In this agreement, we have referred to you as the "User" and to this contract as the "Agreement".
BY CLICKING THE “ACCEPT” BUTTON OR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING THE APPLICATION, THE USER HEREBY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT THEY DULY AUTHORIZE TO ENTER INTO AND BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT ALL SUCH USE BY THE USER IS SUBJECT TO SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS, including that the user consents to our Payment Terms and Privacy Policy, which are incorporated herein by reference and each of which may be updated from time to time without notice to you. If you do not agree to these terms or are not authorized to bind yourself, do not click the “Accept” button and you are not permitted to use the Application. All other uses of the Application are prohibited.
While certain members of our staff are lawyers, they are not practicing law at LegalLync and cannot render any legal services to you. The participating lawyer Users of LegalLync are not employees, consultants or agents of LegalLync.
LegalLync is a platform that facilitates communication between legal professionals and potential users of legal services. LegalLync acts as a venue for providers and purchasers of legal services to exchange information and connect with the goal of eventually forming a professional relationship. LegalLync does not guarantee that Users will successfully find legal representation through this application.
In order to provide an optimal forum for clients and legal professionals, LegalLync does not involve itself in the agreements between members and clients or the actual representation of clients. Therefore, we cannot ensure the completion of the agreement or the integrity of either party. The User, and not LegalLync, is solely responsible for assessing the integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness of all persons with whom the User communicates on the Service.
Any form of use of LegalLync by a legal professional user or potential client user is not intended to and will not create an attorney-client relationship between any person or entity and LegalLync. Any electronic communication sent to LegalLync will not create an attorney-client relationship between the User and LegalLync, such being expressly denied.
Communication of information by, in, to or through this application and the Users’ receipt or use of it is not provided in the course of and does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship between the legal professional user or potential client user. Additionally, Swiping on a potential client user’s case is not intended as a solicitation.
Providing a service where potential clients and legal professionals can meet does not imply an endorsement of any subscribing attorney. LegalLync makes no representation concerning an attorney's qualifications (except that the attorney was licensed to practice law in at least one state at the time of registration), nor does it sanction statements an attorney may post on the application. LegalLync does not screen potential cases, or otherwise channel potential clients to selected attorneys.
LegalLync is not a law firm. LegalLync offers no legal advice, recommendations, mediation, or counseling under any circumstance. LegalLync encourages the User not to accept any information received from any source, unless it is from an attorney the User has retained.
LegalLync makes no representation, guarantee, or warranty (express or implied) as to the legal ability, competence, or quality of representation which may be provided by any of the attorneys, law firms or legal service providers which may use the application.
In order to keep this application attractive and useful for all Users, it is important that Users follow the rules of the system. Some of these rules are described in this agreement, and the rest in bulletins posted at various points in the application. LegalLync reserves the right to deny further access to its service to any User who violates these rules, is the subject of complaints by other LegalLync Users, for any other reason, or for no reason at all.
Users may not engage in any of the following activities while using our application:
do or say anything to injure or harm others
display material containing nudity or pornographic material of any kind
provide material that is grossly offensive, including blatant expressions of bigotry, prejudice, racism, hatred, or profanity
promote or provide instructional information about illegal activities, or promoting physical harm or injury against any group or individual
defame any person or group
display material that exploits children under 18 years of age
violate the rights of another, including but not limited to the intellectual property rights of another.
use the application for displaying harassing, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, or tortuous material or invading other's privacy
interfere with or disrupting the application or servers or networks connected to the application by posting advertisements or links to competing services, transmitting "junk mail", "spam", "chain letters", or unsolicited mass distribution of email
encourage any illegal activity, including anything to do with illegal drugs, gambling, pornography, prostitution, child pornography, robbery, spreading computer viruses, cracking into private computer systems, software infringement, trafficking in credit card codes, or other crimes
compromise the security of the service LegalLync provides. Do not try to gain access to system areas private to LegalLync, or to other Users.
As part of our service to all Users, LegalLync allows clients to rate their experiences with the legal professionals reached by using the application. Ratings posted will be available for review by all LegalLync Users. While we encourage open and unrestricted use of the rating system, we do not tolerate harassing conduct. When using the rating system to rate your experiences, please keep the ratings accurate, constructive and civil. LegalLync reserves the right to terminate this agreement and restrict future access to the application to Users who post purposefully inaccurate ratings.
