Terms of Service

DRAFT - REQUIRES LEGAL COUNSEL REVIEW BEFORE USE

Effective Date: [EFFECTIVE_DATE] Last Updated: [LAST_UPDATED_DATE]

Important Notice

LegalPixel is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We are a marketplace platform that connects clients seeking legal help with licensed attorneys. The information on this site is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using LegalPixel ([COMPANY_NAME]), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you may not use our service.

These Terms apply to all users of the platform, including:

Clients: Individuals seeking legal representation
Lawyers: Licensed attorneys offering legal services
Visitors: Anyone browsing the public portions of the site

2. About LegalPixel

2.1 Our Service

LegalPixel is a two-sided marketplace platform that:

Allows clients to upload case files and describe their legal issues
Uses AI technology to analyze case details and extract key facts
Matches clients with 3-5 qualified lawyers based on case type and needs
Enables lawyers to review case summaries and decide whether to accept the case
Facilitates communication between clients and lawyers
Processes payments when clients hire lawyers through the platform

2.2 What We Are NOT

LegalPixel is NOT:

A law firm or legal service provider
A substitute for professional legal advice
A guarantee of any particular legal outcome
An endorsement or certification of lawyer quality
A party to the attorney-client relationship formed between clients and lawyers

2.3 The Attorney-Client Relationship

When you hire a lawyer through LegalPixel:

The attorney-client relationship is directly between you and the lawyer
LegalPixel is not party to this relationship
The lawyer (not LegalPixel) is responsible for the quality of legal services
All legal advice comes from the lawyer, not from LegalPixel

3. Client Terms

3.1 Eligibility

To use LegalPixel as a client, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Have the legal capacity to enter into contracts
Provide accurate and complete information
Comply with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction

3.2 Account Creation

When creating a client account:

You must provide accurate, current, and complete information
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
You agree to immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account
You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account

3.3 Case File Upload

When uploading case files, you represent and warrant that:

You own or have legal rights to all uploaded documents
You have obtained necessary consent to share any third-party information
Your documents do not violate any laws, regulations, or third-party rights
All information provided is accurate and truthful to the best of your knowledge

Data Ownership: You retain full ownership of your case files and documents. By uploading files, you grant LegalPixel a limited license to:

Store and process your documents
Use AI technology to analyze and extract facts
Share your case summary with 3-5 matched lawyers
Maintain records as required by law

3.4 AI-Generated Case Summaries

LegalPixel uses artificial intelligence (Claude AI) to analyze your case files and generate summaries. You acknowledge and agree that:

AI summaries may contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies
AI summaries are for lawyer review only and are not legal advice
You should review AI summaries for accuracy before sharing
LegalPixel is not liable for errors in AI-generated content
Lawyers must independently verify all facts before providing legal advice

3.5 Lawyer Matching and Selection

Important: LegalPixel matches you with lawyers based on case type, location, and availability. However:

You have sole discretion to choose which lawyer (if any) to hire
LegalPixel does not endorse, recommend, or guarantee any lawyer's quality
You are responsible for verifying lawyer credentials, experience, and qualifications
Lawyer ratings and reviews are user-generated and may not reflect current performance

3.6 Fees and Payments

Client-Side Costs:

Case file upload and lawyer matching are FREE for clients
You pay legal fees directly to the lawyer you hire (not to LegalPixel)
The lawyer's quoted fee is the total you pay (no hidden fees from LegalPixel)

Platform Commission:

When you hire a lawyer through LegalPixel, the lawyer pays us a 10% commission
This commission is paid by the lawyer, not deducted from your payment
The lawyer's quoted fee already accounts for this commission
You are not charged any additional platform fees

3.7 Communication with Lawyers

When communicating with lawyers through LegalPixel:

All messages are subject to our Privacy Policy
LegalPixel may review messages for quality assurance and dispute resolution
You agree to communicate professionally and respectfully
Threatening, abusive, or harassing behavior may result in account termination

3.8 Refund Policy

LegalPixel does not issue refunds for the following reasons:

