicitor's own CDD obligations. The Platform uses third-party verification providers for this purpose.
2.1.9 The Platform does not supervise, control, review, approve, or endorse legal work performed by Solicitors. The quality and appropriateness of legal advice is the Solicitor's responsibility.
2.1.10 The Platform does not verify Source of Funds or Source of Wealth. The Platform facilitates your declarations but does not verify them.
2.2 The Platform's role is limited to: (a) providing a technology platform for Solicitors to list their services, (b) enabling Clients to search for and identify Solicitors, (c) facilitating initial introductions between Clients and Solicitors, (d) processing payments for Platform services through Stripe, (e) providing communication tools for Clients and Solicitors to interact, and (f) facilitating complaints and disputes between Clients and Solicitors.
3. Nature of the Service
3.1 You acknowledge and agree that: (a) legal services are provided directly by the Solicitor to the Client, not by the Platform, (b) the contractual relationship for legal services is solely between You and the Solicitor, (c) the Solicitor is solely responsible for all aspects of the legal services provided, (d) the Platform does not review, approve, or endorse any legal advice given by Solicitors, (e) the Solicitor's own terms of business (including the Client Care Letter) apply to your legal matter, (f) the decision to instruct a Solicitor is yours, and (g) all regulatory obligations owed to You (including under the SRA Standards and Regulations) are owed by the Solicitor, not by the Platform.
3B. Reserved Legal Activities
3B.1 Under the Legal Services Act 2007 (section 12), certain legal work is "reserved" and can only be performed by authorised lawyers. The reserved legal activities are: (a) exercising a right of audience (representing You in court or tribunal); (b) the conduct of litigation (issuing and managing court proceedings on Your behalf); (c) reserved instrument activities (preparing transfers, mortgages, charges, and other documents relating to land for conveyancing); (d) probate activities (applying for grants of probate and letters of administration); (e) notarial activities (authenticating documents for use abroad); and (f) the administration of oaths. Your Solicitor must hold the appropriate practising rights for any reserved activity involved in Your matter.
3B.2 Where Your matter involves court or tribunal proceedings, Your Solicitor must have the right of audience for that court. If they do not (for example, in higher courts), they may instruct a barrister or other advocate. Your Solicitor should explain this and any additional costs. Court fees, expert fees, and other disbursements are payable in addition to legal fees and Platform service fees. If Your matter is funded by legal aid, the billing for the legal aid element is handled through the Legal Aid Agency's systems, not through the Platform.
4. No Agency Relationship
4.1 Nothing in these Terms creates any agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship between the Platform and any Solicitor.
4.2 The Platform is not an agent of any Solicitor, and no Solicitor is an agent of the Platform.
PART B USING THE PLATFORM
5. Eligibility and Registration
5.1 To use the Platform, You must: (a) be at least 18 years old, (b) have the legal capacity to enter into contracts under Applicable Law, (c) provide accurate information about yourself, and (d) accept these Terms.
5.2 If You are using the Platform on behalf of a business: (a) You confirm you have authority to bind that business to these Terms, (b) the business will be bound by these Terms, and (c) references to "You" include the business.
6. Your Account
6.1 You may need to create an account to use certain Platform features.
6.2 You are responsible for: (a) keeping your account details and password secure and confidential, (b) all activity that occurs under your account, and (c) notifying the Platform immediately if you suspect unauthorised access.
6.3 The Platform reserves the right to suspend or close your account if it reasonably believes it has been compromised, is being used in breach of these Terms, or is being used for any unlawful purpose.
6A. Administrative Access for Compliance and Monitoring
6A.1 You acknowledge and agree that authorised Platform administrators may access Your account portal without requiring Your login credentials (email address or password) for the purposes of: (a) regulatory compliance monitoring; (b) fraud prevention and detection; (c) investigation of complaints or disputes; (d) verification of account activity and transaction integrity; (e) responding to lawful requests from law enforcement or regulatory authorities; and (f) ensuring the safety and security of the Platform and its users.
6A.2 Administrative access under this clause is subject to the following safeguards: (a) access is limited to authorised Platform personnel who have a legitimate operational need; (b) all administrative access events are recorded in the Platform's non-deletable audit log, including the identity of the administrator, the date and time of access, and the reason for access; (c) administrators may not modify Your login credentials, payment details, or personal data except where necessary to resolve a verified security incident or comply with a lawful request; and (d) the Platform implements appropriate technical and organisational measures to prevent unauthorised or excessive use of administrative access.
6A.3 Administrative access does not extend to the content of legally privileged communications between You and Your legal professional, except where required by law or where access is necessary for the technical operation of the Platform (such as dispute resolution where You have consented to Platform review). The Platform will not use information obtained through administrative access for any purpose other than the purposes specified in this clause.
6A.4 By using the Platform, You consent to administrative access as described in this clause. This access is a standard industry practice among technology platforms and is necessary for the Platform to fulfil its obligations under applicable law, including data protection, anti-money laundering, and consumer protection legislation.
6A. Client Subscription Tiers
6A.1 The Platform offers three Client subscription tiers: (a) Free/Explorer: no monthly charge, with per-transaction Platform service fees at standard rates; (b) Standard/Protected (currently £9/month or £79/year): includes one free consultation credit per month, reduced Buyer Protection Fee rates, extended dispute window (21 days), priority dispute handling (48-hour target SLA), and additional features including bid analytics, proposal review tools, and AI case summaries; and (c) Premium/Concierge (currently £29/month or £249/year): includes two free consultation credits per month, the lowest Buyer Protection Fee rates, extended dispute window (30 days), priority dispute handling (24-hour target SLA), a dedicated case adviser, lawyer matching service, unlimited active matters, and phone support. The features and pricing of each tier are published on the Platform and may be updated from time to time.
6A.2 Your choice of subscription tier is voluntary. You may change or cancel Your tier at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. The Platform does not restrict Your ability to instruct a Solicitor based on Your subscription tier, except that: (a) the Free/Explorer tier limits the number of active matters; and (b) matters over £50,000 are matched exclusively with solicitors on Elite or Law Firm Scale/Enterprise tiers, available to Premium clients only.
6A.3 Consultation credits are allocated monthly on paid tiers and do not roll over to the following month. Each credit waives one AI Consultation Fee. Credits have no cash value and are non-transferable.
7. How the Platform Works
7.1 The Platform allows You to: (a) search for Solicitors by practice area, location, and other criteria, (b) view Solicitor profiles, qualifications, and services, (c) view and consider Solicitors' published pricing information, (d) contact Solicitors through the Platform, and (e) request consultations.
7.2 Solicitor profiles are created by the Solicitors themselves. The Platform verifies SRA or BSB registration as an administrative check but does not verify all information contained in Solicitor profiles and does not assess or endorse the competence, quality, or suitability of any Solicitor.
7.3 To protect both parties during the matching process: (a) Your full name is not immediately disclosed to the Solicitor - the Solicitor initially sees only Your first name and the initial of Your surname (for example, "Sarah T."), (b) once the Solicitor confirms willingness to act, the Platform releases Your full name to the Solicitor so that the Solicitor can conduct a proper conflict of interest check, (c) the Scoping Call link is only activated after the Solicitor has confirmed that no conflict exists, and (d) the Solicitor's full identity is not disclosed to You until You have paid the Initial Consultation Connection Fee and the Solicitor has placed a card hold through the Platform. These restrictions ensure that both regulatory checks and commercial safeguards are completed in the correct sequence before full identifying information is exchanged and the call proceeds.
7A. Case Adviser, Lawyer Matching, and Client Tools
The Platform provides various tools and services to help You find and work with a Solicitor. None of these tools constitute legal advice.
7A.1 If You are on the Premium/Concierge tier, You have access to a dedicated case adviser. The case adviser is a Platform employee or contractor who provides administrative support, including: (a) helping You navigate the Platform's features, (b) assisting You in posting a legal project and understanding bid responses, (c) helping You understand the structure of a Milestone Proposal (but not advising on its legal adequacy), and (d) assisting with the dispute process. The case adviser does not provide legal advice or legal services of any kind, does not assess the quality of any Solicitor's work, does not recommend whether You should accept or reject a Milestone Proposal, and does not advise You on the merits of a dispute. If You need legal advice about any aspect of Your matter, You should speak to Your Solicitor or seek independent legal advice.
7A.2 If You are on the Premium/Concierge tier, the Platform offers a "lawyer matching service" to help identify a suitable Solicitor for Your matter. The matching service uses the Platform's algorithms and, where applicable, input from Platform personnel to suggest Solicitors based on practice area, location, availability, reviews, and other factors. The matching service is a technology-assisted search, not a personal recommendation. The Platform does not assess the legal complexity of Your matter or guarantee that any matched Solicitor is the most suitable for Your needs. You remain responsible for deciding which Solicitor to instruct.
Solicitor Experience Disclosure
The Platform displays the matched Solicitor's experience level on their profile. Where a matched Solicitor has been qualified for less than 1 year, their profile shows that they are newly qualified and identifies their Supervising Solicitor (a more experienced Solicitor available for consultation). You are free to choose a newly qualified Solicitor or to request a match with a more experienced Solicitor.
7A.3 The Platform may provide the following client tools depending on Your subscription tier: (a) AI case summary: a simplified, client-readable version of the AI Scope Script. This is an administrative summary and may omit legal nuance. You should rely on Your Solicitor's direct advice, not the AI summary; (b) scope version history: enables You to review previous and current versions of the Milestone Proposal; (c) bid analytics: shows how many Solicitors viewed Your posted project; (d) proposal review tool: enables You to review multiple Solicitors' proposals side by side. These tools are designed to help You make informed decisions and do not constitute legal advice or a recommendation.
7A.4 The Platform provides encrypted messaging between You and Your Solicitor. Messages sent through the Platform are stored as Platform data in accordance with the Platform's Privacy Notice. If Your Solicitor needs to discuss highly confidential or privileged matters, they may suggest communicating outside the Platform's messaging system.
7A.5 The Platform may provide electronic signature functionality enabling You to sign engagement letters, compliance documents, and other documents electronically. Electronic signatures are intended to comply with the Electronic Communications Act 2000. For documents requiring a wet-ink or witnessed signature, Your Solicitor will advise You to sign in a different way.
7A.6 The Platform may provide: (a) template downloads (the number available depends on Your subscription tier); (b) secure document storage; (c) document expiry alerts; (d) document organisation and labelling tools; (e) secure third-party document sharing (Premium tier); and (f) matter activity notifications by email and SMS. These are administrative tools and do not constitute legal advice. You are responsible for reading and understanding any document before signing it and should ask Your Solicitor to explain anything You do not understand.
8. Search Results and Rankings
8.1 Search results are displayed based on various factors which may include: (a) relevance to your search criteria, (b) Solicitor location and coverage area, (c) Solicitor ratings and reviews, (d) Solicitor response times, and (e) whether the Solicitor has paid for enhanced visibility.
8.1A In addition to search results, the Platform uses an automated matching algorithm to suggest Solicitors based on the following main parameters: (a) practice area and sub-category relevance, (b) jurisdictional match, (c) experience level, (d) budget compatibility, (e) verification status, and (f) client review ratings. These parameters are weighted, and Solicitors with higher composite scores appear higher in the suggestions. The algorithm does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by the Platform.
8.2 Where a Solicitor has paid for enhanced visibility or a promoted listing, this is clearly identified in the search results in accordance with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the DMCCA 2024.
8.3 Search results are not recommendations. The order in which Solicitors appear is not an endorsement of their quality or suitability for your matter.
8.4A Your Solicitor is required to provide legal advice and legal services only in respect of the law of the jurisdiction(s) in which they are qualified and authorised to practise. If Your matter involves the law of a jurisdiction in which Your Solicitor or Legal Professional is not qualified, they must inform You and facilitate a referral to an appropriately qualified legal professional.
8A. Credibility Badges
8A.1 The Platform assigns "Credibility Badges" to Solicitors. These badges (which may include the word "Verified" or similar designations) indicate: (a) that the Platform has conducted an administrative check of the Solicitor's SRA or BSB registration status, and (b) the Solicitor's subscription tier on the Platform. Credibility Badges do not indicate: (i) the quality or standard of the Solicitor's legal services, (ii) the Solicitor's level of competence, experience, or expertise, (iii) any form of endorsement or quality assurance by the Platform, the SRA, or any other body, or (iv) the likely outcome of any legal matter. You should not select a Solicitor based solely on their Credibility Badge.
8A.2 Where a Solicitor's profile shows a CPD commitment badge or similar indicator, this means the Solicitor has self-reported continuing professional development activity through the Platform. It does not constitute verification of CPD compliance by the SRA or any other body.
8B. Booking Requests
8B.1 Where a Solicitor has no available consultation time slots, You may submit a booking request through the Platform specifying up to five (5) preferred dates, a time preference (morning, afternoon, evening, or any), and an optional message of up to 500 characters.
8B.2 A booking request expires automatically if the Solicitor does not respond within seven (7) days of submission.
8B.3 You may have no more than three (3) pending booking requests per Solicitor at any time.
8B.4 Submitting a booking request does not create any obligation on the Solicitor to accept it or on the Platform to ensure the Solicitor responds. No solicitor-client relationship is created by submitting a booking request.
8B.5 If the Solicitor proposes an alternative date and time, You will be notified through the Platform. If You accept the proposed time, the Initial Consultation Connection Fee becomes payable (or a consultation credit is consumed) at the point of acceptance, and a consultation is booked in accordance with clause 9A.
8B.6 You may cancel a pending or proposed booking request at any time before acceptance. No fee is charged for a cancelled booking request.
8C. Project Posting and Bidding Marketplace
8C.1 The Platform offers a project posting feature that allows You to describe Your legal need and invite Solicitors or Legal Professionals to submit competitive proposals (bids). This is an alternative to booking a consultation directly. The project posting feature is a marketplace facility only. The Platform does not provide legal advice through the project posting feature and does not assess the legal merit or accuracy of any project description.
8C.2 To post a project, You must: (a) be a registered Client with an account in good standing; (b) describe Your legal need accurately and in good faith; (c) set a budget that reflects Your genuine willingness to pay (minimum one hundred pounds (or equivalent) for fixed or range budgets, or fifteen pounds per hour for hourly rates); (d) select a relevant practice area; and (e) not include any content that is illegal, discriminatory, defamatory, or that seeks assistance with unlawful activity.
8C.3 You must not include highly sensitive personal information (such as names of parties, financial details, or confidential documents) in the project description. Project descriptions are visible to all registered Solicitors or Legal Professionals on the Platform. You should share sensitive details only through the private messaging function after shortlisting a Solicitor or Legal Professional.
8C.4 The Platform automatically screens project descriptions for prohibited content including contact details, discriminatory language, and references to illegal activity. The Platform may suspend or remove any project that violates these Terms without prior notice. Posting a project does not guarantee that any Solicitor or Legal Professional will submit a bid.
8C.5 Projects expire automatically after thirty (30) days if no bid is accepted. The Platform may extend or close projects at its discretion.
8C.6 When You accept a bid, a twenty-four (24) hour cooling-off period begins. During this period: (a) You may reverse Your acceptance (the bid reverts to shortlisted and the project re-opens); (b) other bids remain active and are not rejected until the cooling-off period expires; and (c) no payment is required. You may reverse Your acceptance at any time during this twenty-four (24) hour period for any reason. This bid acceptance review period is a Platform-provided right and is separate from and additional to any statutory cancellation rights You may have under consumer protection law.
8C.7 After the cooling-off period expires: (a) all other pending bids are automatically rejected; (b) You have seventy-two (72) hours to complete the escrow payment through Stripe; and (c) if payment is not made within seventy-two (72) hours, the acceptance is automatically voided and the project re-opens. Once payment is made, the accepted bid converts to an active order with milestone-based fund release on the same terms as an order arising from a Scoping Call.
8C.8 Bids do not constitute legal advice. A bid represents a proposed scope of work and fee for professional services. The Solicitor or Legal Professional who submitted the bid is not Your Solicitor or Legal Professional until an order is created following payment. No solicitor-client relationship is created by submitting, reviewing, shortlisting, or messaging about a bid.
8C.9 Bid messages exchanged between You and a Solicitor or Legal Professional through the Platform form part of the engagement record. Both parties are informed that all bid messages may be reviewed by Platform administrators during dispute resolution. The Platform stores bid messages subject to the data retention periods set out in clause 65C.
8C.10 Documents attached to a project are stored in encrypted private storage with time-limited access. Attachments are accessible only to You, to Solicitors or Legal Professionals who have submitted a bid on Your project, and to Platform administrators. Attachments are subject to the Platform's data retention policy and are deleted in accordance with clause 65C.
8C.11 You must not use the project posting feature to exchange contact details with a Solicitor or Legal Professional before an order is created. The Platform scans project descriptions, bids, and messages for contact information patterns. Accounts may be suspended for circumvention attempts.
PART C YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SOLICITOR
9. The Direct Client-Solicitor Relationship
9.1 When You instruct a Solicitor through the Platform, You are entering into a contract directly with that Solicitor. The Platform is not a party to that contract and has no liability under it.
9A. How Your Engagement Begins: Scoping Call, AI Summary, and Milestone Approval
This section explains the steps you will go through before a solicitor starts work on your matter. The process is designed to ensure you receive clear costs information and have the opportunity to approve the scope and price before any work begins, in accordance with your rights under SRA Code of Conduct paragraph 8.7.
9A.0A Before a Scoping Call can be scheduled, you must complete a pre-call information form providing: (a) your full name, email address, and telephone number, (b) the type of matter (selected from the Platform's category list), (c) a brief description of your matter (minimum 50 characters), (d) the names of any other parties involved (if known), (e) any urgency or time constraints, and (f) how you heard about the Platform. This information is provided to the matched Solicitor to enable them to assess whether they can act for you and to conduct a meaningful conflict of interest check. The Platform collects this information as a technology service and does not use it to provide legal advice or make any assessment of your matter.
9A.0B A Solicitor may also create and send You a quotation (scope proposal) without a prior video consultation, including via a shareable link. If You receive a quotation via a shareable link, You must sign in to the Platform and claim the quotation before it becomes binding. An accepted quotation creates an order on the same terms as one arising from a Scoping Call.
9A.1 Your engagement with a Solicitor through the Platform follows these steps: (a) You pay the Initial Consultation Connection Fee (£18 inclusive of VAT at 20%) to the Platform (clause 34), (b) You select an available time slot from the Solicitor's calendar on the Platform and book a Scoping Call, (c) the Scoping Call is transcribed in real time and the Platform's AI system generates a written summary of your requirements (the "AI Scope Script"), (d) the Solicitor reviews the AI Scope Script and prepares a milestone-based costs proposal for your matter (the "Milestone Proposal"), (e) You review and approve the Milestone Proposal through the Platform, and (f) once You have approved the Milestone Proposal, the Solicitor issues a Client Care Letter and the retainer is formed. No retainer exists and no work begins until You have approved the Milestone Proposal.
9A.1A When You book a Scoping Call, the matched Solicitor has twenty-four (24) hours to accept or decline the booking through the Platform. If the Solicitor does not respond within twenty-four hours, the booking is automatically declined and the Platform will offer You an alternative Solicitor match. Your Initial Consultation Connection Fee carries over to the new match at no additional cost to You. You may also request a refund of the Initial Consultation Connection Fee if You do not wish to be re-matched.
9A.1B If You do not join the Scoping Call within ten (10) minutes of the scheduled time, You are deemed a no-show and the Initial Consultation Connection Fee is not refunded unless the no-show was caused by a technical failure attributable to the Platform. If the Solicitor does not join within ten (10) minutes, You are entitled to a full refund or a re-match at no additional cost.
9A.2 The Scoping Call is your opportunity to explain your legal matter to the Solicitor and for the Solicitor to understand your needs. During the Scoping Call, the Solicitor will assess whether they have the competence and capacity to handle your matter, identify any potential conflicts of interest, assess whether you may need additional support (for example, if English is not your first language, or if you have a disability), and ask preliminary questions relevant to identity verification and anti-money laundering obligations. The Scoping Call does not create a solicitor-client relationship. During and after the Scoping Call, until you approve a Milestone Proposal, you have the status of a potential client only. Before the Scoping Call can take place, the Solicitor must complete a conflict check confirmation and a competence confirmation through the Platform. The Platform technically prevents the Scoping Call link from activating until both confirmations have been received. This means there may be a short delay between the Solicitor accepting the booking and the call link becoming available.