LegalLync provides legal professionals and potential clients with a forum that functions as an open market. LegalLync is not responsible for the content of materials posted on the application. The opinions and views expressed are those of the individual Users of the application and do not reflect those of LegalLync. Data submitted by other Users (both attorneys and lay persons) is not verified or reviewed in any way before it appears on the LegalLync. LegalLync does not warrant the validity or accuracy of any such information. Please use caution and common sense when using this application.
LegalLync does not continuously review the standing of any attorney subscriber with any regulatory authority. When considering employing any attorney or law firm, Users should check the attorney's standing with the state bar.
LegalLync makes every effort to verify that attorneys who use the application are licensed and in good standing in at least one state within the United States at the time of registration. However, LegalLync is unable to track, verify, or monitor the standing of each attorney using the application. Therefore, LegalLync makes no representation regarding the status, standing or ability of any attorney or law firm that swipes on a potential clients case.
Users are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any firm being considered. The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of legal representation are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely on advertisements, claims of expertise, or on the cost of rendering the requested legal services.
LegalLync is not responsible for, and in no way endorses, any description or indication of specialization or limitation of practice by an attorney or law firm. Please be aware that no agency or board may have certified such attorney as a specialist or expert in any indicated field of law practice. In addition, an attorney claiming specialization is not necessarily any more expert or competent than other attorneys. It is up to the User to question the attorneys and providers on the factual basis of any statement they make, ask for the names of the certifying agencies, and verify all information.
Users are encouraged to use caution when reviewing any information submitted by attorneys and other parties. Although LegalLync strongly encourages attorneys to comply with all regulations governing attorney conduct, it is impossible for LegalLync to monitor members' integrity or compliance with applicable rules of conduct.
LegalLync in no way endorses the content or legality of any responses, statements, or promises made by attorneys or any other parties, on or off this application.
LegalLync makes every effort to maintain the confidentiality of any information submitted by Users. However, because LegalLync cannot control the conduct of others, we cannot guarantee that this information will remain confidential. Please use caution in deciding what information to input into your profile. Do not make any confessions or admissions. Do not use proper names or addresses. Do not provide any other highly personal, sensitive, or incriminating information. LegalLync is not responsible for the release or improper use of such information by other Users or any release due to error or failure in the application.
User agrees that attorneys contacted by User through the application may report to LegalLync on whether their services were engaged by the User and the total attorney's fees paid.
The User agrees that LegalLync is not responsible for any harm that this application may cause. The User agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold LegalLync harmless from and against any and all liability and costs incurred in connection with any loss, liability, claim, demand, damage, and expenses arising from or in connection with the contents or use of the application. The User agrees that this defense and indemnity shall also apply to any breach by the User of the Agreement or the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants. The User further agrees that this defense and indemnity shall include without limitation attorney fees and costs. The User also agrees that this defense and indemnity shall apply to LegalLync, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees. LegalLync reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by the User and the User shall not in any event settle any matter without the written consent of LegalLync.
LegalLync is not responsible for any loss of data resulting from accidental or deliberate deletion, network or system outages, file corruption, or any other reasons.
LegalLync also reserves the following rights:
to release current or past User information, pursuant to the terms of the Privacy Policy, in the event LegalLync believes that accounts are in violation of the terms of service or page content guidelines, used to commit unlawful acts, if the information is subpoenaed, and/or if LegalLync deems it necessary and/or appropriate.
to deny application service to offenders of these guidelines or the Agreement
to terminate or deny application service to anyone for any reason or no reason
LegalLync may change the Agreement at any time. The User will be notified of the change and will be responsible for promptly reading and complying with the new terms and conditions. Continued use of the application will indicate acceptance of the new terms and conditions.
LegalLync reserves the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the use of the application with or without notice to the User. The User agrees that LegalLync shall not be liable to the User or any third party for any modification or discontinuance of the use of the application. The User acknowledges and agrees that any termination of application services under any provision of this Agreement may be effected without prior notice, and acknowledges and agrees that LegalLync may immediately delete data in the User's account and bar any further access to such data or the application.