We do not charge clients any platform fees (matching is free)
Legal fee refunds are between you and the lawyer (not LegalPixel)
If you have a dispute with a lawyer, see Section 10 (Dispute Resolution)

3.9 Client Responsibilities

As a client, you agree to:

Provide accurate and complete information about your case
Respond promptly to lawyer inquiries
Pay agreed-upon legal fees to the lawyer in a timely manner
Cooperate with the lawyer you hire
Report any unethical or unprofessional lawyer behavior to LegalPixel

3.10 Prohibited Client Conduct

You may NOT:

Upload fraudulent, misleading, or fabricated documents
Harass, threaten, or abuse lawyers
Attempt to circumvent the platform to avoid paying the lawyer's fee
Share lawyers' contact information publicly without consent
Use the platform for illegal activities or frivolous lawsuits
Create multiple accounts to abuse the free matching service

4. Lawyer Terms

4.1 Eligibility

To use LegalPixel as a lawyer, you must:

Be a licensed attorney in good standing in at least one jurisdiction
Maintain current professional liability (malpractice) insurance
Comply with all bar association rules and ethical guidelines
Provide proof of credentials during onboarding

4.2 Lawyer Profile

When creating a lawyer profile:

All information must be accurate, current, and verifiable
You must disclose your bar number, jurisdictions, and practice areas
Profile photos must be professional headshots (no logos or group photos)
You agree to update your profile within 30 days of any material change

4.3 Case Assignment and Review

How Case Matching Works:

LegalPixel uses AI to match cases with 3-5 qualified lawyers
You will receive notifications when matched with a new case
You have 48 hours to review the case summary and respond
You may accept or decline cases at your sole discretion

Quality Standards:

You must respond to case assignments within 48 hours
You must provide professional, thoughtful assessments
Repeated non-responses may result in reduced case flow or removal

4.4 Commission Agreement

When you are hired by a client through LegalPixel:

You agree to pay LegalPixel a 10% commission on the retainer or initial fee
Commission is calculated on the first payment received from the client
Commission is due within 30 days of receiving client payment
Payment methods: Bank transfer, Stripe Connect, or other agreed methods

Example:

Client hires you for $5,000 retainer
You receive $5,000 from client
You pay LegalPixel $500 (10% commission)
You keep $4,500

Important Notes:

Commission applies ONLY to clients matched through LegalPixel
No commission on subsequent fees (hourly billing, settlements, etc.)
If client does not pay you, you do not owe commission
Disputes over commission calculation are subject to arbitration (Section 11)

4.5 Data Access and Confidentiality

What You Can Access:

Case summaries for cases you are matched with
Client contact information (only after mutual agreement to proceed)
Communication history with clients on the platform

What You CANNOT Do:

Share client information outside the platform without consent
Use client data for marketing or solicitation beyond the case at hand
Access cases you are not matched with
Scrape or export client data in bulk

Attorney-Client Privilege:

Communications through LegalPixel may be subject to attorney-client privilege
You are responsible for determining when privilege attaches
LegalPixel will honor valid privilege claims and legal process

4.6 Professional Conduct

You agree to:

Comply with all applicable bar association rules and ethical guidelines
Provide competent, diligent legal representation
Communicate clearly about fees, timelines, and case progress
Maintain professional liability insurance
Report conflicts of interest to LegalPixel and the client

4.7 Ratings and Reviews

Clients may rate and review your services. You acknowledge that:

Reviews are the client's opinion and protected speech
LegalPixel may remove reviews that are abusive, fraudulent, or violate our policies
You may respond to reviews professionally
Low ratings may affect your visibility on the platform

4.8 Removal Policy

LegalPixel may suspend or terminate your account if:

You receive 3 or more negative reviews citing unprofessional conduct
You are suspended or disbarred by any bar association
You engage in unethical behavior (fraud, misrepresentation, conflicts of interest)
You fail to pay commission fees owed to LegalPixel
You violate these Terms of Service or applicable laws