9A.2A The Scoping Call is not a legal consultation. Your Solicitor must not provide substantive legal advice, give a legal opinion on the merits or likely outcome of your matter, or advise on specific steps to take during the Scoping Call. The purpose is to identify the scope of work so that a Milestone Proposal can be prepared, not to perform the work. If you ask for substantive advice, your Solicitor will redirect you to the engagement process.
9A.2B The Scoping Call has a maximum duration of thirty (30) minutes, enforced automatically by the Platform. Either party may end the call earlier.
9A.2C During the Scoping Call, Your Solicitor has access to AI-assisted tools including a live transcript of the conversation and suggested questions relevant to Your practice area. These tools are provided to help the Solicitor or Legal Professional assess Your matter more thoroughly. You do not have access to these tools during the call.
9A.3 Both parties are notified at the start of the Scoping Call that the call is being transcribed. The Scoping Call is transcribed in real time by the Platform's AI system to generate the AI Scope Script - a written summary of your matter, key issues, and requirements. You should be aware that: (a) the AI Scope Script is generated by the Platform's technology, not by the Solicitor, (b) the AI Scope Script is an administrative summary, not legal advice, (c) the AI Scope Script may contain errors or omissions - AI systems can sometimes misinterpret or fail to capture information (see clause 49 regarding your Solicitor's duty of confidentiality for information shared during the call), (d) the Solicitor is required to review the AI Scope Script and correct any inaccuracies before relying on it, and (e) You have the right to refuse AI involvement in the engagement process, in which case the Solicitor will prepare the scope and costs proposal without the AI Scope Script. If You wish to refuse AI involvement, inform the Platform or the Solicitor before or during the Scoping Call. If You wish to refuse transcription, inform the Solicitor at the start of the call, in which case the Solicitor will take manual notes and no AI Scope Script will be generated. Transcripts are retained for a period of thirty (30) days following the conclusion of the matter (or, if no matter proceeds, thirty (30) days from the date of the call) and are then securely deleted.
9A.3A At the conclusion of the Scoping Call, both You and the Solicitor must confirm that you wish to proceed by clicking "proceed" on the Platform. Either party may instead click "decline to proceed." If You decline, You may request a re-match with a different Solicitor and Your Initial Consultation Connection Fee will carry over. If the Solicitor declines, the Platform will offer You an alternative match. The AI Scope Script is generated and released to the Solicitor only after both parties have clicked "proceed." If either party declines, no AI Scope Script is generated and the Scoping Call transcript is deleted in accordance with the Platform's data retention policy. Once both parties have clicked "proceed": (a) You and Your Solicitor or Legal Professional are committed to continuing the engagement exclusively through the Platform; (b) the Platform will share Your Solicitor's or Legal Professional's full contact details (including business email, telephone number, and office address) with You for the purposes of the Client Care Letter and ongoing communication; (c) the Platform will share Your full contact details with Your Solicitor or Legal Professional for the same purpose; (d) You must not use the contact details shared through this process to engage Your Solicitor or Legal Professional outside the Platform for this matter; and (e) contact details are shared at this point because Your Solicitor or Legal Professional is required by their regulator to include their contact information in the Client Care Letter, and You are entitled to know who is acting for You. Before both parties click "proceed", no contact details beyond those visible on the Platform profile are shared. A cooling-off period of six (6) hours applies after both parties click "proceed" and before contact details are released. During the cooling-off period, either party may withdraw without penalty by clicking "withdraw" on the Platform. If either party withdraws during the cooling-off period, no contact details are shared, no Milestone Proposal deadline applies, and You may request a re-match with a different Solicitor.
9A.3B Where You have downloaded, accessed, used, or acted upon deliverables from a completed milestone (including but not limited to legal documents, advice memoranda, or draft agreements), Your dispute rights for that milestone are limited to claims relating to the quality, accuracy, or completeness of the deliverables and do not extend to a general refusal to pay for work received. The Platform may use download timestamps, access logs, and other platform data as evidence in determining whether deliverables have been accessed for the purposes of this clause.
9A.4. Sensitive Information, Transcription, and Your Rights
During the Scoping Call, You may share personal, financial, and legal information that is highly sensitive. This clause explains how that information is protected and what Your rights are.
9A.4.1 The Scoping Call may involve You discussing highly sensitive personal information, including information about: (a) Your health or medical conditions; (b) criminal offences (whether committed by You, against You, or by others); (c) domestic abuse, sexual offences, or safeguarding concerns; (d) Your racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, political opinions, or sexual orientation; (e) financial difficulties, debts, or suspected fraud; and (f) any other matter that is personal, confidential, or distressing. You should be aware that the Scoping Call is transcribed in real time by the Platform's AI system. The transcription captures everything said during the call, including sensitive information. You should consider carefully what information You share during the Scoping Call and discuss only what is necessary for the Solicitor to understand Your matter.
9A.4.2 Where the information You share during the Scoping Call includes "special category data" (as defined by UK data protection law), such as information about Your health, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, trade union membership, or genetic data, the Platform processes this data on the basis of Your explicit consent (which You give by proceeding with the recorded Scoping Call after being informed of this clause). You may withdraw Your consent at any time by contacting the Platform, in which case the Platform will delete the transcript and AI Scope Script (subject to any legal obligation to retain it). Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.
9A.4.3 Where the information You share during the Scoping Call relates to criminal offences, criminal allegations, or criminal proceedings (whether concerning You or any other person), this data is subject to additional protections under UK data protection law. The Platform processes this data under the legal conditions set out in the Data Protection Act 2018, Schedule 1. The Platform maintains an Appropriate Policy Document (as required by law) setting out its policies for processing criminal offence data, which is available on request.
9A.4.4 During the Scoping Call, Your voice is streamed in real time to the Platform's transcription provider. The raw audio is not stored. The resulting text transcript is personal data. The transcript is: (a) encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard encryption; (b) stored on servers with equivalent data protection standards; (c) accessible only to: (i) Your matched Solicitor, (ii) You, and (iii) Platform personnel on a strictly need-to-know basis for dispute resolution or compliance purposes; (d) not used for voice identification, authentication, or any biometric purpose; (e) not used for AI model training or product improvement; (f) not reviewed by any person except where a formal dispute has been raised, a regulatory investigation requires it, or the Platform is required to do so by law; and (g) permanently deleted thirty (30) days after the conclusion of Your matter (or thirty (30) days from the date of the call if no matter proceeds). You may request a copy of Your transcript at any time during the retention period under Your right of access under Article 15 of the UK GDPR. You may also request early deletion, which the Platform will action within 30 days unless retention is required for an active dispute or legal obligation.
9A.4.4A Because the Scoping Call captures sensitive personal information (including health data, criminal offence data, and other special categories), the Platform has carried out a Data Protection Impact Assessment to identify and minimise the risks of this processing. The Platform's AI transcription provider operates under a binding written agreement that requires it to: (a) process Your data only as instructed by the Platform; (b) keep Your data secure using industry-standard protections; (c) not use Your data to train its AI models or for any other purpose; (d) delete Your data when the processing is complete; and (e) not pass Your data to any other company (a "sub-processor") without the Platform's written approval and equivalent protections. The Platform checks its AI provider's data protection practices at least once a year.
9A.4.5 You have the right to refuse the transcription of the Scoping Call. If You refuse transcription, inform Your Solicitor at the start of the call. The Solicitor will take manual notes instead and no AI Scope Script will be generated. Your decision to refuse transcription will not affect the Solicitor's willingness to act for You or the quality of service You receive.
9A.4.6 The AI Scope Script generated from the Scoping Call is an automated summary. It is not used to make any decision about You that has legal effects. Your Solicitor reviews the AI Scope Script and applies their own professional judgement before preparing the Milestone Proposal. You have the right under UK data protection law not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing that significantly affects You. No decision about Your legal matter, Your fees, or Your rights is made solely by the AI system.
9A.4.6A The Platform owns all intellectual property in the AI system, templates, and processes used to generate AI Scope Scripts. The content of Your AI Scope Script is licensed to You and to Your Solicitor or Legal Professional for the sole purpose of the engagement. Neither You nor the Solicitor or Legal Professional may commercially exploit or redistribute the AI Scope Script independently of the engagement to which it relates.
9A.4.7 If Your matter involves criminal conduct, You should be aware that: (a) Your Solicitor has legal obligations to report certain types of criminal activity (including suspected money laundering under section 330 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and suspected terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000), and these obligations may apply to information You share during the Scoping Call even before a formal solicitor-client relationship is established; (b) if Your Solicitor is required to make such a report, they are legally prohibited from telling You that they have done so; (c) Legal Professional Privilege (which normally protects solicitor-client communications from disclosure) may not apply to communications made during the Scoping Call if no retainer has been formed, and does not apply to communications made for the purpose of furthering a criminal purpose; and (d) if You have concerns about the sensitivity of the information You need to share, You may wish to discuss these concerns with the Solicitor before the recorded portion of the call begins, or request that recording be turned off for specific parts of the discussion. If You are in any doubt about whether to share particular information during the Scoping Call, ask Your Solicitor for guidance.
9A.4.8 If Your matter involves domestic abuse, sexual offences, child protection, or other safeguarding concerns: (a) the Platform's automated screening may flag indicators of risk (such as PD12J indicators in family law matters) and alert Your Solicitor; (b) this screening is a technology aid only and does not constitute a professional assessment; (c) Your Solicitor has professional duties to consider Your safety and the safety of any children or vulnerable persons; (d) the transcript and AI Scope Script will be handled with the highest level of confidentiality; and (e) if You are in immediate danger, please contact the police (999) or a specialist support service.
9A.4.9 During the generation of the AI Scope Script, the Platform's AI system automatically scans the consultation transcript for three categories of compliance concern: (a) domestic abuse indicators, (b) anti-money laundering concerns, and (c) potential conflicts of interest. This is automated detection only and does not constitute a legal assessment. Where concerns are detected, the AI Scope Script is placed in a compliance hold and the Solicitor must acknowledge each concern before the AI Scope Script can be released to You. The Solicitor retains sole professional judgement in all cases.
9A.5. Transcription Lawfulness, Data Security, and Your Legal Protections
9A.5.1 The transcription of the Scoping Call is lawful under UK law (the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) because: (a) You are told at the start of the call that it is being transcribed; (b) You have given Your consent to transcription; and (c) the transcription is made for the specific purpose of generating the AI Scope Script. If You withdraw Your consent, transcription stops immediately.
9A.5.2 The Platform has designed the Scoping Call system to protect Your personal data from the outset, as required by UK data protection law (Article 25 of the UK GDPR, data protection by design). This means: (a) only the information necessary for the stated purpose is collected; (b) Your data is encrypted from the moment it is recorded; (c) access is restricted to the minimum number of people needed; (d) Your transcript is automatically deleted after thirty (30) days; and (e) You have clear rights over Your data at every stage.
9A.5.3 The Platform uses appropriate security measures to protect the Scoping Call recording and AI Scope Script, as required by UK data protection law (Article 32 of the UK GDPR, security of processing). This includes: (a) encryption of Your transcript when it is stored and when it is transmitted; (b) access controls so that only authorised people can access Your data; (c) regular testing of security systems; and (d) procedures for detecting and responding to any security incident.
9A.6. Video Calls and Your Camera
9A.6.1 The Scoping Call is a video call. If Your camera is on, the audio is streamed in real time to the Platform's transcription provider for the sole purpose of generating a text transcript. Neither the video stream nor the audio stream is recorded or stored by the Platform. The video infrastructure provider automatically deletes all call data within twenty-four (24) hours of the call ending. The transcription provider processes audio in real time and does not retain the raw audio after processing. Only the resulting text transcript is stored by the Platform described in clauses 9A.4 and 9A.5, including encryption, access controls, the thirty-day retention period, and Your right to request deletion.
9A.6.2 You have the right to keep Your camera off and participate by audio only. Your Solicitor cannot require You to turn Your camera on as a condition of the Scoping Call. If You choose audio only, only the audio is streamed for transcription.
9A.6.3 The Platform does not use facial recognition to identify You from the video. The Platform does not analyse Your facial expressions, emotions, or body language. The video stream is used only for the live consultation. The audio component is streamed in real time for transcription purposes only. No still images or facial data are extracted from the video stream for any purpose.
9A.6.4 If screen sharing is used during the call, anything visible on the shared screen may be visible to the other participant during the live call. Your Solicitor should advise You before screen sharing begins. Be careful not to share screens showing personal information, other people's data, or documents unrelated to Your matter.
9A.6.5 Video and audio quality depend on Your internet connection and device. The Platform does not guarantee call quality. If the connection is poor, Your Solicitor may suggest rescheduling.
9A.3B. Consent to AI Processing for Scoping and Proposal Purposes
9A.3B.1 By accepting these Terms and proceeding with a Scoping Call, you consent to the following: (a) the Scoping Call will be transcribed by the Platform, (b) the audio will be processed by the Platform's AI system in real time to generate a written transcript and summary (the AI Scope Script), (c) the AI Scope Script will be provided to your matched Solicitor for the sole purpose of enabling the Solicitor to prepare a legal services scope, quote, and proposal (the Milestone Proposal) for your matter, and (d) the transcript and AI Scope Script will be retained for thirty (30) days following the conclusion of the matter (or thirty (30) days from the date of the call if no matter proceeds) and then securely deleted.
9A.3B.2 Your consent under clause 9A.3B.1 is specific, informed, and freely given. You may withdraw your consent at any time by notifying the Platform in writing. If you withdraw consent before the AI Scope Script has been generated, no AI Scope Script will be produced and the recording will be deleted. If you withdraw consent after the AI Scope Script has been provided to the Solicitor, the Platform will notify the Solicitor that the AI Scope Script must be deleted from their records, but the Solicitor may retain any independent notes they made during the Scoping Call. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.
9A.3B.3 The purposes for which your Scoping Call data is processed are limited to: (a) generating the AI Scope Script to assist the Solicitor in preparing the Milestone Proposal, (b) enabling the Platform to facilitate the engagement process between you and the Solicitor, and (c) maintaining a record of the Scoping Call for dispute resolution purposes during the thirty-day retention period. Your Scoping Call data will not be used for any other purpose, including marketing, profiling, training of AI models, or sharing with third parties (other than the matched Solicitor), without your separate, explicit consent.
9A.3B.4 If you do not consent to recording and AI processing, you may still proceed with the Scoping Call. In that case, inform the Platform or the Solicitor before or at the start of the call. The Solicitor will take manual notes and prepare the Milestone Proposal without the AI Scope Script. Your right to refuse AI processing does not affect your right to receive legal services through the Platform, and the Platform will not treat you differently if you refuse.
9A.3B.5 The lawful basis for processing your Scoping Call data under the UK GDPR is your consent (Article 6(1)(a)). The Platform's privacy notice (available at www.esolicitors.com/privacy) contains full details of how your data is processed, your rights (including access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection), and how to contact the Platform's data protection contact. The Platform is a technology service provider and is not a Law Firm, is not regulated by the SRA, and does not provide legal advice.
9A.4 After the Scoping Call, the Solicitor has twenty-four (24) hours to prepare and submit through the Platform a Milestone Proposal. If the Solicitor does not submit a Milestone Proposal within twenty-four hours, the matter is offered to an alternative Solicitor and You are notified through the Platform. Your Initial Consultation Connection Fee carries over to the new match. The Milestone Proposal must set out: (a) each stage or phase of your matter, (b) the work to be done at each stage, (c) the fee for each stage (whether fixed, capped, estimated, or time-based, with a realistic range where appropriate), (d) likely additional costs (disbursements) at each stage, (e) VAT, (f) circumstances in which costs may change, and (g) the estimated total cost for the matter as a whole. The Milestone Proposal is the Solicitor's own professional costs proposal, prepared using the Solicitor's professional judgement. It is not an AI-generated document.
9A.5 You must approve the Milestone Proposal through the Platform before the Solicitor begins work. Approving the Milestone Proposal means: (a) You agree to the proposed scope and costs, (b) the Solicitor may issue a Client Care Letter and form the retainer, (c) payments will be structured according to the approved milestones, and (d) You will be asked to pay for each milestone as it is reached (clause 38). If You do not agree with the Milestone Proposal, You may: (a) ask the Solicitor to revise it, (b) decline and instruct a different Solicitor, or (c) leave the Platform. You are under no obligation to approve the Milestone Proposal.
Cost Transparency on Referral
Before consenting to a referral to another Solicitor, the Platform displays (a) Your current costs with the existing Solicitor (fees already paid and committed milestones), (b) the proposed costs with the referred Solicitor (from their Milestone Proposal), and (c) an estimated combined total. Where the Solicitors charge in different currencies, the combined total is indicative only and based on the exchange rate at the time of display. You may approve or decline the referral based on the combined cost information.
9A.6 Once You approve the Milestone Proposal, payments are structured by milestone. When the Solicitor completes a milestone and marks it as complete on the Platform, You are notified and the Confirmation Period begins (clause 38.3). During the Confirmation Period, You may confirm that the work was done satisfactorily or raise a dispute (clause 39). Your money is held by Stripe and is not released to the Solicitor until You confirm or the Confirmation Period expires. This gives You payment protection at every stage of your matter.
9A.7 If the scope of your matter changes after You have approved the Milestone Proposal (for example, new issues arise, or the matter becomes more complex), the Solicitor must prepare a revised Milestone Proposal and obtain your approval before incurring additional fees. The revised Milestone Proposal is submitted through the Platform using a scope change form that displays the original scope and costs alongside the proposed revised scope and costs, enabling You to review both versions. The Platform does not permit the Solicitor to commence work on the changed scope until You have approved the revised Milestone Proposal through the Platform. The Solicitor must not charge You more than the approved amount for any milestone without your prior consent.
9A.8 The Platform's role in the engagement process is limited to: (a) providing the scheduling technology for You to book the Scoping Call, (b) recording the call and generating the AI Scope Script, (c) transmitting the Milestone Proposal to You for approval, (d) recording your approval or rejection, and (e) processing milestone-based payments through Stripe. The Platform does not: (a) provide legal advice, (b) assess the accuracy of the AI Scope Script, (c) review or approve the Solicitor's Milestone Proposal, (d) determine whether the Milestone Proposal represents good value, or (e) have any responsibility for the Solicitor's professional assessment of your matter. During the Scoping Call, the Platform provides an on-screen checklist to assist the Solicitor in covering key topics, which may include: the work to be included and excluded, your instructions, costs and timescales, who will carry out the work, the complaints procedure, and your responsibilities. This checklist is a Platform-provided convenience tool only and does not constitute legal advice from the Platform. The Solicitor retains sole responsibility for ensuring all regulatory requirements are met during the call.
9A.9. AI Features Are Not Legal Advice - Your Solicitor Must Review Everything
9A.9.1 The Platform uses AI technology to generate transcripts, summaries, and scope scripts from Scoping Calls, and may provide other AI-generated outputs including case summaries, suggested pricing, and matter classifications. None of these AI outputs constitute legal advice. They are technology-generated administrative tools only. AI can make mistakes, including generating inaccurate information, fabricating legal citations, and omitting important details.
9A.9.2 Your Solicitor is required by these Terms and by their professional obligations to conduct a thorough, independent expert review of every AI-generated output before relying on it, using it in your matter, or providing it to you. Your Solicitor must verify the accuracy of all AI outputs against authoritative legal sources and must apply their own professional judgment to your specific circumstances. If your Solicitor provides you with advice, documents, or work product that was prepared with AI assistance, your Solicitor is professionally responsible for that work as though they had produced it entirely without AI - your Solicitor cannot blame the AI for errors.
9A.9.3 The Platform accepts no liability for any loss you suffer as a result of (a) AI-generated outputs containing errors, omissions, or inaccuracies, (b) your Solicitor failing to review AI outputs properly before using them, or (c) your Solicitor providing you with advice or documents based on AI outputs that your Solicitor did not adequately verify. If you believe your Solicitor has relied on AI outputs without conducting a proper review, you may raise a complaint through the Solicitor's complaints procedure, the Legal Ombudsman, or the SRA.
9A.9.4 The Platform accepts no liability for any failure, interruption, or degradation of the Scoping Call recording or AI transcription process, including (a) technical failures in the recording infrastructure (such as audio quality issues, dropped connections, bandwidth limitations, or server outages), (b) partial or incomplete recordings caused by network interruptions, device malfunctions, or environmental factors (such as background noise, poor microphone quality, or multiple speakers talking simultaneously), (c) the AI system failing to generate an AI Scope Script at all (in which case the Solicitor will proceed using manual notes taken during the call), or (d) delays in the generation or delivery of the AI Scope Script. The recording and AI transcription service is provided on an "as available" basis and the Platform does not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or complete recording or transcription of any Scoping Call. Where a recording or transcription failure occurs, your Solicitor retains professional responsibility for ensuring that your matter is properly scoped and that the Milestone Proposal accurately reflects the work to be done, whether or not an AI Scope Script was successfully generated.
