TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Welcome to Hello Advocate by Black Coat, a digital platform designed to connect users with legal professionals. By accessing or using the Hello Advocate platform (the “Platform”), you agree to comply with and be bound by the following Terms and Conditions. These terms apply to both lawyers (hereinafter referred to as “Lawyers”) and individuals seeking legal consultation (hereinafter referred to as “Service Seekers”). If you do not agree with these terms, you must not use the Platform.

1. General Terms

1.1 Eligibility:

• To use the Platform, you must be at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract.
• Lawyers must be licensed and registered to practice law in Bangladesh or any other jurisdiction where they offer legal services.

1.2 Acceptance of Terms: By using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions, including any updates or modifications to them.

2. For Lawyers

2.1 Registration and Profile Creation:

• Lawyers must register on the Platform by providing accurate and complete information, including their name, contact details, legal qualifications, and areas of expertise.
• Lawyers are responsible for maintaining the accuracy and completeness of their profiles. Hello Advocate / Black Coat reserves the right to suspend or remove any lawyer profile that contains false or misleading information.

2.2 Services Provided:

• Lawyers are responsible for providing legal consultations, advice, and representation in accordance with their areas of expertise.
• Lawyers must comply with the legal and ethical standards of the legal profession and adhere to the laws and regulations of the jurisdiction(s) where they practice.

2.3 Fees and Payments:

• Lawyers agree to pay 25% (Twenty Five Percent) commission as platform fee, as specified in the consultation fees of the lawyers, which will be deducted from their earnings through the Platform.
• VAT and Tax will be deducted as per the government rules.
• Service Seekers are responsible for paying the fees in advance for the online legal consultations as agreed with the lawyer. Hello Advocate / Black Coat has the full rights to solve any disputes related to fees or services rendered directly between the lawyer and the Service Seeker.

2.4 Conduct:

• Lawyers must maintain professionalism and respect when communicating with Service Seekers and other members of the Platform.
• Lawyers should avoid conflicts of interest and must not engage in any activity that could compromise their professional integrity or the reputation of Hello Advocate / Black Coat.

2.5 Termination of Account:

• Hello Advocate / Black Coat reserves the right to suspend or terminate a lawyer’s account at its discretion if the lawyer is found to be in violation of any part of these Terms and Conditions, including the provision of false information, unethical behavior, or non-compliance with legal obligations.

3. For Service Seekers

3.1 Use of the Platform:

• Service Seekers use the Platform to seek legal advice, consultations, or services from registered Lawyers.
• The Platform provides an automated system to match Service Seekers with the most suitable Lawyers based on their needs, but Hello Advocate / Black Coat does not guarantee the outcome of any legal consultation or advice provided by Lawyers.

3.2 Consultation and Payment:

• Service Seekers will pay the agreed consultation fee as determined by the Lawyer in advance by the online payment method provided by Hello Advocate.
• Service Seekers may be eligible for free initial consultations if they are vulnerable groups (such as women, children, or marginalized communities) as per the Platform’s policy. The details of eligibility and service conditions for free consultations will be provided on the Platform.
• Duration of per consultation shall not be more than 45 minutes at a time. For further consultation, Service Seekers must pay before the next session in advance as per the guideline.

3.3 Conduct:

• Service Seekers must provide accurate and complete information to Lawyers to ensure effective consultations.
• Service Seekers must treat Lawyers and other members of the Platform with respect and professionalism.

3.4 Confidentiality:

• Service Seekers acknowledge that communication with Lawyers through the Platform is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. However, Service Seekers are responsible for ensuring that they do not share any sensitive or confidential information with third parties without proper authorization.
• Hello Advocate / Black Coat strictly prohibits the recording of any conversations between lawyers and service seekers. Any misuse of the platform by individuals or parties for personal interests will result in Black Coat reserving the right to take legal action against them or block them from the platform. Black Coat / Hello Advocate shall not be held liable for any misconduct arising from unauthorized or inappropriate use of the platform.

 3.5 Termination of Access:

• Hello Advocate reserves the right to suspend or terminate the access of any Service Seeker who violates these Terms, including providing false or misleading information or engaging in inappropriate behavior.

4. Platform Usage and Limitations

4.1 Platform’s Role:

• Hello Advocate is a platform that facilitates the connection between Service Seekers and Lawyers. It does not provide legal advice or services itself. The Platform is not responsible for the legal outcomes of consultations or the quality of services provided by Lawyers.

4.2 User Conduct:

• Users of the Platform agree to use the service only for lawful purposes. You agree not to engage in any conduct that could harm or disrupt the Platform, its users, or its services.

4.3 Account Security:

• Both Lawyers and Service Seekers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials and account information. Any unauthorized access to the account should be reported immediately to Hello Advocate.

5. Disclaimers

5.1 Legal Advice:

• The content provided through the Platform is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship. Always seek professional legal advice for specific legal matters.To obtain legal advice through offline consultation services, service seekers may contact the hotline to access a list of available partner law firms. The fees for these services will be determined and charged directly by the respective law firms.