Immediate Removal (No Warning):

Criminal conduct related to legal practice
Misappropriation of client funds
Practicing law without a valid license
Discrimination or harassment of clients

4.9 Prohibited Lawyer Conduct

You may NOT:

Solicit clients outside the LegalPixel platform to avoid commission
Provide legal advice before formally accepting a case
Misrepresent your credentials, experience, or success rate
Guarantee specific case outcomes
Charge fees not disclosed to the client upfront
Discriminate against clients based on protected characteristics

5. Intellectual Property

5.1 LegalPixel's IP

All content on LegalPixel (logos, trademarks, design, software, AI models) is owned by [COMPANY_NAME] or its licensors. You may not:

Copy, modify, or distribute our content without permission
Use our trademarks or branding in a misleading way
Reverse-engineer or attempt to extract our source code

5.2 User Content

Client Content:

You retain ownership of all case files and documents you upload
You grant LegalPixel a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use your content for platform operations
This license terminates when you delete your content (except for legal retention requirements)

Lawyer Content:

You retain ownership of your profile, case assessments, and communications
You grant LegalPixel a license to display your content on the platform

5.3 AI-Generated Content

Content generated by LegalPixel's AI (case summaries, fact extraction) is:

Owned by LegalPixel
Licensed to you for use in connection with your case or legal representation
Subject to the disclaimer that AI content may contain errors

6. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our data practices are governed by our Privacy Policy (see PRIVACY-POLICY.md), which includes:

What data we collect and why
How we use AI to process your information
Your rights under GDPR (EU), CCPA (California), and other privacy laws
How to request data deletion or export

By using LegalPixel, you consent to our Privacy Policy.

7. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

7.1 No Legal Advice

LegalPixel does NOT provide legal advice. All information on the platform is for general informational purposes only. You should consult with a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.

7.2 No Endorsement

LegalPixel does not endorse or guarantee lawyer quality. Lawyer listings, ratings, and reviews are for informational purposes only. You are responsible for:

Verifying lawyer credentials and qualifications
Evaluating whether a lawyer is suitable for your case
Making your own decision about whom to hire

7.3 AI Accuracy Disclaimer

AI-generated case summaries may contain errors. LegalPixel uses artificial intelligence to analyze documents and extract facts. However:

AI is not perfect and may misinterpret information
AI summaries should be reviewed by a lawyer for accuracy
LegalPixel is not liable for errors or omissions in AI-generated content

7.4 Platform Availability

We strive to keep LegalPixel available 24/7, but we do not guarantee:

Uninterrupted access to the platform
Error-free operation
That the platform will meet your specific needs

7.5 Third-Party Services

LegalPixel integrates with third-party services (Stripe, Supabase, AI providers). We are not responsible for:

Outages or errors caused by third-party services
Third-party privacy practices (see their respective policies)
Data breaches at third-party providers (though we will notify you as required by law)

7.6 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

LegalPixel and its officers, directors, employees, and agents are NOT LIABLE for:

Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
Errors or omissions in AI-generated content
Actions or inactions of lawyers on the platform
Outcomes of legal cases or disputes
Unauthorized access to your data (beyond our reasonable control)

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU is limited to:

For Clients: $0 (we charge clients no fees)
For Lawyers: The amount of commission paid to LegalPixel in the past 12 months, not to exceed $1,000

Exceptions: Nothing in these Terms limits liability for:

Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
Death or personal injury caused by our negligence
Any other liability that cannot be excluded by law

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless LegalPixel, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

Your use of the platform
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any laws or third-party rights
Content you upload or submit
Your interactions with other users (clients or lawyers)

For Lawyers: You also indemnify us for:

Legal malpractice claims arising from your representation of clients
Bar complaints or disciplinary actions related to your conduct
Failure to pay commission fees owed to LegalPixel

9. Dispute Resolution Between Users

9.1 Client-Lawyer Disputes

If you have a dispute with a lawyer (or client), we encourage you to:

Attempt to resolve the issue directly
Contact LegalPixel support at [SUPPORT_EMAIL] for mediation assistance
If unresolved, pursue appropriate legal remedies (bar complaint, small claims court, etc.)