9A.9.5 The quality, completeness, and accuracy of the AI Scope Script depend in part on the quality, completeness, and clarity of the information you provide during the Scoping Call. You acknowledge that the AI system processes the audio of the Scoping Call in real time for transcription and that: (a) if you speak unclearly, use ambiguous language, provide incomplete information, or fail to mention material facts during the call, the AI Scope Script may not accurately reflect your matter; (b) if there is a language barrier, a strong accent, significant background noise, or poor audio quality on your end, the AI transcription may be less accurate; (c) the AI system cannot capture information that you do not provide during the call, and any matter, fact, or concern that you do not raise during the Scoping Call may not appear in the AI Scope Script; and (d) it is your responsibility to review the AI Scope Script (or the Milestone Proposal derived from it) and to raise with your Solicitor any errors, omissions, or matters that were not captured. The Platform accepts no liability for any inaccuracy in the AI Scope Script that results from the quality, completeness, or clarity of the information you provided during the Scoping Call.
9A.8A Where your matter is genuinely urgent (for example, a court deadline, a limitation period approaching, or a time-sensitive transaction), your Solicitor may confirm urgency and begin limited preliminary work before you have approved the full Milestone Proposal. In such circumstances: (a) the Platform will notify you that your Solicitor has confirmed urgency and will begin limited preliminary work, (b) your Solicitor must still submit the full Milestone Proposal to you within 48 hours, (c) you must still approve the Milestone Proposal before your Solicitor can mark any milestone as complete or request payment, and (d) your rights under these Terms (including any applicable cooling-off period and your right to complain) are not affected. The Platform facilitates this process as a technology service and does not assess urgency or make any judgement about the legal merits of your matter.
9.2 Your Solicitor owes professional duties to You under the SRA Standards and Regulations (or, for barristers, the BSB Handbook). These duties exist by operation of law and regulation, not because of anything in these Terms.
9B. High-Value Matters
9B.1 For matters with a value of £50,000 or more, the Platform matches You exclusively with Solicitors on Elite subscription tiers or Law Firm Scale/Enterprise plans. This matching restriction is a Platform commercial feature based on the Solicitor's subscription level, not an assessment of the Solicitor's competence or suitability for high-value work. You remain responsible for satisfying Yourself that Your chosen Solicitor is competent to handle Your matter, regardless of their subscription tier.
9B.2 High-value matters (over £50,000) are available to Premium/Concierge tier clients only. If You are on the Free or Standard tier and Your matter exceeds £50,000, You will need to upgrade to the Premium tier to access the Platform's high-value matching feature. This is a commercial restriction and does not prevent You from instructing any Solicitor directly outside the Platform.
10. Types of Legal Professionals
10.1 The Platform includes various types of legal professionals: (a) Solicitors admitted to the Roll with a current practising certificate, who may practise through Law Firms, as Of Counsel, as Consultant Solicitors, or as Freelance Solicitors, (b) Registered Foreign Lawyers (RFLs) registered with the SRA, who can provide unreserved legal activities only, (c) Registered European Lawyers (RELs) registered with the SRA before 1 January 2021, (d) Dual Qualified Solicitors qualified in England and Wales and other jurisdictions, and (e) Barristers authorised by the BSB, who may accept instructions directly (public access) or through a solicitor.
10.2 Each type of legal professional has different regulatory status, practice rights, and protections available to you. Your Solicitor is required by their regulator to tell you about their regulatory status, what protections are available to you (including the SRA Compensation Fund, where applicable), and any limitations on their practice rights, before you instruct them.
10.3 The type of legal professional you instruct affects your protections. The following is a summary of the key differences:
10.3.1 (a) Law Firms (SRA-authorised firms): Your Solicitor practises through a regulated firm. The firm must hold your Client Money in a designated Client Account under the SRA Accounts Rules. The firm must carry professional indemnity insurance (PII) that meets the SRA's Minimum Terms and Conditions (currently £2 million minimum for sole practitioners and partnerships, £3 million for limited companies and LLPs). You have access to the SRA Compensation Fund if your Solicitor is dishonest and you suffer financial loss. The firm must have a COLP (Compliance Officer for Legal Practice) and a COFA (Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration).
10.3.2 (b) Freelance Solicitors: Your Solicitor practises independently, not through a firm. Freelance Solicitors generally cannot hold your Client Money. If your matter requires Client Money to be held, it must be held by a third party managed account (TPMA) or a Law Firm. Freelance Solicitors must carry adequate and appropriate PII but this may not meet the SRA's Minimum Terms and Conditions. You may not be eligible for the SRA Compensation Fund in all circumstances. Your Freelance Solicitor is required to tell you about these limitations before you instruct them.
10.3.3 (c) Fractional Counsel and Of Counsel solicitors: These solicitors may operate under different regulatory models. They may practise through a Law Firm (in which case the firm's protections apply), as a Freelance Solicitor (in which case Freelance limitations apply), or under employment. Your Solicitor is required to tell you which model applies and what protections you have.
10.3.4 (d) Consultant solicitors: A Consultant practises through a Law Firm under the firm's regulatory framework. The firm's PII, complaints procedure, and Client Account apply to your matter. Your Client Money is held by the firm, not by the Consultant personally.
10.3.5 (e) Barristers: Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), not the SRA. Barristers must not hold your Client Money. Barristers carry insurance through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF), not the SRA's PII scheme. You do not have access to the SRA Compensation Fund for work done by a Barrister. If you have a complaint about a Barrister, your complaint route is through the BSB (not the Legal Ombudsman, unless the Barrister provides services directly to the public under BSB public access rules, in which case the Legal Ombudsman does have jurisdiction).
10.3.5A If You instruct a Barrister (rather than a solicitor), You should be aware of the following practical differences: (a) a Barrister is regulated by the BSB, not the SRA, and the SRA's regulatory protections (including the SRA Compensation Fund) do not apply to work done by a Barrister; (b) a Barrister generally cannot hold Your Client Money; (c) a Barrister's professional indemnity insurance is provided through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF), not through an SRA-compliant PII policy; (d) if You wish to instruct a Barrister directly (without a solicitor acting as intermediary), the Barrister must be authorised for public access work by the BSB; (e) a Barrister practises from Chambers but is not employed by or a partner in those Chambers; and (f) Your complaint route for a Barrister is through the BSB (and the Legal Ombudsman if the Barrister provides services directly to the public under BSB public access rules).
10.3.6 (f) Registered Foreign Lawyers (RFLs): RFLs can provide unreserved legal activities only (they cannot, for example, conduct litigation or appear as advocates in court proceedings). Your RFL must tell you about any restrictions on their practice rights.
10.3.7 (g) Trainee Solicitors: If a Trainee Solicitor carries out work on your matter, they must do so under the direct supervision of a qualified solicitor. The supervising solicitor must be identified in your Client Care Letter and is personally responsible for the quality of the Trainee's work.
10.3.8 (h) Dual-regulated solicitors: Some solicitors on the Platform hold authorisations from more than one Approved Regulator. For example, your Solicitor may be both an SRA-authorised solicitor and a notary public (authorised by the Faculty Office), or both a solicitor and a registered patent attorney (authorised by IPReg). If your matter involves work that falls under the other regulator's authority rather than the SRA's, the regulatory protections may differ. Specifically: (i) the SRA's rules, the SRA Compensation Fund, and the Legal Ombudsman may not cover that element of the work, (ii) the other regulator's complaints process may apply instead, and (iii) the PII arrangements may differ. Your Solicitor is required to tell you before starting work if any part of your matter will be provided under a different regulator's authorisation and to explain the consequences for your protections.
11. What to Expect from Your Solicitor
11.1 Your Solicitor is required by the SRA Standards and Regulations (or the BSB Handbook) to: (a) act competently, (b) act in your best interests, (c) act honestly and with integrity, (d) keep your information confidential, (e) communicate with you regularly and clearly, (f) act diligently and without unnecessary delay, (g) be transparent about costs and fees, (h) deliver the work that was agreed, (i) identify and manage conflicts of interest, and (j) treat you with courtesy and respect.
11E.1 You have the right to seek a second opinion from another solicitor at any time. Your Solicitor must not discourage you from doing so.
11E.2 If your Solicitor holds money on your behalf, you are entitled to a full accounting at any time upon request. This right arises under the SRA Accounts Rules 2019 and cannot be waived.
11E.3 On termination, you are entitled to a prompt refund of any money not yet earned. Under the SRA Accounts Rules 2019 (Rule 2.5), the Solicitor must return your money promptly on demand.
11E.4 If costs are likely to exceed the original estimate by fifteen per cent (15%) or more, your Solicitor must notify you before incurring the additional cost and seek your agreement.
11F.1 Your Solicitor must carry professional indemnity insurance. The level and type of cover varies: (a) Law Firms must carry PII that meets the SRA's Minimum Terms and Conditions; (b) Freelance Solicitors must carry adequate and appropriate PII, which may not meet the full Minimum Terms; (c) Barristers carry insurance through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF); (d) Consultants, Fractional Counsel, and Of Counsel are covered by the PII of the firm through which they practise. Your Solicitor is required to tell you what insurance they hold and whether you have access to the SRA Compensation Fund. If they do not tell you, ask them before you instruct them.
11B. Criminal Defence Matters
11B.1 Criminal defence work (including police station attendance, magistrates' court, Crown Court, and appeals) is available through the Platform. If You need a solicitor urgently at a police station, the Platform may connect You directly with an available solicitor without the standard Scoping Call process.
11B.2 At a police station, You have the right to free legal advice under PACE Code C regardless of Your financial circumstances. The duty solicitor can advise You at no cost. You do not need to pay Platform service fees for emergency police station attendance covered by legal aid.
11B.3 Be aware that during a Scoping Call: (a) You may inadvertently make self-incriminating statements; (b) the call is transcribed unless You request otherwise; (c) Legal Professional Privilege may not protect pre-retainer communications; and (d) Your Solicitor may be legally required to report suspected money laundering or terrorist financing. Ask Your Solicitor before the recorded portion if You have concerns about what is safe to say.
11C. Emergency and Urgent Matters
11C.1 Some matters require immediate action and cannot wait for the standard Scoping Call process. These include: (a) police station attendance; (b) emergency injunction applications (including non-molestation orders, freezing orders, and without-notice applications); (c) emergency child protection applications; (d) urgent Court of Protection applications; (e) urgent bail applications; and (f) child abduction matters requiring port alerts. The Platform may facilitate an expedited connection, and the duty solicitor scheme operates independently of the Platform for police station and court duty work.
11D. If the Other Side Also Uses the Platform
11D.1 In disputes (such as family cases or commercial disagreements), the other party may also use the Platform. The Platform takes reasonable endeavours to prevent the same Solicitor from being matched with both sides. However, Your Solicitor is independently responsible for conflict checks. In family law disputes, the Platform's PD12J screening is an automated safety measure and Your Solicitor must follow Practice Direction 12J.
12. What Your Solicitor Must Tell You
12.1 Your Solicitor is personally regulated by the SRA (or, where applicable, the BSB) even though the Platform is not SRA-regulated. This means your Solicitor must comply with the SRA Principles and the SRA Code of Conduct when providing services to you, regardless of the fact that they are providing those services through an unregulated marketplace. Before work begins, your Solicitor is required to provide You with: (a) a Client Care Letter setting out the terms of the engagement, (b) the basis of charging and best possible information about overall costs, (c) information about their complaints procedure and the Legal Ombudsman, (d) their regulatory status and SRA or BSB registration details, (e) details of their professional indemnity insurance, (f) whether the SRA Compensation Fund is available to you, (g) any referral fee or fee-sharing arrangement with the Platform, (h) information about how your data will be used, (i) their cancellation policy (where Consumer Contracts Regulations apply), and (j) any conditions on their practising certificate or limitations on their practice.
12.1A If your Solicitor holds an authorisation from an Approved Regulator in addition to the SRA (for example, as a notary public, patent attorney, or costs lawyer), your Solicitor must tell you before starting work (a) whether any element of your matter will be provided under the other regulator's authorisation rather than the SRA's, (b) which regulator's rules apply to which part of the work, (c) whether the Legal Ombudsman has jurisdiction over all of the work or only part of it, (d) whether the SRA Compensation Fund applies to all of the work or only part of it, and (e) whether the Solicitor's PII covers all of the work. If you are not told this information, you should ask your Solicitor before work begins.
Referral to a Solicitor in Another Jurisdiction
Where a referral involves a Solicitor who is regulated in a jurisdiction outside England and Wales, the Platform informs You before You consent: (a) the referred Solicitor's regulatory body (which is different from the SRA), (b) that the referred Solicitor's complaints procedure may differ from the Legal Ombudsman procedure available for SRA-regulated solicitors, (c) the applicable complaints route for each Solicitor on the matter, and (d) that You will have a separate engagement with each Solicitor.
14A.1A Where you request that your Solicitor begins work within the 14-day cooling-off period, the Platform will ask you to provide explicit consent. By providing such consent, you acknowledge that: (a) you are requesting that services begin before the cooling-off period has expired, (b) if the services are fully performed within the cooling-off period, you will lose your right to cancel, and (c) if you cancel after services have partly been provided, you may be required to pay for services already provided up to the point of cancellation, calculated on a proportionate basis. Your consent will be recorded by the Platform with a timestamp.
12A.1 Your Solicitor must tell you who will carry out the work on your matter and who will supervise it. If a Trainee Solicitor, paralegal, or other non-qualified person will carry out any part of your work, this must be disclosed to you in the Client Care Letter. You have the right to insist that a qualified solicitor personally carries out any aspect of your matter. The supervising solicitor remains responsible for the quality of all work, including work carried out by a Trainee or other supervised person.
13. Verifying Your Solicitor's Credentials
12B.1 Some solicitors have conditions on their practising certificate imposed by the SRA. These conditions may restrict the type of work they can do, require them to be supervised, or limit their ability to handle Client Money. Your Solicitor must tell you if their practising certificate has any conditions that are relevant to your matter. If you are concerned, you can check your Solicitor's regulatory record on the SRA's online register at https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/.
13.1 You have the right to verify any Solicitor's credentials independently. You can check a solicitor's registration on the SRA's online register (www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register), check a barrister's registration on the BSB's Barristers' Register, check whether a firm is authorised on the SRA's website, and check for any disciplinary history or conditions on practising certificates. The Platform encourages You to verify credentials before instructing a Solicitor.
13.1A If your Solicitor states that they hold an authorisation from another Approved Regulator (for example, as a notary public or patent attorney), you can verify this independently. Notaries can be checked on the Faculty Office's register (www.thenotariessociety.org.uk/find-a-notary). Patent and trade mark attorneys can be checked on the IPReg register (www.ipreg.org.uk/find-a-regulated-person). Costs lawyers can be checked on the CLSB register (clsb.info/find-a-costs-lawyer).
13A. Your Solicitor's Qualifications and Regulatory Status
13A.1 Every Solicitor listed on the Platform must satisfy one of the eligibility requirements set by the Platform, including holding a current practising certificate issued by the SRA or a current practising certificate issued by the BSB (for barristers). The Platform verifies each Solicitor's registration status against the SRA Solicitors Register or the BSB Barristers' Register as an administrative check at the point of registration and may conduct periodic re-checks. This verification does not constitute SRA oversight or endorsement of the Solicitor's competence.
13A.2 It is a criminal offence under section 14 of the Legal Services Act 2007 for an unauthorised person to carry on a reserved legal activity (such as court representation, litigation, or conveyancing). The maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and up to two years' imprisonment. It is a separate criminal offence under section 21 of the Solicitors Act 1974 for a person who is not a solicitor to hold themselves out as one.
13A.3 A Solicitor must not register on the Platform if they: (a) have been struck off the Roll of Solicitors or disbarred; (b) are currently suspended from practice; (c) do not hold a current, valid practising certificate; or (d) are subject to conditions on their practising certificate that would prevent them from providing services through the Platform. If the Platform discovers that a listed Solicitor does not meet these requirements, the Platform may immediately suspend the Solicitor's profile and may report the matter to the SRA or BSB.
13A.4 If You have any concerns about whether Your Solicitor is properly qualified, You can check their registration status on the SRA's Solicitors Register at www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/find-a-solicitor or the BSB's Barristers' Register at www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/search-a-barristers-record.html. You can also ask Your Solicitor directly about their qualifications, practising certificate status, and any regulatory history.
If You are accused of a crime or need a solicitor at a police station, there are special rules.
13B. Specialist Accreditation and What It Means for You
13B.1 Some Solicitors hold specialist accreditations including: (a) Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS); (b) Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS); (c) Family Law Panel and Children Law Accreditation; (d) Clinical Negligence Panel and Personal Injury Panel; (e) Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme; (f) Immigration and Asylum Accreditation; and (g) Mental Capacity and Deputyship Panel. These are awarded by the Law Society or other professional bodies, not by the Platform.
13B.2 For immigration matters, Your Solicitor must be regulated by the SRA or BSB, or registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). It is a criminal offence under section 91 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for an unqualified person to provide immigration advice. Check the OISC register at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-immigration-services-commissioner.
13C.1 Your Solicitor must provide you with a Client Care Letter before or at the start of the engagement. This must include: (a) who will do the work and who supervises them; (b) the basis of charges; (c) the likely overall cost; (d) the complaints procedure; (e) the Solicitor's regulatory status; (f) whether you have access to the Compensation Fund; (g) the Solicitor's PII position; and (h) whether AI tools will be used. If your Solicitor is a Freelance Solicitor, Fractional Counsel, or Consultant, the Client Care Letter must also explain their operating model, who holds your Client Money, and any limitations on your regulatory protections.
13D.1 Your Solicitor must check for conflicts of interest before accepting your matter. A conflict arises where the Solicitor's duty to act in your best interests conflicts with their duty to another client, or with their own interests. This obligation applies to all solicitor types. If your Solicitor is a Fractional Counsel or Of Counsel working with multiple clients or firms, the risk of conflicts may be higher, and your Solicitor must have systems in place to identify and manage them. If a conflict is identified, your Solicitor must tell you and may need to stop acting for you.
14. Vulnerable Clients
14.1 If You need additional support due to age, disability, mental capacity, language barriers, financial difficulty, bereavement, domestic abuse, or any other factor, your Solicitor is required to make reasonable adjustments and provide additional care. You may also contact the Platform for help finding a Solicitor who can meet your specific needs.
14.2 The Platform does not assess vulnerability. If You or someone You are helping may need additional support, please inform your Solicitor at the earliest opportunity so they can make appropriate adjustments.
14A. Mandatory Post-Matter Review
14A.1 Following the closure of Your matter through the Platform, You are required to leave a review of the Solicitor's services. Only Clients with completed matters may leave reviews. Your review is submitted to the Solicitor for approval before it is displayed publicly on the Platform. If the Solicitor does not approve or object to the review within ten (10) Business Days of submission, the review is published automatically. The Solicitor may object to a review only on the grounds that it contains factually inaccurate statements, confidential information, or content that is defamatory, abusive, or discriminatory. The Platform makes the final decision on whether to publish, amend, or withhold a review following an objection.
14B. Additional Protections for Specific Client Groups
14B.1 If You are a victim of human trafficking or modern slavery, You may be entitled to referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), specialist immigration leave, and support services. Your Solicitor should advise You. If You are in immigration detention, You retain all Your legal rights and the Platform will handle Your information with the highest confidentiality.
14B.2 If You lack mental capacity to instruct a Solicitor (or if there is a question about Your capacity), a litigation friend may need to be appointed. Your Solicitor must assess capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The Platform's consent mechanisms require informed consent; if You lack capacity, the engagement process must be adapted in accordance with Your Solicitor's professional judgment.
14B.3 For multi-party proceedings (including group litigation and collective proceedings), the standard Platform model of one Client per Solicitor per matter applies. Your Solicitor manages the multi-party engagement separately.
14C.1 Your Solicitor has a duty to identify and support vulnerable clients, regardless of the type of Solicitor you have instructed. If you have a disability, mental health condition, language barrier, or any other circumstance that may affect your ability to give instructions or understand advice, your Solicitor must take reasonable steps to ensure you can participate fully in your matter. This duty applies to Law Firms, Freelance Solicitors, Fractional Counsel, Of Counsel, Consultants, Barristers, and all other legal professionals on the Platform.