LegalLync owns certain things on this application, including the 'look and feel' of the application, the name of the application, and the collective work copyright in sequences of public messages on the application. Users cannot reproduce any message from the application, either electronically or in print, without LegalLync's permission and the permission of all participants in the thread. This is not a complete list — other things on the application are also LegalLync property. Contact LegalLync before copying anything from the application with plans of reproducing it or distributing it.
The User acknowledges and agrees that content, including but not limited to text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, layout and design, or other material contained in the application or information presented through the application is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents, or other proprietary rights and laws. The User acknowledges and agrees that the User is permitted to use this material and information only as expressly authorized by LegalLync or its Sponsors, and may not copy, reproduce, transmit, distribute, or create derivative works of such content or information without express authorization. The User acknowledges and agrees that LegalLync can display images and text throughout the application.
A great danger for LegalLync, and for all operators of mobile applications, is that the application might be held accountable for the wrongful actions of our Users. If one User libels another User, the injured User might blame us, even though the first User was really at fault. If a User transmits illegal or improper information to another User, we might be blamed even though we did nothing more than unknowingly carry the message from one User to another. Accordingly, we need all Users to accept responsibility for their own acts, and to accept that an act by another User that damages them must not be blamed on LegalLync, but only on the other User.
Although it is LegalLync's goal to provide Users with a reliable, quality application, we may make mistakes or experience application failure from time to time. Such problems are inevitable in operating a system of this size. We would not be able to make this application available to Users if we had to accept blame or financial liability for any usability problems, system failures or errors, or mistakes or damages of any kind. In order to continue offering and improving our application, LegalLync must deny any warranties on this application and insure that our liability for any problems connected with the use of our application is strictly limited.
These needs are accomplished by the following disclaimers:
The user expressly agrees that use of the application is at the user's sole risk. The application is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. LegalLync expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. LegalLync makes no warranty that the application will meet user's requirements, that the application will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; nor does LegalLync make any warranty as to the results that may be obtained from the use of the application or as to the accuracy or reliability of any information obtained through the application or that defects in the software will be corrected. LegalLync makes no warranty regarding any goods or services purchased or information obtained through the application or any transactions entered into through the application.
No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by the user from LegalLync shall create any warranty not expressly stated herein.
The user agrees that LegalLync shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages resulting from the use or the inability to use the application or for cost of procurement of substitute goods and services or resulting from any goods or services purchased or obtained or messages received or transactions entered into through or from the application or resulting from unauthorized access to or alteration of user's transmissions or data, including, but not limited to damages for loss of profits, use, data or other intangibles, even if LegalLync has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The user further agrees that LegalLync shall not be liable for any damages arising from interruption, suspension or termination of use of the application, including, but not limited to, direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, whether such interruption, suspension or termination was justified or not, negligent or intentional, inadvertent or advertent.
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or LegalLync services shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the city of Tampa, Florida, and judgment on the arbitration award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. Either the User or LegalLync may seek any interim or preliminary relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in the city of Tampa, Florida, necessary to protect the rights or property of the User or LegalLync pending the completion of arbitration. This arbitration clause does not prohibit either LegalLync or the User from seeking to have the arbitration dismissed or judicially terminated on the basis the claims in arbitration action fail to provide a legal basis upon which a claim for relief may be granted. Any motion or action to dismiss must be filed in a court of general jurisdiction within the in the city of Tampa, Florida.
Lawyers who use LegalLync agree to charge no more than $50 for an initial 30-minute consultation. Lawyers may elect to waive the initial consultation fee if that is your normal practice. The purpose of the initial consultation is to help the potential client user assess his or her legal problem, determine if additional legal services are needed, and explain the potential client’s legal options. If the problem requires legal work beyond the initial consultation and the lawyer and potential client mutually decide to accept each other, at that point the lawyer user and the client must negotiate lawyer fees as would be the case with any other client. LegalLync encourages the lawyer to obtain a signed written fee agreement from the client before they proceed with any legal work beyond the first 30-minute consultation.
i. Ongoing Membership. Your LegalLync membership will continue month- to-month and automatically renew unless and until you cancel your membership or we terminate it. You must have mobile data or Internet access and provide us with a current, valid, accepted method of payment (as such may be updated from time to time, "Payment Method") to use the LegalLync service. We will bill the monthly membership fee to your Payment Method. You must cancel your membership before it renews each month in order to avoid billing of the next month's membership fees to your Payment Method.