5.2 No Guarantee of Results:

• Hello Advocate / Black Coat makes no representations or guarantees regarding the success or outcome of legal consultations or services. The Platform only connects Service Seekers with Lawyers and does not control or influence the legal advice or representation provided.

5.3 Platform Availability:

• Hello Advocate makes no guarantee that the Platform will be available at all times without interruption. The Platform may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, technical issues, or other reasons. 

6. Limitation of Liability

6.1 Limitation of Liability:

• Hello Advocate is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from the use or inability to use the Platform, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, goodwill, data, or other intangible losses.
• The Platform is not responsible for any legal disputes, actions, or outcomes arising from the consultations between Service Seekers and Lawyers. 

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Ownership:

• All content, logos, trademarks, and intellectual property on the Platform are the property of Hello Advocate or its licensor (Black Coat) and are protected by intellectual property laws.

7.2 User Content:

• Service Seekers and Lawyers retain ownership of their content but grant Hello Advocate a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, modify, and display the content as part of the Platform’s operations. 

8. Amendments

• Hello Advocate / Black Coat reserves the right to update or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be posted on the Platform, and the revised terms will become effective immediately upon posting. It is your responsibility to review the Terms and Conditions periodically. In case of any dispute, Black Coat / Hello Advocate’s decision is the final.

9. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

9.1 Governing Law:

• These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bangladesh.

9.2 Dispute Resolution:

• Any disputes or claims arising from the use of the Platform shall be resolved through good-faith negotiations between the parties. If the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiations, it shall be subject to binding arbitration in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

10. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact Hello Advocate at:

• Email: hello.advocate.2024@gmail.com
• Phone: 09606008800
• Website: https://helloadvocate.net

 By using the Platform, you acknowledge and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

FREE CONSULTATION POLICY

Hello Advocate is dedicated to promoting equitable access to justice by offering free initial legal consultations to support women, children, and underserved communities. This initiative addresses legal issues in the following areas:

Rules For Service Seekers

1. Eligibility

1.1 Free consultation is available exclusively to individuals from vulnerable groups facing legal challenges in the specified areas.

1.2 Proof of eligibility may be required to access this service.

2. Scope of Service

2.1 The free consultation provides an initial assessment and basic legal guidance.

2.2 It does not cover detailed case reviews, legal document preparation, or representation in court.

3. Lifetime Limit

3.1 Each eligible service seeker may avail of one free consultation service in their lifetime.

4. Duration

4.1 The free consultation session is limited to a maximum of 45 minutes.

5. Confidentiality

5.1 All communications during the consultation are confidential and protected under attorney-client privilege.

6. Prohibition of Misuse

6.1 Misuse of the service, including providing false information, will result in denial of access.

Rules For Lawyers

1. Contribution to Social Responsibility

1.1 Participating lawyers are encouraged to allocate 20% of their consultation services each month to providing free legal advice to eligible individuals from vulnerable groups.

2. Areas of Specialization

2.1 Lawyers are expected to provide services strictly within their areas of expertise to ensure meaningful and effective assistance. However, in the event of unavailability of specialized lawyers, the existing lawyers may serve as proxies to offer free consultations to vulnerable communities. Such proxy services shall not exceed 20% of their total consultations on the platform.

3. Professional Conduct

3.1 Lawyers must maintain confidentiality and uphold professional ethical standards during consultations.

4. Availability

4.1 Lawyers are encouraged to schedule free consultations equitably to ensure consistent access for eligible service seekers throughout the month.

 4.2 This policy reflects Black Coat’s commitment to fostering social responsibility and providing vulnerable groups with equitable access to legal support. For extended legal services or additional assistance, contact Hello Advocate directly.

PAYMENT SYSTEM

1.      CLIENT’S PAYMENT GIVING METHOD:

a)      Clients can make payments through the methods listed on our platform, including online payment gateways, mobile banking, and other approved methods.

b)      All payments must be made in accordance with the platform’s instructions and within the specified timeframe.

c)      Clients are required to follow the terms and conditions of the payment partner or gateway (e.g., SSL Commerz).

d)      For any issues or disputes regarding payments, clients should contact our support team for assistance.

e)      Client must pay the additional non-refundable service fee for using the payment method to the service provider / SSL Commerz.

f)       In case of refunds, the applicable penalty deducted by the payment partner / SSL Commerz will be borne by the client.

g)      The consultancy fees which are showing in the platform are VAT inclusive.

2.      LAWYER’S PAYMENT RECEIVING METHOD:

a)      Lawyers will receive payments through the methods specified on the platform, as per the payment instructions provided by Hello Advocate.

b)      All payments must be processed in compliance with the terms and conditions set by the payment partner (e.g., SSL Commerz).

c)      Applicable VAT and Tax will be deducted from the amount received from the clients.

d)      The Lawyer is responsible for ensuring that payment details are accurate and up-to-date for timely payment receipt.

e)      Payment processing times may vary depending on the method chosen by the client and the payment partner’s procedures.

f)       25% Service Charge will be deducted from the Lawyer’s income by the Black Coat / Hello Advocate.

g)      In case of Free Advocacy, no service charge will be deducted.

h)      In the event of a refund request, the payment partner may apply a service charge or penalty to the refundable amount, which will be deducted from the final settlement.