PART D YOUR OBLIGATIONS: TRUTH, ACCURACY, AND GOOD FAITH
15. Truthfulness Warranty
15.1 You warrant that all information provided by You to the Platform and to any Solicitor through the Platform is and will be true, accurate, complete, and not misleading in any material respect. This warranty applies to: (a) registration information, (b) information about your legal matter, (c) information provided to your Solicitor for the purposes of their work, (d) Source of Funds declarations, (e) identity verification documents and information, (f) information relevant to AML, CDD, and sanctions screening, (g) information about Third Party funding or involvement, and (h) any other information provided in connection with the Platform or Legal Services.
15.2 The truthfulness warranty in clause 15.1 is a continuing obligation. If any information You have provided becomes inaccurate or incomplete, or if circumstances change materially, You must notify the Platform and your Solicitor promptly.
15.3 You acknowledge that your Solicitor relies on the information You provide to give you proper legal advice, to comply with their regulatory obligations (including AML, CDD, conflicts checking, and SRA reporting), and to conduct your legal matter. Providing false, misleading, or incomplete information may result in your Solicitor being unable to act for you or giving you incorrect advice, and may have serious consequences for your legal matter.
16. Accurate Information
16.1 You must provide accurate and complete information: (a) when creating your account, (b) when describing your legal matter, (c) when communicating with Solicitors through the Platform, (d) when providing documents, and (e) when making declarations (including Source of Funds declarations).
16.2 You must not: (a) impersonate any person or misrepresent your identity, (b) create multiple accounts for the purpose of evading these Terms, (c) provide false or forged identity documents, (d) withhold material information from your Solicitor that is relevant to their ability to act for you or to comply with their regulatory obligations, or (e) use the Platform for any unlawful purpose.
17. Cooperation
17.1 You agree to cooperate with your Solicitor and the Platform by: (a) responding to requests for information within reasonable timescales, (b) providing documents when requested, (c) attending meetings or calls as reasonably required, (d) informing your Solicitor of any change in circumstances relevant to your matter, (e) following reasonable advice about the conduct of your matter, and (f) not obstructing or frustrating your Solicitor's ability to act for you.
18. Prohibited Conduct
18.1 You must not use the Platform: (a) for any unlawful purpose, including money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, or sanctions evasion, (b) to facilitate or conceal the proceeds of crime, (c) to obtain legal services for the purpose of furthering criminal activity, (d) to harass, abuse, or threaten any Solicitor or Platform staff, (e) to make vexatious, frivolous, or malicious complaints, (f) to interfere with the operation of the Platform or its security, or (g) in any manner that breaches Applicable Law.
18.2 During the period in which You have an active matter with a Solicitor introduced through the Platform, You agree not to contact the Solicitor outside the Platform for the purpose of obtaining legal services in connection with that matter or any related matter, except where the Solicitor's terms of engagement expressly require direct communication (for example, attending court or signing documents). This clause does not prevent You from contacting the Solicitor through normal channels after Your matter has been concluded and all Platform obligations have been fulfiled.
18.2A Any breach of this clause is a material breach of these Terms and may result in suspension or termination of Your account. You must not provide or exchange personal contact details with Your Solicitor before the Milestone Proposal is approved for the purpose of moving the engagement outside the Platform.
18A. You Must Not Use the Platform for Unlawful Purposes
18A.1 You must not use the Platform, instruct a Solicitor, or participate in a Scoping Call for any unlawful purpose. In particular, You must not: (a) commit, attempt, or facilitate fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, or any other criminal offence through the Platform; (b) instruct a Solicitor to act in furtherance of a crime (if You do, Legal Professional Privilege will not protect the communication); (c) provide false identity documents or impersonate another person; (d) commit identity fraud by providing false personal information to the Platform or to a Solicitor; (e) make false, malicious, or vexatious complaints against a Solicitor; (f) use legal services obtained through the Platform to harm, defraud, or intimidate another person; or (g) use the Platform to evade sanctions or circumvent court orders.
18A.2 If the Platform has reasonable grounds to suspect that You are using the Platform for an unlawful purpose, the Platform may: (a) immediately suspend or terminate Your account without prior notice; (b) withhold release of any Held Funds; (c) report the matter to the police, the National Crime Agency, OFSI, HMRC, Trading Standards, or any other relevant authority; and (d) cooperate with any criminal or regulatory investigation. The Platform is not required to tell You that a report has been made where doing so could prejudice an investigation or amount to tipping off under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
18B. Identity Fraud, Impersonation, and Prohibited Conduct
The Platform treats identity fraud and impersonation of qualified legal professionals as criminal conduct. The provisions in this clause 18B are fundamental terms of these Terms.
18B.1 You must register on the Platform in your own name and using your own true identity. You must not (a) register using another person's name, identity, or personal details, (b) create an account that purports to be or could be mistaken for another person, (c) allow any other person to use your Platform account or login credentials, or (d) register on behalf of another individual (except where an authorised representative registers on behalf of an organisation as permitted by these Terms).
18B.2 You must not impersonate a qualified solicitor, barrister, or other legal professional on the Platform or in any communication connected with the Platform. In particular, you must not (a) register as a Solicitor or attempt to access the Solicitor side of the Platform using the SRA ID, BSB Bar number, practising certificate, or professional credentials of any qualified legal professional, (b) locate a qualified individual on a public register (including the SRA Solicitors Register or the BSB Barristers' Register) and use that individual's details to create a Platform account, to provide legal services, or to deceive other users, (c) hold yourself out to other users as a qualified solicitor or barrister when you are not, or (d) create a fictitious professional identity using fabricated regulatory credentials.
18B.3 Impersonation of a qualified legal professional is a criminal offence. Any person who does so may be committing offences under (a) the Fraud Act 2006 (sections 1, 2, and 6), (b) sections 14 and 17 of the Legal Services Act 2007 (carrying on or pretending to be entitled to carry on reserved legal activities), and (c) sections 20 and 21 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (unqualified person acting as a solicitor). The Platform will immediately report any suspected impersonation to the police, Report Fraud (www.reportfraud.police.uk), the SRA, the BSB, and any other relevant authority, and will cooperate fully with any resulting criminal investigation or regulatory inquiry.
18B.4 Where the Platform identifies or reasonably suspects that a Client account has been used for impersonation or identity fraud, the Platform will (a) immediately and permanently terminate the account without prior notice, (b) immediately report the matter to law enforcement and regulatory authorities, (c) notify any person who has been affected, (d) preserve all account data and audit logs for disclosure to authorities, and (e) pursue all available civil remedies. An individual whose account is terminated under this clause is permanently and irrevocably barred from the Platform and may not re-register under any name or identity.
19. Consequences of Breach
19.1 If You breach your obligations under this Part D, the Platform may suspend or terminate your account, your Solicitor may decline or terminate your instructions, your Solicitor may be required to file a SAR with the NCA, you may be liable under the indemnity provisions in clause 70, and you may face criminal liability (including under POCA and the MLR 2017). The Platform may also report matters to law enforcement, regulatory authorities, or the NCA where required or permitted by law.
PART E SOURCE OF FUNDS
20. Why Source of Funds Matters
20.1 Solicitors are legally required under the MLR 2017 to understand the source and origin of the funds used to pay for Legal Services. This is a requirement of law, not of the Platform. The Platform facilitates your declaration but does not verify it. Verification is your Solicitor's responsibility.
21. Mandatory Declaration
21.1 Before instructing Legal Services through the Platform, You must declare: (a) whether funds are Your Own Funds or Third Party Funds (or a combination), (b) the Source of Funds (the specific origin from which the funds were obtained), (c) any Third Party involvement in funding, and (d) whether any part of the funds comprises Crypto Assets, Litigation Funding, or funds from any other non-standard source.
21.2 This declaration is mandatory. You cannot proceed without completing it. It is made subject to the indemnity provisions in clause 70, is subject to verification by the Solicitor, and is binding on You throughout the matter.
22. Your Own Funds
22.1 Funds are Your Own Funds only if: (a) they are held in bank or building society accounts in your sole name, (b) they were earned, saved, or accumulated by you from a lawful source, (c) no Third Party has contributed to them for the purpose of paying for your Legal Services, (d) you have full legal and beneficial ownership and full control over them, and (e) they are not borrowed, gifted, or provided by others.
23. Third Party Funds
23.1 Funds are Third Party Funds if they are provided, loaned, gifted, or otherwise made available by someone other than You, including: (a) gifts from family members, friends, or any other person, (b) loans from any person or entity (formal or informal), (c) payments made directly to the Solicitor by someone other than You, (d) funds from a company (even if you own or control the company), (e) funds from a trust (even if you are a beneficiary or trustee), (f) funds from a partnership or limited liability partnership, (g) Litigation Funding from a commercial funder, (h) crowdfunded or publicly raised funds, (i) employer contributions, and (j) contributions from joint account holders (to the extent they exceed your own share).
24. Disclosure of Third Party Funds
24.1 If funds include any element of Third Party Funds, You must: (a) notify your Solicitor before the Solicitor accepts your instructions, (b) provide complete information about the Third Party (including, for an individual: full name, relationship to you, address, reason for providing funds, whether it is a gift or loan, and the Third Party's own Source of Funds; and for an entity: full legal name, registration number, registered office, nature of business, relationship to you, Beneficial Owners, reason for providing funds, and the entity's own Source of Funds), (c) explain the nature of the arrangement, and (d) cooperate with any additional verification the Solicitor requires.
24.2 Disclosure must be made before the Solicitor accepts your instructions, immediately if the funding arrangement changes during the matter, and before any additional Third Party Funds are introduced. Late disclosure may result in delay, the Solicitor declining to continue acting, wasted costs for which you will be liable, and the triggering of your indemnity obligations.
25. Mixed Funding Sources
25.1 If your Legal Services will be paid from more than one source, You must declare all sources, indicate the approximate proportion from each source, and disclose any Third Party involvement in respect of each source.
26. Crypto Assets
26.1 If any part of the funds used to pay for Legal Services derives from or has at any time been held in the form of Crypto Assets, You must declare this to the Solicitor and provide: (a) the type of Crypto Asset, (b) the exchange or wallet from which funds were converted, (c) the date and value of conversion in pounds sterling, and (d) evidence of the lawful origin of the Crypto Assets. Crypto Assets are treated as a higher-risk source of funds under the LSAG Guidance.
27. Litigation Funding
27.1 If any part of your Legal Services is funded by Litigation Funding, You must disclose this before the Solicitor accepts your instructions and provide: (a) the name and registered details of the litigation funder, (b) whether the funder is FCA-regulated, (c) the terms of the funding arrangement (including any percentage of damages payable to the funder), and (d) any conditions the funder imposes on the conduct of the litigation.
28. Source of Funds Truthfulness
28.1 You warrant that all Source of Funds declarations are true, accurate, complete, and not misleading, do not omit any material information, and are made in good faith. Making a false or misleading declaration may result in: (a) the Solicitor terminating your retainer, (b) Platform account suspension or termination, (c) the Solicitor filing a SAR with the NCA, (d) criminal liability under POCA and the MLR 2017, and (e) civil liability under the indemnity provisions in clause 70.
28.2 You acknowledge that deliberately concealing the true source of funds or Third Party involvement may constitute a criminal offence under POCA, including the offence of concealing, disguising, converting, or transferring criminal property under section 327, or the offence of entering into or becoming concerned in an arrangement which facilitates the acquisition, retention, use, or control of criminal property under section 328.
PART F COOPERATION WITH AML/KYC REQUIREMENTS
29. The Solicitor's Legal Obligations
29.1 Your Solicitor is legally required under the MLR 2017, POCA, the Terrorism Act 2000, and the SRA Standards and Regulations to: (a) identify you and verify your identity, (b) identify any Beneficial Owner and verify their identity, (c) understand the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship, (d) understand the Source of Funds, (e) conduct ongoing monitoring, and (f) report any suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing to the NCA.
30. Your Duty to Cooperate
30.1 You agree to cooperate fully with the Solicitor's AML and CDD requirements by: (a) providing all requested information promptly and accurately, (b) providing documentary evidence when requested (including photographic identification, proof of address, and source of funds documentation), (c) answering questions about your Source of Funds and Source of Wealth, (d) explaining any unusual, complex, or non-standard funding arrangements, (e) making yourself available for meetings or calls if the Solicitor requires, and (f) not obstructing, delaying, or frustrating the verification process.
30.2 Failure to cooperate may result in the Solicitor being unable to act for You. Under the MLR 2017, the Solicitor is prohibited from establishing or continuing a business relationship where CDD cannot be completed. This is a requirement of law, not the Solicitor's discretion.
31. Sanctions Screening
31.1 You warrant that: (a) You are not a person designated under any Sanctions regime, (b) You are not owned or controlled by a designated person, (c) You are not acting on behalf of a designated person, and (d) You will notify your Solicitor immediately if your Sanctions status changes.
31.2 If You are a PEP, a family member of a PEP, or a known close associate of a PEP, You must disclose this to your Solicitor. The Solicitor is required to conduct Enhanced Due Diligence in respect of PEPs.
32. Ongoing Obligations
32.1 Your obligations under this Part F continue throughout the Solicitor-Client relationship. If any information changes (including your identity, address, beneficial ownership, Source of Funds, or sanctions status), You must notify your Solicitor promptly.
33. What Your Solicitor Cannot Tell You
33.1 You acknowledge that if your Solicitor suspects money laundering or terrorist financing and makes a SAR to the NCA, the Solicitor is prohibited by law from telling you that a report has been made or that an investigation is being or is about to be conducted (the Tipping Off offence under section 333A of POCA). If the Solicitor is unable to act for you and cannot explain why, this may be the reason.
PART G FEES AND PAYMENTS
33A.1 The Platform's fees are fixed amounts determined by the complexity tier of your matter and, for Buyer Protection Fees, the milestone value band. Higher-complexity matters attract higher platform fees because they require greater platform resources: more extensive AI scoping, multiple milestones, longer dispute resolution windows, and enhanced compliance monitoring. The fee schedule is published on the Platform's pricing page. Platform fees are never calculated as a percentage of your legal fees and are always charged separately from the fees you pay your Solicitor for legal services.
34. Initial Consultation Connection Fee
34.1 When You click "Schedule a Call" (or equivalent booking button) on a Solicitor's profile, the Platform charges an Initial Consultation Connection Fee of £18 (eighteen pounds) inclusive of VAT at 20% (being £15 net plus £3 VAT). This fee is: (a) payable by You to the Platform at the point of booking, (b) charged separately from the Solicitor's Legal Fees, (c) a fee for the Platform's technology and introduction service (not for legal advice), (d) non-refundable once the booking has been confirmed through the Platform, and (e) subject to VAT where applicable.
34.1A By accepting these Terms, you accept the principle that Platform Fees will be payable if your matter proceeds. Platform Fees are contractually confirmed as owed to the Platform once the scope and fees are agreed across milestones (i.e., once you approve the Milestone Proposal). From that point, Platform Fees are automatically deducted and are deemed earned by the Platform and are payable regardless of: (a) the outcome of your matter; (b) any dispute between you and your Solicitor; (c) your satisfaction with the services; or (d) whether the matter is subsequently terminated.
34.2 The Initial Consultation Connection Fee is not a referral fee. The Platform charges Solicitors separately for its services. The fee structure is disclosed in accordance with SRA Code of Conduct paragraph 5.1 and these Terms.
34.3 The Initial Consultation Connection Fee cannot be charged where Your matter relates to a personal injury claim, clinical negligence claim, or death claim, as the payment of such a fee could constitute a prohibited referral fee under sections 56-60 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). The Platform technically prevents the Connection Fee from being charged in respect of these matter types. If Your matter falls within one of these categories, the Platform will inform You of alternative ways to connect with a Solicitor through the Platform.
34.4 The Platform may from time to time offer an expedited or priority booking service for an additional fee, which will be clearly disclosed to You before payment. Any such fee is a Platform service charge and is subject to the same terms as the Initial Consultation Connection Fee, including VAT treatment and cancellation rights.
35. Legal Fees
35.1 Legal Fees are agreed between You and your Solicitor and are payable to the Solicitor, not to the Platform. The Platform has no involvement in setting, negotiating, or collecting Legal Fees.
35.2 Your Solicitor is required to give you the best possible information about how your matter will be priced and the likely overall cost, including: (a) the basis of charging (fixed fee, hourly rate, conditional fee, damages-based agreement, or other), (b) a realistic estimate or range, (c) likely disbursements and VAT, (d) circumstances in which costs may increase, (e) when and how you will be updated, and (f) your right to challenge the bill under Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974.
35.2A If Your matter involves a court claim that falls within the Fixed Recoverable Costs regime (which applies to most claims valued up to one hundred thousand pounds allocated to the fast track or intermediate track), the costs that can be recovered from the losing party are fixed by the Civil Procedure Rules and may be less than the fees Your Solicitor or Legal Professional charges You. This means You may have to pay a shortfall. Your Solicitor or Legal Professional must explain this to You at the outset and include the estimated shortfall in the Milestone Proposal. The Platform does not assess whether the FRC regime applies to Your matter.
35.2B Your Solicitor may propose any of the following fee arrangements through the Milestone Proposal. All arrangements operate within the Platform's three-line Stripe payment architecture, which means your Legal Fees and Disbursements flow directly to your Solicitor (the Platform receives nothing from these payments) and the Platform's own fee is charged separately: (a) fixed fee - a single agreed price for the whole matter or for each stage, paid through the Held Funds mechanism on completion of each milestone; (b) staged or phased fee - the matter is broken into phases, each with its own fixed fee and milestone; (c) capped fee - a maximum fee is agreed and you pay the actual amount incurred (up to the cap) on completion; (d) hourly rate - the Solicitor estimates hours for each phase, you approve the estimate, and you pay the actual hours worked (with a scope change required if hours will exceed the estimate); (e) retainer or money on account - you pay an initial deposit held by Stripe, which the Solicitor draws down as work is performed, with replenishment requested when the balance is low; (f) monthly retainer - a flat monthly fee for ongoing advisory services, auto-generated as a recurring milestone each month; (g) project-based or flat fee - a single price for a defined deliverable (such as a compliance assessment or regulatory application); (h) transaction-based fee - fees linked to transaction stages (such as exchange, completion, and registration in conveyancing or signing and closing in M&A); (i) success or completion fee - standard milestones for ongoing work plus an additional fee payable only if a defined outcome is achieved (such as a deal completing); (j) no sale no fee - in seller-side conveyancing, the Legal Fee is conditional on the sale completing (Disbursements such as search fees remain payable regardless); (k) blended rate - a single hourly rate for the whole team rather than individual rates, calculated as estimated hours multiplied by the blended rate; (l) value-based fee - the fee is linked to the value or benefit delivered (such as tax saved), with the final amount adjusted once the outcome is known; (m) conditional fee arrangement (CFA or no win no fee) - you pay no Legal Fees unless your case succeeds, and if it does, a success fee uplift applies (capped at 100 per cent of base costs); (n) damages-based agreement (DBA) - you pay a percentage of damages recovered (capped at 25 per cent for personal injury, 35 per cent for employment, 50 per cent for commercial); (o) after-the-event insurance - an insurance policy that covers your Disbursements and the opponent's costs if the case is lost, typically taken alongside a CFA; (p) hybrid arrangement - a reduced hourly rate for ongoing work combined with a success fee payable on outcome; (q) annual incident response retainer - an annual prepaid fee for data breach or crisis readiness services; (r) fee-shifting - where the losing party pays the winning party's costs under a court order, the costs recovery is handled by the court and is separate from the Platform's payment mechanism; and (s) Legal Aid - if your matter is publicly funded, the payment flows from the Legal Aid Agency directly to your Solicitor and does not pass through the Platform's Stripe architecture. Your Solicitor must explain in the Milestone Proposal and Client Care Letter how the chosen billing model works with the Platform's payment mechanism.
35.2C Additional arrangements include: (t) volume-based or portfolio pricing - if you instruct the same Solicitor on multiple matters, a discounted rate structure may apply across the portfolio, with each matter having its own milestone at the agreed portfolio rate; (u) court-appointed or statutory rate work - where the court appoints the Solicitor (such as a duty solicitor or court-appointed deputy), the court sets the fee and payment comes from public funds rather than from you through Stripe; and (v) donor or foundation-funded work - where a legal charity or foundation funds your legal representation, the Solicitor is paid by the organisation and you pay nothing through the Platform.
35A. Legal Aid and Public Funding
If You cannot afford legal fees, You may be eligible for legal aid (public funding).
35A.1 Before agreeing to pay privately for legal services through the Platform, You should consider whether You may be eligible for legal aid. Legal aid is available for certain types of legal work (including family, immigration, housing, criminal, and mental health matters) if You meet the financial eligibility criteria. Your Solicitor has a professional obligation to tell You if legal aid may be available for Your type of matter.