ii. Differing Memberships. We may offer a number of membership plans, including special promotional plans or memberships with differing conditions and limitations. Any materially different terms from those described in these Terms of Use will be disclosed at your sign-up or in other communications made available to you. We reserve the right to modify, terminate or otherwise amend our offered membership plans.
i. Recurring Billing. By starting your LegalLync membership and providing or designating a Payment Method, you authorize us to charge you a monthly or annual membership fee at the then current rate, and any other charges you may incur in connection with your use of the LegalLync service, such as taxes or possible transaction fees, to your Payment Method. You acknowledge that the amount billed each month or year may vary for reasons that may include differing amounts due to promotional offers, including promotional code redemption and/or changing a plan, and you authorize us to charge your Payment Method for such varying amounts, which may be billed in one or more charges.
ii. Price Changes. We reserve the right to adjust pricing for our service or any components thereof in any manner and at any time as we may determine in our sole and absolute discretion. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in these Terms of Use, any price changes to your membership will take effect following email notice to you.
iii. Billing Cycle. The membership fee for our service will be billed at the beginning of the paying portion of your membership and each month or year thereafter unless and until you cancel your membership. We automatically bill your Payment Method each month or year on the calendar day corresponding to the commencement of your paying membership. Membership fees are fully earned upon payment. We reserve the right to change the timing of our billing, in particular, as indicated below, if your Payment Method has not successfully settled. In the event your paying membership began on a day not contained in a given month, we may bill your Payment Method on a day in the applicable month or such other day as we deem appropriate. For example, if you started your monthly LegalLync membership or became a paying member on January 31st, your next payment date is likely to be February 28th, and your Payment Method would be billed on that date. Your renewal date may change due to changes in your Membership. We may authorize your Payment Method in anticipation of membership or service-related charges. As used in these Terms of Use, "billing" shall indicate a charge, debit or other payment clearance, as applicable, against your Payment Method. Unless otherwise stated differently, month, monthly, annual or annually refers to your billing cycle.
iv. No Refunds. PAYMENTS ARE NONREFUNDABLE AND THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS FOR PARTIALLY USED PERIODS. Following any cancellation, however, you will continue to have access to the service through the end of your current billing period. At any time, and for any reason, we may provide a refund, discount, or other consideration to some or all of our Users ("credits"). The amount and form of such credits, and the decision to provide them, are at our sole and absolute discretion. The provision of credits in one instance does not entitle you to credits in the future for similar instances, nor does it obligate us to provide credits in the future, under any circumstance.
v. Payment Methods. You may edit your Payment Method information your account settings. If a payment is not successfully settled, due to expiration, insufficient funds, or otherwise, and you do not edit your Payment Method information or cancel your account (see, "Cancellation" below), you remain responsible for any uncollected amounts and authorize us to continue billing the Payment Method, as it may be updated. This may result in a change to your payment billing dates. For certain Payment Methods, the issuer of your Payment Method may charge you a foreign transaction fee or other charges. Check with your Payment Method service provider for details.
vi. Cancellation. You may cancel your LegalLync membership at any time, and you will continue to have access to the LegalLync service through the end of your monthly or annual billing period. WE DO NOT PROVIDE REFUNDS OR CREDITS FOR ANY PARTIAL-MONTH OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP PERIODS. To cancel, go to the your account settings. If you cancel your membership, your account will automatically close at the end of your current billing period.
This agreement, the Agreement, incorporates by reference our Privacy Policy and constitutes the entire understanding between the User and LegalLync regarding the User's relationship to our application.
Users can reach our application from all fifty states and around the world. Each of these places has a different set of laws. Since LegalLync cannot keep track of all these laws and their requirements, the Agreement and the relationship between the User and LegalLync shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
If LegalLync fails to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement, that failure shall not be used to prove that LegalLync has waived the right or provision. If any provision of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties' intentions as reflected in the provision, and that the other provisions of the Agreement remain in full force and effect. The User agrees that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of the application or the Agreement must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred. The section titles in the Agreement are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.
We appreciate your interest and support and we welcome you to the LegalLync community!
By using LegalLync, you agree to all the terms of our User Agreement.