35A.2 If Your matter is funded by legal aid: (a) the Platform's Buyer Protection Fee does not apply to the legal aid element of Your costs; (b) Your Solicitor's fees are paid by the Legal Aid Agency, not through the Platform's payment system; (c) the Platform's Milestone Proposal process does not apply to the legal aid element; and (d) You may still be required to pay a financial contribution towards Your legal aid costs depending on Your income and capital. Legal aid billing is handled through the Legal Aid Agency's own systems, not through the Platform.
35A.3 If Your matter is legally aided and You recover or preserve money or property as a result, the Legal Aid Agency may place a "statutory charge" on that money or property. This means the Legal Aid Agency can recover the cost of Your legal aid from what You have won. Your Solicitor must explain the statutory charge to You.
35A.4 If You are unsure whether You qualify for legal aid, You can check at www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid or ask Your Solicitor.
36. Platform Fees
36.1 Platform Fees (including the Initial Consultation Connection Fee) are separate from Legal Fees. Platform Fees are: (a) charged for the Platform's technology and marketplace services, (b) disclosed before you incur them, (c) not legal fees and not paid to the Solicitor, (d) subject to the Platform's cancellation and refund policy, and (e) charged as separate transactions through Stripe and are never deducted from, set off against, or otherwise taken from any payment You make for Legal Services or from Held Funds held on Your behalf.
36A. Platform Service Fee Structure
This clause sets out in detail the Platform service fees charged to You. All fees are disclosed before you incur them and are separate from the Legal Fees you pay to your Solicitor.
36A.1 The Platform charges You the following service fees: (a) AI Consultation Fee: a fee per Scoping Call (currently £15 inclusive of VAT), charged in consideration for the Platform's video consultation infrastructure, real-time transcription, AI scope report generation, and compliance logging. If You have a paid subscription plan with available consultation credits, the credit is applied automatically and You pay nothing for the consultation; (b) Compliance Verification Fee: a fixed fee per matter (currently £5), charged in consideration for the Platform's identity verification, regulatory status checks, and compliance infrastructure; and (c) Buyer Protection Fee: a fixed fee per milestone determined by the milestone value band as published on the Platform's pricing page for each milestone payment, charged in consideration for the Platform's milestone escrow facilitation, payment security, dispute resolution infrastructure, and transaction protection. The Buyer Protection Fee is tiered by both the milestone amount and Your subscription tier.
36A.2 The Buyer Protection Fee rates are as follows (or as published on the Platform from time to time): for milestone amounts up to £5,000: 4.5% (Free/Explorer), 3.5% (Standard), 3.0% (Premium); for milestone amounts £5,001 to £25,000: 3.5% (Free), 2.75% (Standard), 2.25% (Premium); for milestone amounts £25,001 to £50,000: 2.5% (Free), 2.0% (Standard), 1.75% (Premium); for milestone amounts over £50,000: available to Premium clients only at 1.25%. These rates are published on the Platform and may be updated from time to time. The Platform displays the applicable Buyer Protection Fee rate and estimated amount before You fund any milestone.
36A.3 In addition to the fees charged to You, the Platform charges separate service fees to the Solicitor (including a Platform Usage Fee, Technology and AI Fee, and Seller Protection Fee). These Solicitor-side fees are the Solicitor's responsibility and are not charged to or payable by You. Your Solicitor is required by SRA rules to disclose the existence and nature of these fee arrangements to You.
36A.4 Stripe Processing Fees (currently 1.5% + £0.20 per transaction) are passed through at cost and are charged in addition to Platform service fees. The Platform does not retain any portion of Stripe Processing Fees.
36A.5 All fees are shown in full on the Platform's pre-payment information screen and in the interactive fee calculator before any payment is taken. The Platform complies with the DMCCA 2024 prohibition on drip pricing and ensures that the total cost (including Legal Fees, Platform service fees, and Stripe Processing Fees) is disclosed before You commit to payment.
36B. Information About Your Solicitor's Platform Fees
36B.1 Your Solicitor pays separate Platform service fees to eSolicitors, including a Platform Usage Fee, Technology and AI Fee, Seller Protection Fee, and Compliance and Audit Fee. These are the Solicitor's costs and are not charged to You. Your Solicitor is required by the SRA Code of Conduct (paragraph 5.1) to disclose the nature of their fee-sharing arrangement with the Platform. If Your Solicitor has not disclosed this information to You, You are entitled to ask them about it.
36B.2 The Seller Protection Fee charged to Your Solicitor does not constitute insurance or a financial guarantee within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. It is a service charge for the Platform's dispute facilitation and payment security infrastructure. Neither the Buyer Protection Fee charged to You nor the Seller Protection Fee charged to the Solicitor constitutes insurance.
36B.3 The Platform's Compliance Tools Dashboard is a technology tool provided to Solicitors to assist with their regulatory compliance. It does not constitute SRA-endorsed compliance or regulatory supervision. The fact that Your Solicitor uses the Compliance Tools Dashboard does not guarantee that the Solicitor is compliant with SRA requirements.
37. Payment Processing via Stripe
37.1 Payments through the Platform are processed by Stripe. Stripe is authorised by the FCA as an electronic money institution. The Platform does not hold your money. Your funds are held by Stripe as an FCA-regulated institution, not by the Platform.
37.2 When You book a Scoping Call, the matched Solicitor has provided a financial commitment to the Platform by way of a pre-authorisation hold on the Solicitor's registered payment method. This means the Solicitor has demonstrated a commercial commitment to the consultation before Your call takes place. No funds are debited from the Solicitor until the engagement proceeds to the quote stage. This arrangement is between the Platform and the Solicitor and does not affect Your rights or obligations.
37.3 Because Held Funds are held by Stripe (an FCA-authorised electronic money institution) and not by the Platform, Your Held Funds are protected in the event that the Platform ceases trading, becomes insolvent, or enters administration. In such circumstances, Stripe continues to hold Your funds in accordance with its FCA obligations and the funds remain available for release to the Solicitor (if services have been completed) or return to You (if services have not been completed). The Platform will use reasonable endeavours to notify You of any material change to its trading status that may affect the Platform's services.
38. How Funds Are Held and Released
38.1 When You pay for Legal Services through the Platform, Stripe holds funds as Held Funds. These Held Funds belong to You until released.
38.2 Held Funds are released to the Solicitor when: (a) the Solicitor marks services (or a stage) as complete, (b) You confirm satisfactory delivery or the Confirmation Period expires without objection, and (c) no complaint or dispute has been raised. Legal Fees are released to the Solicitor in full without any deduction by the Platform. Platform Fees are charged separately in accordance with clause 38.5.
38.3 The Confirmation Period is the period specified for Your subscription tier (14 calendar days for Free/Explorer, 21 calendar days for Standard, or 30 calendar days for Premium) from notification that services have been marked as complete. During the Confirmation Period, You may: (a) confirm satisfactory delivery, or (b) raise a dispute. If You do not confirm satisfactory delivery or raise a dispute within the Confirmation Period, You are deemed to have accepted the services. Deemed acceptance does not affect your right to make a complaint or pursue any other remedy available to you under Part J of these Terms, through the Legal Ombudsman, or through the courts. The Platform sends a reminder notification on the fifth (5th) Business Day of the Confirmation Period.
38.4 Payments are structured by milestone in accordance with the approved Milestone Proposal (clause 9A.5). Each milestone is a separate payment event processed through Stripe.
38.4A The Platform supports a range of billing arrangements agreed between You and Your Solicitor, including fixed fees, staged or milestone fees, capped fees, hourly rates, retainers (money on account), conditional fee agreements, damages-based agreements, and hybrid arrangements. The Held Funds and Confirmation Period mechanism described in this Part G applies to each billing model as follows: (a) for milestone and staged fee matters, each milestone is a separate payment and confirmation event; (b) for hourly rate matters, interim bills are submitted through the Platform at agreed intervals and each bill triggers a separate Confirmation Period; (c) for conditional fee and damages-based agreement matters, payment is contingent on outcome and the Platform's payment mechanism adapts accordingly (Held Funds are not collected until the triggering event occurs); and (d) for money on account or retainer matters, initial deposits paid through the Platform are held by Stripe and released to the Solicitor in accordance with the agreed billing schedule.
38.5 Platform Fees are charged as a separate transaction to the payment of Legal Fees. Platform Fees are never deducted from, set off against, or otherwise taken from Held Funds or from any payment made by You for Legal Services. Where a Platform Fee is payable by the Solicitor in connection with a milestone or matter, the Platform charges that fee separately to the Solicitor through Stripe following the successful release of the corresponding Held Funds to the Solicitor. Where a Platform Fee is payable by You (such as the Initial Consultation Connection Fee), it is charged directly to Your payment method as a distinct transaction at the point it becomes due. This separation ensures that the full amount of Your Legal Fees reaches Your Solicitor without any intermediary deduction by the Platform.
38.6 Payments for the Solicitor's professional fees and payments for disbursements (such as court fees, counsel's fees, expert fees, and search fees) are processed as separate transactions through Stripe. Both categories of payment flow directly to the Solicitor's account with no deduction by the Platform. Disbursement payments may be triggered at different times from professional fee milestone payments, depending on when the disbursement falls due.
38.6A If you raise a dispute during the Confirmation Period, the Platform will ask you to specify the nature of your concern from the following categories: (a) work not received, (b) work incomplete, (c) work not as described, (d) quality concern, (e) costs dispute, (f) communication issue, or (g) other. This categorisation helps your Solicitor understand and respond to your concern. The Platform facilitates communication between you and your Solicitor but does not adjudicate disputes, does not assess the quality of legal work, and does not provide legal advice. If your Solicitor cannot resolve your concern, you retain the right to complain through the Solicitor's complaints procedure and, if necessary, to the Legal Ombudsman.
39. Raising a Dispute During the Confirmation Period
39.1 If You are not satisfied with the services delivered, You should raise a dispute through the Platform within the Confirmation Period. When You raise a dispute: (a) the Held Funds for that service or stage will not be released, (b) the Platform will notify your Solicitor and facilitate communication, and (c) the Platform does not adjudicate the dispute but facilitates resolution.
39A. Dispute Resolution Process, SLA, and Escalation
39A.1 When You raise a dispute during the dispute window, the Platform assigns a compliance handler to review the matter. The compliance handler's role is limited to: (a) reviewing whether the Platform's terms and processes have been followed, (b) facilitating communication between You and the Solicitor, (c) managing the Stripe payment hold during the dispute, and (d) recording the outcome. The compliance handler does not: (i) provide legal advice, (ii) assess the quality of the Solicitor's legal work, (iii) determine the legal merits of the dispute, or (iv) act as Your legal representative. The Platform's dispute process does not constitute adjudication, arbitration, mediation, or any form of binding dispute resolution.
39A.2 Target dispute handling response times vary by Your subscription tier: 72 hours (Free/Explorer), 48 hours (Standard), 24 hours (Premium). These are target service levels and are not guaranteed. Complex disputes may take longer to resolve.
39A.3 If You are on the Premium tier, You may request escalation of a dispute to a Platform Director. Escalation does not change the nature of the dispute process: the Director reviews the matter on the same administrative basis as the compliance handler. The Director does not provide legal advice or make binding determinations on the merits of legal services.
39A.4 The Platform's dispute process does not replace or limit Your right to: (a) complain to Your Solicitor under the Solicitor's own complaints procedure, (b) complain to the Legal Ombudsman about the Solicitor's legal services, (c) report conduct concerns to the SRA, or (d) pursue any legal remedy available to You. You are strongly encouraged to use the Solicitor's complaints procedure and the Legal Ombudsman in addition to the Platform's dispute process.
40. Refunds
40.1 If You are entitled to a refund of Legal Fees (whether through the Solicitor's complaints procedure, the Legal Ombudsman, or court proceedings), the refund is the responsibility of the Solicitor, not the Platform. If Held Funds have not been released, the Platform may return them to You through Stripe. If funds have already been released to the Solicitor, recovery is between You and the Solicitor.
40.2 Refunds of Platform Fees are subject to the Platform's refund policy and Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 cancellation rights where applicable.
41. Client Money
41.1 Client Money (money your Solicitor holds on your behalf for the purposes of your legal matter, such as completion funds, settlement funds, or money on account of costs) is separate from Held Funds and is subject to the SRA Accounts Rules. Your Solicitor is required by the SRA to: (a) keep Client Money separate from the firm's own money, (b) hold it in a Client Account at a bank or building society, (c) account to you for interest where appropriate, (d) return Client Money to you promptly when there is no longer any reason to hold it, and (e) maintain proper accounting records.
41.2 Where a Third Party Managed Account (TPMA) is used instead of a Client Account, your Solicitor must inform you and explain the arrangements.
PART H YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS
41A.1 How your money is held depends on the type of Solicitor you instruct: (a) if your Solicitor practises through a Law Firm, the firm holds your Client Money in a designated Client Account under the SRA Accounts Rules; (b) if your Solicitor is a Freelance Solicitor, they generally cannot hold your Client Money - it must be held by a third party managed account or a Law Firm; (c) if your Solicitor is a Barrister, they must not hold your Client Money; (d) if your Solicitor is a Fractional Counsel, Of Counsel, or Consultant, your Client Money is held by the firm through which they practise. In all cases, your Solicitor must tell you before the engagement begins who holds your Client Money and under which regulatory framework.
41B.1 If your Solicitor holds your Client Money for any period, they must account to you for a fair sum of interest. The interest policy depends on who holds your money: (a) if a Law Firm holds your Client Money, the firm's interest policy applies; (b) if your money is held in a third party managed account (TPMA) used by a Freelance Solicitor, the TPMA provider's interest policy applies; (c) if a Consultant or Fractional Counsel's firm holds your money, the firm's policy applies. Your Solicitor must tell you at the outset of the engagement what the interest policy is, including when interest will be paid, at what rate, and whether there is a minimum threshold below which interest is not paid. If they do not, ask.
41C.1 If your Solicitor has a referral arrangement with another solicitor, firm, or third party in connection with your matter, they must tell you about it in writing. Referral fees in personal injury and death claims are prohibited by law (Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, section 56). For other types of work, your Solicitor may pay or receive a referral fee, but they must disclose this to you and must ensure that the arrangement does not compromise the advice you receive. This applies to all solicitor types - Law Firms, Freelance Solicitors, Fractional Counsel, Of Counsel, Consultants, and Barristers.
41F. Disbursement and Client Money Terms
41F.1 Before the first disbursement payment is processed on Your matter, the Platform will ask You to confirm that You understand and accept the following: (a) disbursement payments are processed as separate Stripe transactions directly to Your Solicitor or Legal Professional and are separate from Legal Fee payments; (b) the Platform does not hold, manage, control, or have access to disbursement funds at any point - once a disbursement payment is processed through Stripe, the funds go directly to Your Solicitor or Legal Professional's account; (c) Your Solicitor or Legal Professional is solely responsible for paying the relevant third party (such as the court, an expert, or a search provider) out of the disbursement funds received; (d) each disbursement item has its own approval flow, and You will be asked to approve each disbursement before payment is taken; (e) VAT treatment varies by disbursement category (some disbursements attract VAT, some are VAT-exempt, and some are outside the scope of VAT), and the applicable VAT position will be shown for each item; (f) Your Solicitor or Legal Professional is required to provide receipts or evidence of payment for each disbursement incurred on Your behalf; and (g) if You have a dispute about a disbursement, this is between You and Your Solicitor or Legal Professional, and the Platform's dispute resolution process is available to assist.
41F.2 Where Your Solicitor or Legal Professional is required by their regulatory obligations to hold Client Money in a regulated Client Account (for example, completion funds in a conveyancing transaction, settlement funds in litigation, or money held on account of future costs), You acknowledge and agree that: (a) the obligation to hold Client Money in a regulated Client Account sits entirely with Your Solicitor or Legal Professional (and, where applicable, their firm); (b) the Platform has no visibility of, access to, or control over any Client Account maintained by Your Solicitor or Legal Professional or their firm; (c) the Platform does not monitor, audit, reconcile, or verify the contents of any Client Account; (d) the Platform is not responsible for, and accepts no liability in respect of, any failure by Your Solicitor or Legal Professional to comply with their Client Account obligations; (e) if You have concerns about how Your Client Money is being held, Your first step should be to raise this directly with Your Solicitor or Legal Professional, and if You are not satisfied, You may complain to their regulatory body; and (f) the Platform's escrow mechanism (Held Funds processed through Stripe) is a technology service and is not a Client Account within the meaning of any professional regulation.
41F.3 The Platform processes disbursement payments through the same three-line Stripe payment architecture as Legal Fee payments. Line 1 processes Legal Fees as a direct charge to Your Solicitor or Legal Professional's Stripe Connected Account with no Platform deduction. Line 2 processes Disbursements as a separate direct charge to the same Connected Account with no Platform deduction. Line 3 is the Platform Fee, which is invoiced separately to Your Solicitor or Legal Professional's own payment method and is entirely independent of any payment You make. At no point does the Platform receive, hold, deduct from, or have access to any money flowing from You to Your Solicitor or Legal Professional for Legal Fees or Disbursements.
42. Consumer Status
42.1 If You are an individual acting for purposes wholly or mainly outside your trade, business, craft, or profession, You are a Consumer and have additional protections under consumer legislation. Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights.
43. Consumer Rights Act 2015
43.1 Under the CRA 2015: (a) services must be performed with reasonable care and skill, (b) services must conform to what was agreed, (c) where price is not agreed, you pay a reasonable charge, and (d) where no time is fixed, services must be performed within a reasonable time. If services do not meet these standards, You have the right to require the Solicitor to repeat the performance or, where that is not possible, to a reduction in price.
43A.1 Under Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a term in a consumer contract is unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations to the detriment of the consumer. If any term in these Terms is found to be unfair, it will not be binding on You, but the remainder of these Terms will continue to apply. The Platform has drafted these Terms to be fair and transparent. If You believe any term is unfair, You may raise this with the Platform through the complaints procedure in clause 58 or seek independent legal advice.
44. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and Cancellation Rights
44.1 Where You enter into a contract at a distance or off-premises (including through the Platform), You have a right to cancel within 14 days without giving a reason, subject to the exceptions set out in the CCR 2013. Before the Initial Consultation Connection Fee is charged, the Platform displays a pre-payment information screen containing all information required by CCR 2013 Regulation 13, including the right to cancel, the model cancellation form, and the total price. You must acknowledge reading this information before payment is processed.
44.2 Cancellation rights apply separately to: (a) the Platform's services (including the Initial Consultation Connection Fee), where You entered the contract with the Platform at distance or off-premises, and (b) the Solicitor's legal services, where You entered the retainer at distance or off-premises. Cancelling one does not automatically cancel the other.
44.3 If You request that the Platform or the Solicitor begin performance within the 14-day cancellation period, You acknowledge that You may lose your right to cancel once the service has been fully performed.
44.4 Your Solicitor is separately responsible for providing You with the CCR 2013 regulation 13 information for their own services, including a model cancellation form and information about the 14-day period.
45. Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
45.1 Under the DMCCA 2024: (a) all mandatory costs are disclosed upfront, (b) there is no drip pricing, (c) the total price is clearly stated at the outset, and (d) there are no hidden charges. You must not be misled about the nature or cost of services.
46. Your Statutory Rights Preserved
46.1 Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any right or remedy You have under the CRA 2015, the CCR 2013, the DMCCA 2024, or any other consumer protection legislation. If any provision of these Terms conflicts with your statutory rights, your statutory rights prevail.
46A. Additional Legal Protections
46A.1 Where Your Solicitor provides services in areas covered by the SRA Transparency Rules (including residential conveyancing, uncontested probate, motoring offences, employment tribunal claims, immigration, debt recovery, and licensing), Your Solicitor must publish and provide You with specific pricing information, key stages, timescales, and qualifications of the people doing the work. If Your Solicitor has not provided this information, You are entitled to ask for it.
46A.2 Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, where Your Solicitor provides services, there is an implied term that the services will be carried out with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time (if no time is agreed), and for a reasonable charge (if no price is agreed). These implied terms apply in addition to Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
46A.3 The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 protects You from unfair clauses that attempt to limit or exclude liability. Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts the Platform's liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud. Any clause in these Terms that limits the Platform's liability to You is subject to a legal test of reasonableness.
46A.4 The Platform does not currently offer payment plans, instalment arrangements, or credit facilities. All payments are made in full at the time of the relevant milestone or Platform service charge. If the Platform introduces credit or instalment facilities in the future, these will be subject to the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and FCA regulation, and separate terms will apply.
46A.5 Some legal matters may involve activities that are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), such as advising on investments or arranging financial products. Your Solicitor may provide these services under an exemption available to solicitors under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The Platform is not regulated by the FCA and does not provide financial services or financial advice.
35A.5 Some Solicitors may agree to act for You on a pro bono (free of charge) or reduced-fee basis. Where Your matter is pro bono, the Platform's Buyer Protection Fee does not apply. The Platform may still charge the Initial Consultation Connection Fee and Compliance Verification Fee.
PART I DOCUMENTS, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND PRIVILEGE
46A There are three types of documents you may encounter on the Platform: (a) documents your Solicitor provides to you as part of their legal services (such as Client Care Letters, terms of engagement, and advice letters) - these are the Solicitor's professional work product and the Solicitor's sole responsibility, even if they are based on a Platform template, (b) Client Templates you may purchase directly from the Platform (see clause 46B) - these are general informational documents and do not constitute legal advice, and (c) templates or documents that individual Solicitors may offer for sale through their Platform profiles - these are the Solicitor's own products and the Platform does not review, endorse, or take responsibility for them. The Platform is not a Law Firm, is not regulated by the SRA, the Law Society, the BSB, or the FCA, and does not provide legal advice through any of these channels.
46B. Platform Document Templates Available to Clients
46B.0A Templates and other documents listed on the Platform may be reviewed by the Platform's administrators before publication. Any such review is for compliance with the Platform's listing standards only (including format, completeness of mandatory fields, and prohibited content screening). It does not constitute a review of the legal accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any template for any particular purpose or jurisdiction. The Solicitor who created the template warrants its accuracy and fitness for purpose. The Platform disclaims all liability for the content of templates created by Solicitors. You are advised to have any purchased template reviewed by a qualified legal professional before relying on it.
46B.1 The Platform may make available certain document templates, guides, checklists, and informational materials ("Client Templates") for purchase or download directly by Clients. Client Templates are created and maintained by the Platform and are sold by the Platform directly to you. Your Solicitor is not involved in this transaction and does not receive any payment or commission from the sale of Client Templates to you.
46B.2 Client Templates may include, for example, general guides to legal processes (such as "A Guide to Buying a Property"), checklists for preparing instructions, frequently asked questions documents, and other informational materials. Client Templates are general in nature and are not tailored to your specific circumstances.
46B.3 Client Templates are available at prices published on the Platform, which may include individual purchase or subscription access. All payments are processed via Stripe. You may cancel a subscription at any time; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
46B.4 Client Templates do not constitute legal advice. The Platform is not a Law Firm, is not regulated by the SRA, the Law Society, the BSB, or the FCA, and does not provide legal, regulatory, or compliance advice through the provision of Client Templates or any other service. Client Templates are provided for general informational purposes only and must not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice from a qualified solicitor. If you need legal advice about your specific situation, you should instruct a solicitor.
46B.5 Client Templates are provided on an "as is" basis. The Platform makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of any Client Template for your particular circumstances. The Platform is not liable for any loss, damage, or consequence arising from your use of or reliance on any Client Template.
46B.6 On purchase, you are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Client Template for your own personal purposes. You may not resell, redistribute, sublicence, or commercially exploit any Client Template. Intellectual property in Client Templates remains with the Platform.
46B.7 Client Templates purchased from the Platform are distinct from documents your Solicitor provides to you during a matter. Documents your Solicitor provides (such as a Client Care Letter, terms of engagement, or advice letter) are the Solicitor's professional work product and the Solicitor's responsibility, even if they are based on a Platform template. The Platform is not responsible for documents your Solicitor provides to you.
46B.8 You agree to indemnify the Platform and its directors, officers, employees, and agents against all losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of, reliance on, or application of any Client Template in circumstances where you did not seek professional legal advice, (b) any claim by a third party arising from your use of a Client Template, or (c) your distribution, reproduction, or sharing of any Client Template in breach of the licence granted under clause 46B.6. This indemnity does not apply to the extent that losses arise from the Platform's own negligence, fraud, or breach of these Terms.
46B-A. Template Risk Warnings and Your Obligation to Seek Professional Advice
46B-A.1 No template, guide, checklist, form, or other document sold or made available through the Platform constitutes legal advice. Templates are general-purpose documents designed for general informational and reference purposes only. They cannot and do not take into account your individual circumstances, your legal position, the specific facts of your matter, the law of your jurisdiction, or any other factor that a qualified solicitor would consider before advising you.
46B-A.1A Each Solicitor who sells templates through the Platform has warranted that they are the original creator and intellectual property owner of each template, and has given the Platform and all Clients an uncapped indemnity against all third-party intellectual property infringement claims arising from their templates.
46B-A.2 Buying a template is not a substitute for instructing a solicitor. Templates carry real risks. In particular (a) the template may not be suitable for your specific situation - a template designed for one type of transaction may be completely wrong for another, even if they appear similar, (b) the template may be out of date - the law changes frequently and a template that was accurate when written may no longer reflect the current law, (c) the template may contain errors or omissions that you would not recognise without legal training, (d) if you complete the template incorrectly, you could create legal obligations you did not intend, waive important rights, or expose yourself to financial loss or legal liability, (e) a template designed for use in England and Wales may not be valid or enforceable in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or any other country, and (f) courts, tribunals, lenders, and other third parties may not accept documents produced from templates if they do not meet specific requirements.
46B-A.3 If you are unsure about any aspect of how to use, complete, adapt, or apply a template you have purchased from the Platform, you must engage a qualified solicitor or other legal professional who understands your specific situation before using the template. The Platform strongly recommends that you always obtain independent professional legal advice before relying on any template for any legal, commercial, property, family, employment, immigration, or other purpose. The cost of professional advice to review a template is likely to be significantly less than the cost of dealing with problems caused by using a template incorrectly.
46B-A.4 The Platform accepts no liability for any loss, damage, cost, expense, or other consequence arising from your purchase or use of any template. This includes, without limitation (a) loss caused by errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in any template, (b) loss caused by a template being out of date or unsuitable for your circumstances, (c) loss caused by your incorrect completion or misapplication of a template, (d) loss of legal rights, creation of unintended obligations, or financial loss arising from your use of a template, (e) loss arising from your failure to obtain professional advice before using a template, and (f) any claim by a third party in connection with a document you created using a template.
46B-A.5 Templates sold on the Platform may be created by the Platform itself ("Platform Templates") or by individual solicitors registered on the Platform ("Solicitor Products"). In both cases, the same risk warnings and limitations apply. The Platform does not review, verify, endorse, approve, or warrant the accuracy, completeness, currency, legal validity, or suitability of any template, regardless of who created it. The fact that a template is sold through the Platform does not mean the Platform recommends it, has checked it, or believes it is suitable for any particular purpose.
46B-A.6 You indemnify the Platform against all losses, claims, damages, costs, and expenses arising from your use of any template, including any claim by a third party in connection with a document you created using a template and any loss arising from your failure to obtain professional advice before using a template.
46B-B. How Templates Are Sold on the Platform - Three Channels
46B-B.1 "Platform Client Templates" are templates, guides, checklists, forms, and other documents that the Platform itself has created and sells directly to you. When you buy a Platform Client Template, you are buying from the Platform (Esol Corporation Limited), not from a solicitor.
46B-B.2 Platform Client Templates are general information only. They are not legal advice. The Platform is not a law firm and cannot advise you. A Platform Client Template cannot take into account your personal circumstances, your legal position, or the specific facts of your situation. If you are unsure how to use a Platform Client Template, you must engage a qualified solicitor who understands your specific situation before using it.
46B-B.3 The Platform accepts no liability for any loss arising from your purchase or use of a Platform Client Template, including loss caused by errors, the template being out of date, the template being unsuitable for your situation, or your incorrect use of the template.
46B-B.4 The Platform also sells practice templates and compliance documents to solicitors registered on the Platform ("Platform Professional Templates"). These are tools for solicitors to use in their practice. You do not purchase these directly. If your solicitor uses a Platform Professional Template in your matter (for example, as the basis for your Client Care Letter or terms of engagement), your solicitor is professionally responsible for reviewing, adapting, and taking responsibility for the document before giving it to you. Your solicitor cannot blame the Platform if a document they give you, based on a Platform Professional Template, is inaccurate or unsuitable.
46B-B.5 Individual solicitors registered on the Platform may create and sell their own templates, guides, forms, and other documents ("Solicitor Products") through the Platform's template marketplace. When you buy a Solicitor Product, you are buying from that individual solicitor, not from the Platform. The Platform facilitates the sale but does not create, review, verify, endorse, or approve Solicitor Products.
46B-B.6 Solicitor Products are general documents and are not tailored to your specific circumstances. They are not legal advice. The solicitor who created the Solicitor Product does not owe you a solicitor-client duty unless you separately instruct them. If you are unsure how to use a Solicitor Product, you must engage a qualified solicitor who understands your specific situation before using it.
46B-B.7 The Platform accepts no liability for any Solicitor Product. If a Solicitor Product is inaccurate, out of date, or unsuitable, your claim (if any) is against the solicitor who created it, not against the Platform.
46B-B.8 Regardless of which channel you buy a template through: (a) no template is legal advice or a substitute for instructing a solicitor, (b) if you are unsure how to use any template, you must engage a qualified solicitor who understands your specific situation before using it, (c) templates carry real risks - they may be unsuitable, out of date, contain errors, or not work in your jurisdiction, (d) using a template incorrectly could create legal obligations you did not intend, waive important rights, or cause you financial loss, (e) the cost of professional advice to check a template is likely to be far less than the cost of fixing problems caused by using one incorrectly, and (f) the Platform accepts no liability for any loss arising from any template, however it was sold.
46B-B.9 You indemnify the Platform against all losses, claims, damages, costs, and expenses arising from your use of any template purchased through the Platform (whether a Platform Client Template, a Solicitor Product, or any other template), including any claim by a third party in connection with a document you created using a template and any loss arising from your failure to obtain professional advice.
46B-C. Platform Recommendation: Engage a Solicitor Before Purchasing a Template
46B-C.1 The Platform always recommends that, before purchasing any template, you first engage with a solicitor through the Platform to obtain tailored legal advice that is specific to your individual circumstances. A solicitor can assess your legal position, identify the documents you actually need, advise you on the risks and options available to you, and provide advice that takes into account the specific facts of your situation. Purchasing a template without first obtaining legal advice means you are relying on a general-purpose document that has not been reviewed, adapted, or approved by a qualified legal professional for your particular needs.
46B-C.2 All templates sold through the Platform, whether created by the Platform or by individual solicitors, are provided in a simplified and shortened form. They are designed as general-purpose starting points and are not tailored to any individual legal scenario, transaction, dispute, or set of circumstances. Templates do not contain the full range of clauses, protections, schedules, or provisions that a solicitor would include in a document drafted specifically for your situation. A template may omit important provisions that are relevant to your circumstances, may include provisions that are not appropriate for your situation, or may use standard wording that does not adequately protect your interests in the specific context of your matter.
46B-C.3 You acknowledge and agree that purchasing a template does not resolve your legal problem, complete your legal transaction, or provide you with legal advice. A template is a document only. It does not tell you whether the document is appropriate for your situation, how to complete it correctly, what the legal consequences of signing it are, whether it will be accepted by courts, lenders, registries, or other third parties, or whether it adequately protects your legal rights and interests. The resolution of any legal matter requires professional legal advice from a qualified solicitor who understands the specific facts of your case.
46B-C.4 If you purchase a template without first obtaining legal advice and subsequently engage a solicitor (whether through the Platform or otherwise), you acknowledge and accept that: (a) the solicitor may determine that the template you purchased is not suitable for your legal scenario and may recommend that it is not used; (b) the solicitor may prefer to use their own template, precedent, or bespoke document that the solicitor has drafted or adapted specifically for your matter, and the solicitor is under no obligation to use or incorporate the template you purchased; (c) the solicitor may advise you that significant amendments, additions, or deletions are required to make the template suitable for your situation, and such amendments may be so extensive that it would have been more cost-effective to instruct the solicitor to draft a bespoke document from the outset; and (d) the cost of instructing a solicitor to review, amend, or replace a template may exceed the cost of the template itself, and you accept this risk when purchasing a template without first obtaining legal advice.
46B-C.5 You are hereby put on notice that individual solicitors registered on the Platform may sell their own templates, guides, and legal documents through the Platform's template marketplace ("Solicitor Products"). These Solicitor Products are created by practising, SRA-regulated solicitors and may offer content that is more detailed, more jurisdiction-specific, or more closely tailored to particular legal scenarios than the Platform's own templates. Before purchasing a Platform template, you may wish to evaluate whether a Solicitor Product created by a specialist solicitor in the relevant area of law would better serve your individual needs. The Platform does not endorse or recommend any particular Solicitor Product over a Platform template, but encourages you to consider all available options before making a purchase.
46B-C.6 The Platform's recommended order of engagement is as follows: (a) first, engage a solicitor through the Platform for a Scoping Call to receive tailored legal advice about your situation; (b) second, if your solicitor advises that a template is appropriate for your needs, discuss with your solicitor which template (if any) is suitable; (c) third, only purchase a template if you are satisfied, having taken legal advice, that the template is suitable for your specific circumstances. If you choose to purchase a template without first engaging a solicitor, you do so at your own risk and the Platform accepts no liability for any loss, cost, or consequence arising from that decision.
46B-C.7 By purchasing any template from the Platform, you confirm that you have read and understood this section 46B-C in its entirety and that: (a) you understand that all templates are general-purpose documents provided in a simplified and shortened form and are not tailored to your individual circumstances; (b) you understand that purchasing a template does not resolve your legal problem and is not a substitute for professional legal advice; (c) you understand that the Platform recommends engaging a solicitor before purchasing a template; (d) you accept that if you subsequently engage a solicitor, the solicitor may choose not to use the template you purchased and may use their own documentation instead; (e) you are aware that solicitors on the Platform sell their own templates which may be more suitable for your needs; and (f) you accept all risks associated with purchasing and using a template without first obtaining professional legal advice.
47. Uploading Documents
Document Workspace
Where a matter involves more than one Solicitor, the Platform provides a document workspace. The Client can access the Shared Zone, which contains documents that all Solicitors on the matter have agreed to share with the Client (including engagement documentation, correspondence, and agreed terms). Each Solicitor also has a Private Zone that the Client cannot access. The Private Zone contains the Solicitor's internal work product, strategy notes, and privileged material. This separation protects the confidentiality of each Solicitor's independent legal advice.
47.1 You may need to upload documents to the Platform for the purposes of your legal matter. You are responsible for: (a) ensuring documents are accurate and complete, (b) not uploading documents that are fraudulent, forged, or misleading, (c) not uploading documents that you do not have the right to share, and (d) following any security guidance provided by the Platform.
48. Your Solicitor's Duty of Confidentiality
48.1 Your Solicitor is required by SRA Code of Conduct paragraph 6.3 to keep the affairs of current and former clients confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law, or the client consents. This is a duty your Solicitor owes to you, not a duty the Platform owes to you.
49. Legal Professional Privilege
49.1 Communications between you and your Solicitor for the purpose of giving or receiving legal advice are protected by Legal Professional Privilege. This is one of the most important legal protections available to you. Privileged communications cannot be disclosed to anyone (including the Platform, courts, regulators, or government bodies) without your consent, except in very limited circumstances defined by law.
49.2 You should be aware that: (a) privilege belongs to you, the client, not to the Solicitor, (b) you can waive privilege, but should take legal advice before doing so, (c) sharing privileged communications with third parties may destroy the privilege, and (d) privilege does not protect communications made for the purpose of furthering a crime or fraud (the "iniquity exception").
50. How the Platform Handles Your Information
50.1 The Platform's confidentiality commitments are set out in the Platform Privacy Notice and the Platform's data protection policies. The Platform does not access or review the content of communications between you and your Solicitor except as required for the technical operation of the Platform or as required by law.
50.2 The Platform processes your personal data as an independent controller. Your Solicitor processes your personal data as a separate independent controller. The Platform and the Solicitor are not joint controllers.
50A. Platform Records, Audit Log, and Automated Screening
50A.1 The Platform maintains an immutable audit log of transactions, communications, and compliance events for a period of seven years from the closure of the relevant matter. The audit log is maintained for the Platform's operational, regulatory, and dispute resolution purposes. You consent to the Platform maintaining these records. The audit log does not replace Your Solicitor's own file management and record-keeping obligations.
50A.2 The Platform may incorporate automated screening tools, including domestic abuse indicators (PD12J screening), AML/KYC checks, and sanctions screening. These tools are technology aids and do not constitute legal advice or a substitute for Your Solicitor's professional assessment. If You have concerns about domestic abuse or safety, You should speak to Your Solicitor or contact a specialist support service.
51. Ownership of Your Documents
51.1 You retain ownership of all documents you upload. The Platform does not claim ownership of your documents. You grant the Platform a limited licence to host, store, and transmit your documents for the sole purpose of providing the Platform's services.
52. Document Retention
52.1 Your Solicitor is required by the SRA to retain matter files for a minimum period of seven (7) years from the date of file closure (or longer for certain matter types, such as matters involving minors or trusts). Anti-money laundering records must be retained for at least five (5) years from the end of the business relationship. At the end of the applicable retention period, files should be securely destroyed. You have the right to request copies of your documents from your Solicitor at any time during the retention period, subject to the Solicitor's lien for unpaid fees.
52A. Matter Closure Through the Platform
52A.1 When Your matter is concluded, the Solicitor must complete the following steps through the Platform: (a) issue a reporting letter summarising the work done, the outcome, and any documents being returned to You; (b) issue a final bill showing a breakdown of professional fees, disbursements, and VAT; (c) return any Client Money held on Your behalf in accordance with SRA Accounts Rule 2.5; (d) provide a file closure letter; (e) confirm whether any undertakings were given during the matter and their status; (f) notify You of any ongoing duties or obligations You may have (such as compliance with court orders or limitation periods); (g) provide complaints information, including the Legal Ombudsman's contact details and applicable time limits; and (h) confirm that the Solicitor's duty of confidentiality continues after the matter ends. The Platform facilitates this process through its matter closure workflow but does not review, approve, or take responsibility for the content of any closure documents.
PART J COMPLAINTS
53. Complaints About Legal Services
53.1 If You are unhappy with the legal services provided by your Solicitor, You have the right to complain. This right cannot be excluded, restricted, or waived. Your Solicitor is required by the SRA to have a written complaints procedure, to tell you about it at the start of the engagement, and to deal with your complaint promptly and fairly.
53.1A If your Solicitor is a Dual-Regulated Solicitor and any part of your matter was provided under the authorisation of an Approved Regulator other than the SRA, the complaints route may differ for that part of the work. For notarial services (regulated by the Faculty Office), complaints may be directed to the Faculty Office. For patent and trade mark attorney services (regulated by IPReg), complaints may be directed to IPReg. For costs lawyer services (regulated by the CLSB), complaints may be directed to the CLSB. The Legal Ombudsman has jurisdiction over services provided by SRA-authorised and other LSA-authorised persons but the scope may vary. Your Solicitor should have explained which complaints route applies to each part of your matter at the outset of the engagement.
53A.1 Your complaint route depends on who you instructed: (a) if you instructed a Solicitor (including through a Law Firm, as a Freelance Solicitor, Fractional Counsel, Of Counsel, or Consultant), your first step is the Solicitor's or firm's own complaints procedure, followed by the Legal Ombudsman if you are not satisfied; (b) if you instructed a Barrister under public access rules, you can complain to the Barrister's chambers, then to the Legal Ombudsman; (c) for serious misconduct by any solicitor type, you can report directly to the SRA; for Barristers, to the BSB; (d) the Legal Ombudsman has jurisdiction over all SRA-regulated individuals and over Barristers providing services directly to the public. The Platform's own dispute process is available for all solicitor types.
54. Complaint Routes
54.1 You have the following complaint routes: (a) complain to your Solicitor under their internal complaints procedure, (b) raise a dispute through the Platform during the Confirmation Period (which instructs Stripe to hold funds pending resolution), (c) refer the complaint to the Legal Ombudsman if it is not resolved within 8 weeks or you receive a final response you are unhappy with, (d) report professional misconduct to the SRA, and (e) bring court proceedings for professional negligence or breach of contract.
55. Complaining Through the Platform
55.1 When You raise a dispute through the Platform: (a) the Platform notifies your Solicitor, (b) the Platform facilitates communication between you and the Solicitor, (c) the Platform does not take sides, adjudicate disputes, or determine liability, and (d) if resolution cannot be reached, the Platform will inform you of your right to escalate to the Legal Ombudsman, the SRA, or the courts.
56. The Legal Ombudsman
56.1 The Legal Ombudsman is the independent body that investigates complaints about legal services. You can complain to the Legal Ombudsman if: (a) you have first complained to your Solicitor and the complaint has not been resolved within 8 weeks, or you have received a final response, (b) you refer the complaint within 6 months of your Solicitor's final response, and (c) the complaint is within the Legal Ombudsman's jurisdiction, and (d) the complaint is made within one year of the act or omission complained about (or within one year of when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint), and in any event within six years of the act or omission. These time limits are set by the Legal Ombudsman and may be updated from time to time. The Legal Ombudsman can be contacted at PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ, telephone 0300 555 0333, or www.legalombudsman.org.uk.
57. Reporting to the SRA
57.1 If You believe your Solicitor has breached the SRA Principles or SRA Code of Conduct (for example, dishonesty, fraud, discrimination, or a serious failure of competence), you can report the matter to the SRA directly. The SRA investigates regulatory breaches and can take disciplinary action. Reporting to the SRA is separate from complaining to the Legal Ombudsman. You can contact the SRA at www.sra.org.uk.
57A. Complaints About Scottish Solicitors and Advocates
57A.1 If Your Solicitor or Advocate is qualified in Scotland, complaints are handled by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC), not the Legal Ombudsman. The SLCC is the statutory gateway for all complaints about legal practitioners in Scotland. The SLCC may handle service complaints itself or refer conduct complaints to the Law Society of Scotland or the Faculty of Advocates for investigation.
57A.2 You must make Your complaint to the SLCC within three years of the date on which you were last provided with a service in connection with the matter you are complaining about (for service complaints) or within three years of the date of the conduct complained about (for conduct complaints). The SLCC may accept late complaints in exceptional circumstances. Contact: Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, Capital Building, 12-13 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2AF. Telephone: 0131 201 2130. Website: www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk.
57A.3 For serious misconduct by a Scottish solicitor, You may also report directly to the Law Society of Scotland (www.lawscot.org.uk). For advocates, report to the Faculty of Advocates (www.advocates.org.uk).
57B. Complaints About Northern Ireland Solicitors and Barristers
57B.1 If Your Solicitor is qualified in Northern Ireland, service complaints are handled by the independent Solicitor Complaints Committee (SCC), which is separate from the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Conduct complaints (relating to professional behaviour) are handled by the Law Society of Northern Ireland directly. If You are dissatisfied with how the Law Society has handled a conduct complaint, You may refer the matter to the Lay Observer for Northern Ireland. Complaints about barristers in Northern Ireland are handled by the Bar of Northern Ireland.
57B.2 Contact: Solicitor Complaints Committee, Law Society House, 96 Victoria Street, Belfast, BT1 3NL. Website: www.scc-ni.org. Law Society of Northern Ireland (conduct complaints), 96 Victoria Street, Belfast, BT1 3GN. Telephone: 028 9023 1614. Website: www.lawsoc-ni.org. Lay Observer for Northern Ireland: www.layobserverni.com. Bar of Northern Ireland, Bar Library, 91 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 3JQ. Website: www.barofni.com.
57B.3 The Legal Ombudsman (England and Wales) does not have jurisdiction over solicitors or barristers qualified in Northern Ireland. Your complaint route is through the Solicitor Complaints Committee (service complaints), the Law Society of Northern Ireland (conduct complaints), or the Bar of Northern Ireland (for barristers). If You are dissatisfied with how the Law Society handled a conduct complaint, You may refer the matter to the Lay Observer for Northern Ireland.
58. Complaints About the Platform
58.1 If your complaint is about the Platform's service (not about your Solicitor's legal services), you should contact the Platform using the details in clause 82. The Platform's full complaints procedure is published on the Platform's website at www.esolicitors.com/complaints and explains the process for individuals, businesses, Law Firms, and professional bodies. The Platform will acknowledge your complaint within 5 Business Days and aim to resolve it within 20 Business Days. For the avoidance of doubt, the Legal Ombudsman and the SRA have no jurisdiction over the Platform itself, as the Platform is not an authorised person under the Legal Services Act 2007. You cannot complain to the Legal Ombudsman or the SRA about the Platform's marketplace services. The Legal Ombudsman and the SRA only have jurisdiction over your Solicitor's legal services and professional conduct.
59. Complaining After Funds Have Been Released
59.1 Release of funds to your Solicitor does not prevent you from: (a) using your Solicitor's complaints procedure, (b) referring a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, (c) reporting to the SRA, (d) bringing court proceedings, or (e) claiming under your Solicitor's professional indemnity insurance. However, if funds have already been released, the Platform cannot recall them through its internal process.
60. The SRA Compensation Fund
60.1 If your Solicitor has been dishonest or has failed to account for money, you may be eligible to make a claim on the SRA Compensation Fund. The Fund is a discretionary scheme and does not cover all losses. Your Solicitor is required to tell you whether the SRA Compensation Fund is available to you before you instruct them.
60.1A The SRA Compensation Fund applies only to services provided under SRA authorisation. If any part of your matter was provided by a Dual-Regulated Solicitor under the authorisation of an Approved Regulator other than the SRA, the SRA Compensation Fund may not cover that element. Other Approved Regulators may maintain their own compensation arrangements. Your Solicitor should have explained at the outset which compensation fund arrangements apply to each part of your matter.
60A. The Scottish Solicitors' Guarantee Fund
60A.1 If Your Solicitor is qualified in Scotland and has been dishonest or has failed to account for Your money, You may be eligible to make a claim on the Scottish Solicitors' Guarantee Fund. The Fund is administered by the Law Society of Scotland and provides a measure of protection to clients who have suffered loss as a result of dishonesty. Contact: Law Society of Scotland, Atria One, 144 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EX. Website: www.lawscot.org.uk.
60B. The Solicitors' Compensation Fund (Northern Ireland)
60B.1 If Your Solicitor is qualified in Northern Ireland and has been dishonest or has failed to account for Your money, You may be eligible to make a claim on the Solicitors' Compensation Fund (Northern Ireland). The Fund is administered by the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Contact: Law Society of Northern Ireland, 96 Victoria Street, Belfast, BT1 3GN. Website: www.lawsoc-ni.org.
PART K DATA PROTECTION
61. How We Use Your Data
61.1 The Platform processes your personal data in accordance with its Privacy Notice (available on the Platform's website) and the Data Protection Legislation. The Platform processes your data as an independent controller.
62. Your Data Protection Rights
62.1 Under the UK GDPR, You have the right to: (a) access your personal data, (b) rectify inaccurate data, (c) erasure (in certain circumstances), (d) restrict processing (in certain circumstances), (e) data portability, (f) object to processing, and (g) not be subject to solely automated decision-making with legal effects. You may exercise a subject access request to obtain a copy of any Scoping Call recording held by the Platform, subject to the rights and exemptions in the Data Protection Legislation. Requests should be directed to the Platform using the contact details in clause 82.
62A.1 Who controls your personal data depends on the type of Solicitor you instruct: (a) if your Solicitor practises through a Law Firm, the firm is the data controller and must be registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO); (b) if your Solicitor is a Freelance Solicitor, they are the data controller in their own right; (c) if your Solicitor is a Consultant, Fractional Counsel, or Of Counsel practising under a firm's framework, the firm is ordinarily the data controller; (d) if your Solicitor is a Barrister, the Barrister (or their chambers) is ordinarily the data controller. Your Solicitor must tell you who is the data controller for your personal data at the start of the engagement. You have the right to ask if you are not told.
63. Data Sharing with Solicitors
63.1 When you instruct a Solicitor through the Platform, your information is shared with that Solicitor for the purpose of providing Legal Services. Your Solicitor processes your data as a separate independent controller and is responsible for their own data protection compliance.
64. International Data Transfers
64.1 The Platform uses service providers who may process data outside the UK. Where this occurs, appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK GDPR Chapter V.
65. Data Breach
65.1 If the Platform becomes aware of a personal data breach affecting your data, it will notify you and the Information Commissioner's Office in accordance with the Data Protection Legislation.
65.2 The Platform sends transactional notifications (including booking confirmations, payment receipts, deadline reminders, and Confirmation Period notifications) which are necessary for the performance of the contract and do not require separate consent. The Platform may also send promotional or nudge communications (such as reminders to complete actions, re-engagement suggestions, and service updates) subject to Your communication preferences. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time through Your account settings or by using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in each communication. The Platform complies with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR).
65A.1 The Platform uses the following categories of third-party data processor: (a) database and authentication; (b) payment processing; (c) video infrastructure (call data deleted within twenty-four hours); (d) speech-to-text transcription (raw audio not retained); (e) AI processing (inputs not used for model training); (f) transactional email; (g) automation; (h) fact verification (verifiable claims only, no personal data transmitted); and (i) semantic search and embedding. Each operates under a binding data processing agreement. A list of processors is available on request.
65B.1 The Platform uses cookies and third-party scripts in four categories: (a) essential (always active); (b) functional (can be disabled); (c) analytics (can be disabled); and (d) marketing (can be disabled).
65B.2 No non-essential cookies are loaded until You have explicitly consented. You may manage preferences at any time via the cookie settings in the Platform's footer.
65C.1 The Platform retains personal data for the following periods: (a) consultation transcripts and AI Scope Scripts: thirty (30) days (automatically deleted); (b) messages: retained indefinitely (legal audit and dispute evidence); (c) financial records: seven (7) years; (d) identity verification documents: until expiry plus ninety (90) days; (e) analytics events: ninety (90) days (configurable); (f) scope reports: retained indefinitely (part of the order record); (g) compliance flags: retained indefinitely; (h) consent records: retained for the duration of the Platform's operation; (i) audit log entries: retained permanently and cannot be deleted (Article 17(3)(b) and (e) UK GDPR); (j) account data: retained until deletion requested, subject to legal obligations; (k) Plan My Case session data (including action plans, detected practice areas, and feedback): ninety (90) days for anonymous sessions (automatically deleted), retained indefinitely for registered users; and (l) documents uploaded to Plan My Case: ninety (90) days (automatically deleted), accessible only via time-limited signed URLs.(j) account data: retained until deletion requested, subject to legal obligations; (k) Plan My Case session data (including action plans, detected practice areas, extracted document text, AI-generated document summaries, and feedback): ninety (90) days for anonymous sessions (automatically deleted), retained indefinitely for registered users (including extracted document content and AI-generated document summaries, which are retained as part of the session record beyond the ninety (90) day file deletion period); and (l) documents uploaded to Plan My Case: ninety (90) days (automatically deleted), accessible only via time-limited signed URLs. You may delete Your account or individual Plan My Case plans at any time via the self-service deletion options in Your account settings or portal. Upon deletion, all associated Plan My Case session records (including plans, extracted text, summaries, and question-and-answer data), all uploaded files still in storage, and all recommendation records linked to Your sessions are permanently removed.
65C.2 Where the Platform is required by law to retain personal data beyond the periods stated above, the Platform will retain the minimum data necessary for the minimum period required.
65D.1 Certain pricing models offered by Solicitors on the Platform involve payment arranged directly between You and the Solicitor, outside the Platform. For these arrangements: (a) no payment is processed through the Platform; (b) the Platform does not hold funds in escrow; (c) the buyer protection fee does not apply; (d) fee disputes are between You and the Solicitor; and (e) the Platform tracks milestones for project management purposes only.
65D.2 Where a Solicitor offers a pricing model involving external payment, the Solicitor is required by their regulator to provide You with full costs information before You agree to the arrangement.
65D.3 In exceptional circumstances, the Platform reserves the right to instruct Stripe to release Held Funds at its reasonable discretion. The Platform will notify both parties before taking such action.
65D.4 The Platform supports multiple milestone types with distinct payment implications: (a) standard (held by Stripe until confirmed); (b) conditional (tied to an event); (c) recurring (periodic); (d) retainer drawdown; (e) hourly block; (f) percentage-of-value; (g) immediate release (no escrow protection); (h) instalment; and (i) scope-only (no payment through Platform). Immediate release milestones do not benefit from escrow protection.
65E.1 The Platform provides a feature called Plan My Case, which generates AI-powered action plans based on a user's description of a legal situation. Plan My Case is available before a user accepts these Terms and before any engagement with a Solicitor begins. Clauses 65E.2 to 65E.12 apply only if You used Plan My Case prior to booking a consultation through the Platform. If You did not use Plan My Case, these clauses do not apply to You.
65E.2 If You used Plan My Case, You acknowledge that it provides general legal information only. It does not provide legal advice, case assessments, outcome predictions, or recommendations specific to Your individual circumstances. No solicitor-client relationship was created between You and any Solicitor or Legal Professional as a result of Your use of Plan My Case. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of a Plan My Case action plan without first obtaining independent legal advice from a qualified Solicitor.
65E.3 Where You booked a consultation through the Platform from a Plan My Case action plan, the following information from Your Plan My Case session is shared with Your matched Solicitor or Legal Professional through the Platform's booking system: (a) the practice area(s) detected from Your situation description; (b) the type of Solicitor recommended by the action plan; (c) the jurisdiction identified for Your matter; (d) any urgency indicators identified by the action plan; and (e) any compliance flags detected during Your Plan My Case session (including, where applicable, indicators of domestic abuse or other safeguarding concerns). This information is shared to enable Your Solicitor to prepare for the Scoping Call and to trigger any required compliance procedures. Your original situation description and any documents You uploaded to Plan My Case are not shared with Your matched Solicitor. Where You book a consultation through the Platform from a Plan My Case action plan, You may optionally choose to share Your saved Plan My Case report with Your matched Solicitor or Legal Professional. Sharing is initiated by You during the booking process through an optional attachment dropdown; no Plan My Case data is shared automatically. If You choose to share, the following information is provided to Your matched Solicitor or Legal Professional: (a) the action plan summary; (b) the practice area(s) detected from Your situation description; (c) the complexity assessment; (d) the estimated cost ranges; (e) the recommended action steps; and (f) Your original situation description. You may also choose whether to include AI-generated summaries of any documents You uploaded during the Plan My Case session by ticking or unticking the document sharing option during booking. Your raw uploaded documents are never shared with Your matched Solicitor; only AI-generated summaries are shared, and only where You have expressly opted to include them. If You do not attach a Plan My Case report during booking, no Plan My Case data is shared with Your matched Solicitor.
65E.4 If You used Plan My Case, You acknowledge that Your situation description and any answers to clarifying questions were processed by the Platform's AI processing provider. A separate fact verification provider was used to verify factual claims (such as government fees, filing deadlines, and statutory thresholds) contained in Your action plan. The fact verification provider received only extracted factual claims and did not receive Your situation description, personal details, or uploaded documents. This separation is a data minimisation measure under UK GDPR. By accepting these Terms, You confirm that You understand and accept this processing.
65E.5 If You received a Plan My Case action plan, any estimated costs shown in that plan are indicative only. Government fees and statutory thresholds marked as verified were checked against official sources at the time of plan generation but may have changed. Solicitor fee estimates are approximate ranges drawn from the Platform's knowledge base and do not represent a quotation from any Solicitor. The Milestone Proposal provided by Your matched Solicitor following the Scoping Call supersedes all cost estimates in Your Plan My Case action plan.
65E.6 If You uploaded documents to Plan My Case, You acknowledge that: (a) You gave explicit consent to AI processing of those documents at the point of upload; (b) the documents are stored in encrypted private storage (AES-256 at rest) and are accessible only via time-limited signed URLs; (c) the documents are automatically deleted ninety (90) days after upload; (d) the Platform's AI provider processed extracted text from the documents to generate Your action plan but did not retain the document content after processing; and (e) the Platform's fact verification provider did not receive any uploaded document content. Uploaded documents are not transferred to Your matched Solicitor through the Platform. If Your Solicitor requires copies of these documents, You must provide them directly. If You uploaded documents to Plan My Case, You acknowledge that: (a) You gave explicit consent to AI processing of those documents at the point of upload; (b) the documents are stored in the Platform's encrypted private storage infrastructure and are accessible only via time-limited signed URLs; (c) the documents are automatically deleted ninety (90) days after upload; (d) the Platform's AI provider processed extracted text from the documents to generate Your action plan but did not retain the document content after processing; (e) the Platform's fact verification provider did not receive any uploaded document content; (f) after uploading, the Platform produces a structured summary of each document (including document type, parties, dates, amounts, key terms, and jurisdiction) which You review and confirm before the Platform generates Your action plan; (g) if a document cannot be read (for example, a scanned image or corrupted file), the Platform will inform You and ask You to describe the document instead; and (h) You may remove individual documents from a plan at any time, or delete an entire plan from Your portal, which triggers immediate deletion of the associated documents from storage and all related records from the database; You do not need to wait for the ninety (90) day automatic deletion. Uploaded documents are not transferred to Your matched Solicitor through the Platform. If Your Solicitor requires copies of these documents, You must provide them directly.
65E.7 If the Platform's automated keyword detection identified an emergency or safeguarding concern during Your Plan My Case session (such as domestic abuse, mental health crisis, housing emergency, or arrest), this information is carried forward to the consultation booking system when You book a Scoping Call from Your action plan. Your matched Solicitor or Legal Professional will be informed that a compliance flag has been raised so that they can take appropriate steps in accordance with their regulatory obligations.65E.8 Where You booked a consultation through the Platform from a Plan My Case action plan, the applicable fee is the Initial Consultation Connection Fee set out in clause 34.1, except where the matter falls within a LASPO-restricted category (personal injury, clinical negligence, or death claims), in which case no connection fee is payable in accordance with clause 34.3. The fee applicable to Your consultation is determined at the point of booking, not at the point of plan generation.65E.9 If You used Plan My Case, nothing in Your action plan binds Your matched Solicitor or Legal Professional. Your Solicitor is required to conduct their own independent assessment of Your matter and is not obliged to follow, adopt, or agree with any step, cost estimate, or recommendation contained in Your action plan. The Scoping Call and any subsequent Milestone Proposal represent the start of the professional engagement and supersede the Plan My Case action plan in all respects.
65E.10 Plan My Case action plans are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without any warranty, whether express or implied, as to accuracy, completeness, currency, fitness for a particular purpose, or suitability for Your specific circumstances. The Platform does not warrant that any information in a Plan My Case action plan is correct, current, or complete, including government fees, filing deadlines, statutory thresholds, or Solicitor fee estimates, even where such information is marked as verified. The Platform accepts no liability, under any circumstances or under any legal theory (whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise), for any loss, damage, cost, expense, or consequence of any kind arising from Your use of, reliance on, or inability to use Plan My Case or any action plan generated by it. This exclusion applies whether or not the Platform was advised of the possibility of such loss. Nothing in this clause excludes or limits the Platform's liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.
65E.11 All intellectual property in the Plan My Case feature, including the underlying knowledge base, pricing data, practice area taxonomy, AI prompts, scoring algorithms, and verification methodology, is and remains the exclusive property of the Platform. If You received a Plan My Case action plan, the Platform grants You a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use that action plan for Your own personal, non-commercial purposes in connection with Your legal matter only. You must not: (a) redistribute, publish, share, or make available any action plan (in whole or in part) to any third party, except to a Solicitor You have instructed in connection with the matter; (b) use Plan My Case to systematically generate action plans for the purpose of extracting, compiling, or reproducing the Platform's knowledge base data, fee benchmarks, or regulatory information; (c) use any action plan for commercial purposes, including selling, licensing, or incorporating plan content into any product or service; or (d) present any action plan to any person as legal advice or as a substitute for independent legal advice. The Platform reserves the right to suspend or terminate Your access to Plan My Case if it reasonably believes You are using the feature in breach of this clause.
65E.12 If You used Plan My Case, You are solely responsible for any decision You make, or any action You take or refrain from taking, on the basis of a Plan My Case action plan. If You share, forward, or otherwise make available any Plan My Case action plan to a third party (whether or not in breach of clause 65E.11), You indemnify and hold harmless the Platform, its officers, directors, employees, and agents against all claims, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or in connection with that third party's use of or reliance on the action plan. This indemnity is without monetary limit and survives termination of these Terms.
PART L LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMERS
66. Platform Limitations
66.1 The Platform does not guarantee: (a) the quality or outcome of any Legal Services, (b) the accuracy or completeness of Solicitor profiles, (c) that any particular Solicitor is suitable for your matter, (d) that the Platform will be available without interruption, or (e) that all information on the Platform is up to date.
67. Platform's Liability
67.1 The Platform does not exclude liability for: (a) death or personal injury caused by its negligence, (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or (c) any other matter that cannot be excluded by law.
67.2 Subject to clause 67.1, the Platform's total aggregate liability to You in connection with these Terms is limited to the total Platform Fees paid by You in the thirty (30) days preceding the claim.
67.3 The Platform is not liable for: (a) the quality, outcome, or suitability of Legal Services (which are provided solely by the Solicitor), (b) any advice given or not given by a Solicitor, (c) any act or omission of a Solicitor, (d) indirect, consequential, or special losses, (e) loss of profit, revenue, or business, or (f) any loss arising from your failure to provide accurate information.
67.4 The Platform's liability to you is limited to direct losses arising from a defect in or failure of the Platform's own technology. The Platform accepts no liability for: (a) the acts, omissions, or misconduct of any Solicitor; (b) the quality or outcome of any legal service; (c) any Legal Fees; (d) any loss from the Solicitor-Client relationship; (e) any SRA Code breach; (f) any failure to maintain PII or Client Accounts; (g) any disciplinary action; or (h) any document or work product prepared by a Solicitor.
67.5 Your remedies against your Solicitor are: (a) the Platform's dispute process; (b) your Solicitor's complaints procedure; (c) the Legal Ombudsman; (d) the SRA; (e) the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal; (f) a civil claim (including against PII); and (g) the SRA Compensation Fund.
67.6 The liability cap is calculated solely on Platform Fees you paid in the preceding thirty (30) days. Legal Fees, Disbursements, VAT, and Stripe processing fees are excluded.
67.6A The Platform's liability under these Terms is limited exclusively to the functionality, availability, and performance of the Platform's technology services (including the marketplace, matching algorithm, video conferencing infrastructure, AI Scope Script generation, Stripe payment facilitation, and dispute resolution workflow). The Platform is not liable, under any circumstances or under any legal theory (whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise), for: (a) the conduct, acts, omissions, negligence, fraud, misconduct, or regulatory non-compliance of any Solicitor, Barrister, Legal Professional, or Client; (b) the quality, accuracy, completeness, legality, suitability, or outcome of any legal services provided by any Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Professional; (c) any advice given or not given by any Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Professional; (d) any document or work product prepared by any Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Professional; (e) the handling, safeguarding, or misappropriation of Client Money by any Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Professional; (f) any failure by any Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Professional to comply with their regulatory obligations, professional conduct rules, or insurance requirements; or (g) any act or omission of any Client, including the provision of false information, misuse of the Platform, or failure to verify a legal professional's credentials. The Platform's role is that of a technology intermediary. It does not supervise, direct, control, or monitor the delivery of legal services.
68. Solicitor's Liability
68.1 Your Solicitor is responsible for the legal services they provide. If your Solicitor causes you loss through negligence, breach of duty, or breach of contract, you may have a claim against the Solicitor (and their PII insurer). The Platform is not liable for acts or omissions of Solicitors.
68.2 The Platform provides various tools and features to facilitate the engagement between you and your Solicitor, including an AI transcription service, a milestone builder, document templates, an acceptance engine, and a scheduling system. The provision of these tools does not make the Platform a party to the retainer between you and your Solicitor, does not make the Platform responsible for the legal services your Solicitor provides, and does not create any solicitor-client relationship between you and the Platform. The Platform is a technology service provider and is not regulated by the SRA.
68A.1 Every Solicitor on the Platform has given the Platform a comprehensive indemnity under English law. This indemnity is uncapped, survives termination indefinitely, and covers professional negligence, regulatory breaches, fee disputes, Client Money failures, and disciplinary proceedings. If a Solicitor's conduct causes a problem, the Solicitor (not the Platform) bears the financial responsibility. The Solicitor's indemnity does not limit your own rights under the SRA Code, the Legal Ombudsman, the Compensation Fund, or the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
69. Force Majeure
69.1 Neither the Platform nor You shall be liable for failure or delay caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, epidemics, war, terrorism, government action, power failure, internet failure, or industrial action.
70. Your Indemnity
70.1 You agree to indemnify the Platform and its directors, officers, employees, and agents against all losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including legal fees on an indemnity basis) arising from: (a) any breach of these Terms by You, (b) any false, misleading, or incomplete information provided by You (including Source of Funds declarations), (c) any unlawful use of the Platform by You, (d) any claim by a third party arising from your use of the Platform or the Legal Services, (e) any failure to cooperate with your Solicitor's AML, CDD, or other regulatory obligations, (f) any breach of the truthfulness warranty in clause 15, or (g) your use of, reliance on, or application of any template, document, guide, or other material purchased from or made available through the Platform (including Client Templates under clause 46B and Solicitor Products under the Solicitor's terms) without seeking appropriate professional legal advice.
70.2 The indemnity in clause 70.1 does not apply to the extent that losses arise from the Platform's own negligence, fraud, or breach of these Terms.
70A. Seek Professional Advice
70A.1 The Platform provides a technology service connecting you with qualified legal professionals, including solicitors, barristers, and other authorised persons. Nothing on the Platform constitutes legal advice, regulatory advice, tax advice, or financial advice. The Platform is not a Law Firm, is not regulated by the SRA, the Law Society, the BSB, or the FCA, and does not provide professional advice of any kind.
70A.2 If you are unsure how to use, apply, or interpret any template, document, guide, checklist, tool, feature, or information available on or through the Platform, you should seek the advice of a qualified solicitor. Qualified solicitors are available through the Platform and can assist you with any aspect of your legal matter.
70A.3 This applies to all scenarios on the Platform, including: (a) Client Templates you purchase from the Platform (clause 46B), (b) templates or documents that individual Solicitors offer for sale through their profiles, (c) documents your Solicitor provides to you during a matter, (d) any information on Solicitor profiles, practice area descriptions, or pricing indicators, (e) any content in the Platform's help centre, FAQs, or guidance materials, and (f) any output from Platform tools including the AI transcription summary. If you proceed without seeking professional advice where you are unsure, you do so at your own risk and the Platform accepts no liability.
70B.1 Any person who accesses or transacts through the Platform by means of an AI agent, automated bot, or any non-human automated process without authorisation, and any Deployer or Beneficial Owner, shall jointly and severally indemnify the Platform, Esol Corporation Limited, all Solicitors, and all Clients against all claims, damages, losses, and costs. This indemnity is unlimited, governed by English law, and enforceable by the Platform, any Solicitor, and any Client.
70B.2 The Platform shall not bear any liability for: (a) cyber fraud, hacking, phishing, or ransomware; (b) AI-generated fraud or identity theft; (c) deepfake or synthetic identity fraud; (d) transactions by unauthorised AI Agents; (e) manipulation of Platform systems; (f) data breach by bad faith actors; or (g) any illegal activity in bad faith. Your remedies against bad faith actors are under applicable law including the Computer Misuse Act 1990, the Fraud Act 2006, and the UK GDPR.
PART M GENERAL PROVISIONS
71G.1 The Platform tracks the version of these Terms and will prompt You to re-accept when a new version is published. Re-acceptance is required before continued use. The Platform will provide reasonable notice of material changes.
71H.1 The Platform may enable, disable, or modify features for operational, compliance, security, or technical reasons at any time. Where a material change affects a paid subscription feature, the Platform will provide reasonable notice.
71H.2 Certain Platform features are subject to limits that vary by subscription tier. Current limits are on the Platform's pricing page. The Platform may modify limits with reasonable notice.
71. Changes to These Terms
71.1 The Platform may update these Terms from time to time. Any changes will be communicated to You immediately by email and through the Platform. Updated Terms apply only to new transactions (meaning new Scoping Call requests submitted after the date of the update) and do not apply to matters already in progress. However, if an amendment is required for critical regulatory or legal reasons (including changes mandated by English law, the SRA Standards and Regulations, the BSB Handbook, the CRA 2015, the UK GDPR, or any court or regulatory authority), the updated Terms will apply to all matters, including matters in flight, and the Platform will notify both You and Your Solicitor of the change and its effect on Your matter. If You do not agree to non-critical changes, You may stop using the Platform, but matters already in progress will continue under the Terms that applied when You requested the Scoping Call.
71E. These Terms Do Not Constitute Legal Advice
71E.1 These Terms, including all Parts and clauses, are commercial contractual terms governing your relationship with the Platform. They do not constitute legal advice, regulatory advice, tax advice, financial advice, or professional advice of any kind. The Platform is not a law firm, is not regulated by the SRA, the BSB, the Law Society, or any other approved regulator, and is not competent to provide legal advice. Nothing in these Terms should be construed as legal advice or as a recommendation to take or refrain from taking any particular course of action.
71E.2 These Terms contain references to legislation, regulations, and legal concepts (including references to the Legal Services Act 2007, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the SRA Standards and Regulations, and other enactments). These references are included to explain your rights and the regulatory framework that applies to your Solicitor. They do not constitute the Platform's interpretation or advice on how those laws apply to your specific situation.
71E.3 If you are in any doubt about the meaning or effect of any provision of these Terms, your rights under these Terms, your rights against your Solicitor, or any other matter arising from or connected with these Terms, you should obtain independent legal advice from a qualified solicitor or other legal professional who understands your specific situation before accepting these Terms or instructing a Solicitor through the Platform. The Platform cannot advise you on your legal position and accepts no liability for any loss arising from your failure to obtain independent legal advice.
71F. No Fiduciary Duty
71F.1 No fiduciary relationship, relationship of trust and confidence, or special relationship of any kind exists or is created between You and the Platform at any time, under any circumstances, regardless of the nature or extent of the Platform's services or your interactions with the Platform. The Platform owes You no fiduciary duty, no duty of loyalty, and no duty of care beyond the express obligations set out in these Terms. The Platform is a commercial counterparty providing a technology marketplace service. Your fiduciary relationship is with your Solicitor, not with the Platform.
71I.1 If Your account or a Solicitor's account is suspended or terminated while active orders exist: (a) active orders continue for a reasonable wind-down period; (b) Held Funds (held by Stripe) for completed milestones are released; (c) Held Funds (held by Stripe) for incomplete milestones are refunded; (d) the Platform may, with Your consent, assign Your matter to another Solicitor; and (e) pending items expire after fourteen (14) days.
71J.1 The Platform maintains a permanent, non-deletable audit log of all significant actions on the Platform. Entries cannot be edited or deleted by any person, including administrators. This constitutes a lawful restriction on the right to erasure under Article 17(3)(b) and (e) of the UK GDPR.
71A.1 On termination of the engagement (whether by you or by your Solicitor), regardless of the type of Solicitor you instructed: (a) your Solicitor must return all Client Money promptly; (b) your Solicitor must give you copies of all documents to which you are entitled; (c) your Solicitor must tell you what steps remain outstanding on your matter; (d) if a Freelance Solicitor, Consultant, or Of Counsel solicitor's arrangement with their firm ends during your matter, they must inform you and either complete the work or transfer it to another qualified solicitor with your consent; and (e) the Platform will assist you in finding alternative representation if needed.
71B.1 If your Solicitor is the subject of a regulatory settlement agreement or conditions imposed by the SRA (or the BSB for Barristers), they must tell you if the agreement affects your matter. This could include restrictions on the type of work they can do, requirements for additional supervision, or limitations on their ability to hold Client Money. If your Solicitor does not disclose a relevant restriction, you may have grounds for a complaint to the SRA and to the Platform.
71C.1 If your Solicitor is a sole practitioner or Freelance Solicitor and they become incapacitated, seriously ill, or die during your matter, they are required to have a succession plan in place. This means another solicitor has agreed to take responsibility for active Client matters, including ensuring your files and any Client Money are safe. The Platform will contact the successor solicitor and assist you in continuing or transferring your matter. If your Solicitor is part of a Law Firm, the firm will ordinarily be able to arrange for another solicitor within the firm to continue your matter.
71D.1 If any regulatory authority determines that the Platform's fee structure must change, the Platform will modify the fee and notify You. Any change will apply only to new transactions unless required for critical regulatory or legal reasons (clause 71.1). Your legal fees paid to your Solicitor are never affected by changes to the Platform's own service fees.
72. Term and Termination
72.1 These Terms apply from the point You submit a request to schedule a Scoping Call through the Platform and continue until terminated.
72.2 You may close your account at any time by contacting the Platform. Closure does not affect obligations that have already arisen, including any outstanding fees, indemnity obligations, or ongoing matters with Solicitors.
72.3 The Platform may terminate or suspend your account in its absolute discretion, including where it reasonably believes: (a) You have breached these Terms, (b) your account has been compromised, (c) You are using the Platform for unlawful purposes, (d) continued access would prejudice Clients, Solicitors, or the public interest, or (e) You have failed to cooperate with AML, CDD, or identity verification requirements.
73. Intellectual Property
73.1 All intellectual property in the Platform (including its design, software, content, and branding) belongs to the Platform or its licensors. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute any Platform content without prior written consent.
74. Notices
74.1 Notices to You may be sent by email to the address associated with your account. Notices to the Platform should be sent to the address in clause 82.
75. Dispute Resolution
75.1 If You have a dispute with the Platform (not with a Solicitor), You should first contact the Platform to seek resolution. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, it may be referred to the courts of England and Wales.
76. Severability
76.1 If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.
77. Waiver
77.1 Failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision.
77A. Service Availability
77A.1 The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. The Platform does not guarantee any minimum level of uptime, availability, performance, or service continuity. The Platform may be unavailable from time to time due to maintenance, upgrades, or technical issues. The Platform will use commercially reasonable efforts to minimise disruption.
77A.2 The Platform is not liable for any loss arising from the Platform's unavailability, reduced performance, or interruption of service, whether planned or unplanned. If You have an urgent legal matter and the Platform is unavailable, You should contact Your Solicitor directly or seek legal assistance through other means.
78. Assignment
78.1 You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without the Platform's prior written consent. The Platform may assign its rights under these Terms to any successor or affiliate.
79. Third Party Rights
79.1 A person who is not a party to these Terms has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of these Terms, except that Solicitors registered on the Platform may enforce clause 15 (Truthfulness Warranty) and clause 70 (Your Indemnity) as third party beneficiaries.
80. Entire Agreement
80.1 These Terms, together with the Platform Privacy Notice, constitute the entire agreement between You and the Platform in relation to your use of the Platform. These Terms supersede all prior separate Buyer terms documents, including the Buyer Terms and Conditions, the Buyer Source of Funds Declaration and Indemnity Terms, the Buyer Right to Complain Terms, the Buyer Payment and Fund Protection Terms, the Buyer Document Upload and Confidentiality Terms, and the Platform Confidentiality Terms for Legal Services Purchasers.
81. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
81.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
81.2 The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, except that if You are a Consumer habitually resident elsewhere in the United Kingdom, You may bring proceedings in the courts of your habitual residence.
81B. Authorised Representatives for Organisations
If You are registering on the Platform on behalf of an organisation (including a company, partnership, LLP, charity, public body, or other entity), the following provisions apply: (a) the person accepting these Terms must have authority to bind the Organisation (the Platform may require evidence of this authority, such as a board resolution or delegated authority letter), (b) Your Organisation must designate one or more Authorised Representatives to use the Platform (Authorised Representatives may include directors, company secretaries, authorised officers, or employees with delegated authority), (c) Your Organisation is responsible for ensuring that Authorised Representatives are properly authorised, that accurate records of Authorised Representatives are maintained, and that the Platform is notified promptly when an Authorised Representative's authority is revoked, and (d) actions taken by an Authorised Representative through the Platform are binding on Your Organisation.
81C. Corporate Legal Department Provisions
If You are a corporate legal department or in-house legal team, the following additional provisions apply: (a) Your Organisation may register on the Platform through the General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, or other senior in-house solicitor with authority to bind the Organisation, (b) in-house solicitors who are themselves SRA-regulated may conduct reserved legal activities for their employer but not for external clients through the Platform, (c) external solicitors engaged through the Platform remain independently regulated and are not under the direction of Your Organisation for regulatory purposes, (d) panel instructions (where Your Organisation instructs a solicitor to join a pre-approved panel) are subject to the same Platform terms as individual engagements, and (e) Your Organisation must provide the corporate name and registration number, registered office address, business sector, and the identity of the Authorised Representative(s) at registration.
81D. Payment Card Security
Payment card data (including credit card and debit card numbers) is processed by Stripe, the Platform's payment processor, and is not stored on the Platform's servers. Stripe is certified to PCI-DSS Level 1 (the highest level of payment card industry security certification). The Platform does not have access to Your full card details. You may pay using any payment method accepted by Stripe through the Platform (which may include debit card, credit card, and bank transfer). Where a refund is due (whether because services were not delivered, a dispute is resolved in Your favour, or the engagement is terminated before services are completed), the refund is processed through Stripe to the original payment method. Where a chargeback is initiated by Your card issuer, the Platform cooperates with Stripe's chargeback procedure and may request information from the Solicitor.
81E. Data Backup and Continuity
The Platform maintains regular backups of Platform data (including matter records, document metadata, and engagement history) as part of its business continuity arrangements. Backups are encrypted and stored in a geographically separate location. The Platform does not guarantee the preservation of documents uploaded by Clients or Solicitors beyond the retention periods stated in these Terms. Clients are advised to retain their own copies of all documents uploaded to the Platform.
81F. Cookies and Similar Technologies
The Platform uses cookies and similar technologies in accordance with the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR). Cookies fall into four categories: (a) strictly necessary cookies, which are required for the Platform to function (such as session authentication and security tokens) and do not require consent, (b) functional cookies, which remember preferences (such as language and display settings) to improve the user experience, (c) analytics cookies, which collect anonymised data about how users interact with the Platform (such as pages visited and time spent) to help improve the service, and (d) marketing cookies, which track browsing activity to deliver relevant content and measure campaign effectiveness. On first visiting the Platform, a cookie consent banner is displayed. You may accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or select which categories to allow. You may change your cookie preferences at any time through the Platform's cookie settings. You may also manage cookies through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect Platform functionality.
81G. Your Data Protection Rights
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data: (a) right of access (Article 15) - to obtain confirmation of whether your personal data is being processed and, if so, to receive a copy, (b) right to rectification (Article 16) - to have inaccurate personal data corrected without undue delay, (c) right to erasure (Article 17) - to have your personal data deleted where there is no compelling reason for continued processing, (d) right to restriction of processing (Article 18) - to request that processing is restricted in certain circumstances (for example, where accuracy is contested), (e) right to data portability (Article 20) - to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit it to another controller, (f) right to object (Article 21) - to object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes, and (g) rights in relation to automated decision-making (Article 22) - not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing that produces legal or similarly significant effects. To exercise any of these rights, contact the Platform's Data Protection Officer at the contact details provided in these Terms. The Platform will respond within one calendar month. If the Platform requires an extension (up to two additional months for complex requests), you will be informed within the first month.
81H. Information Commissioner's Office
If you are dissatisfied with how the Platform handles your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO is the UK's independent supervisory authority for data protection. The ICO can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF; telephone 0303 123 1113; website ico.org.uk. The Platform encourages you to contact the Platform's Data Protection Officer first so that the Platform has the opportunity to address your concern.
81I. Website Acceptable Use
You must not use the Platform (a) for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these Terms, (b) to transmit or procure the sending of unsolicited or unauthorised advertising, promotional material, or spam, (c) to impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity, (d) to interfere with or disrupt the Platform or servers or networks connected to the Platform, (e) to attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Platform, user accounts, or computer systems or networks connected to the Platform, (f) to scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to extract data from the Platform without written permission, (g) to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Platform, or (h) to upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other malicious code. User-generated content (including reviews, comments, and feedback) must be accurate, lawful, and not infringe any third party's rights (including intellectual property rights and rights of privacy). The Platform may remove user-generated content that breaches these standards and may terminate or suspend accounts for repeated or serious breaches.
81J. Privacy Choices and Marketing Preferences
You may manage your privacy choices at any time through the Platform's account settings, including (a) marketing preferences - you may opt out of marketing emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or by adjusting your communication preferences in your account settings (the Platform will not send marketing communications without your consent and will stop within 7 days of receiving an opt-out request), (b) profile visibility - you may control which elements of your profile are visible to other users, (c) data sharing - you may control whether your data is shared with third parties for purposes beyond the delivery of the Platform's services, and (d) account deletion - you may request deletion of your account and personal data by contacting the Platform (the Platform will process the request within 30 days, subject to any legal obligation to retain certain records).
81A.1 These Terms create two distinct relationships: (a) your relationship with the Platform is governed by English law; (b) your relationship with your Solicitor is governed by the SRA Standards and Regulations; (c) your consumer rights under the CRA 2015, CCR 2013, and UK GDPR are not affected.
82. Contact
82.1 eSolicitors (Esol Corporation Limited), Company number 16927988. Contact details for notices, complaints, and general enquiries are published on the Platform's website at www.esolicitors.com.
82.2 Information required by the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 is published on the Platform's website.