Important: LegalPixel is not a party to attorney-client relationships and cannot:

Resolve legal malpractice claims
Enforce fee agreements between clients and lawyers
Compel lawyers to continue representation

9.2 Refund Disputes (Lawyer Commission)

There are NO refunds on commission fees for the following reasons:

Lawyers have already invested time reviewing the case and providing an assessment
The matching service has been delivered
Commission is earned when the client hires the lawyer (not contingent on case outcome)

If you believe commission was charged in error:

Contact [SUPPORT_EMAIL] within 30 days with documentation
We will review and respond within 14 business days
If we agree, we will issue a refund or credit

9.3 Complaint Process

To report lawyer misconduct:

Email [SUPPORT_EMAIL] with details and supporting evidence
We will investigate within 14 business days
Serious violations may result in immediate account suspension
You may also file a complaint with the relevant bar association

To report client abuse:

Email [SUPPORT_EMAIL] with details and screenshots
We will investigate and take appropriate action (warning, suspension, or ban)

10. Disputes with LegalPixel (Arbitration Agreement)

10.1 Binding Arbitration

IMPORTANT: Please read this section carefully. It affects your legal rights.

Any dispute between you and LegalPixel (including disputes about these Terms, your use of the platform, or commission payments) will be resolved through binding arbitration, NOT in court.

What is arbitration?

A neutral arbitrator (not a judge) reviews the case and makes a binding decision
There is no jury trial
The arbitrator's decision is final and enforceable in court
Arbitration is generally faster and less expensive than litigation

10.2 Arbitration Process

Rules:

Arbitration will be conducted under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA)
The arbitration will be held in [ARBITRATION_LOCATION] or remotely (if both parties agree)
Each party pays their own legal fees (unless the arbitrator awards fees to the prevailing party)
LegalPixel will pay the arbitrator's fees

Exceptions (You CAN go to court for):

Small claims court actions (if your claim qualifies)
Injunctive relief to stop harm (e.g., data breach)
Intellectual property disputes (trademark infringement, etc.)

10.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to bring claims against LegalPixel only in your individual capacity, NOT as a class action, consolidated action, or representative action.

This means:

You cannot join a class action lawsuit against LegalPixel
You cannot bring a claim on behalf of others
You cannot consolidate your claim with other users' claims

10.4 Opt-Out of Arbitration

You have 30 days from accepting these Terms to opt out of arbitration.

To opt out:

Email [SUPPORT_EMAIL] with subject line "Arbitration Opt-Out"
Include your full name, email address, and account information
State clearly: "I opt out of the arbitration agreement in LegalPixel's Terms of Service"

If you opt out:

You can sue LegalPixel in court
LegalPixel can sue you in court
The rest of these Terms still apply

11. Term and Termination

11.1 Term

These Terms remain in effect as long as you use LegalPixel.

11.2 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

Logging into your account and selecting "Delete Account"
Emailing [SUPPORT_EMAIL] to request account deletion

What happens when you delete your account:

Your profile will be removed from public view
You will lose access to your case files and communications
We may retain your data as required by law (see Privacy Policy for details)

11.3 Termination by LegalPixel

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

You violate these Terms of Service
You engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
You fail to pay fees owed to LegalPixel (lawyers only)
We are required to do so by law or court order
We decide to discontinue the service

Notice:

We will provide 30 days' notice for termination (unless immediate termination is required for legal or safety reasons)
You may export your data before termination (see Privacy Policy)

11.4 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

You lose access to the platform
Outstanding fees remain due and payable
Sections that should survive (arbitration, liability disclaimers, indemnification) remain in effect

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do:

We will post the updated Terms on the platform with a new "Last Updated" date
For material changes, we will notify you by email or prominent notice on the platform
Continued use of the platform after changes means you accept the new Terms

If you do not agree with the changes:

Stop using the platform
Delete your account
Email [SUPPORT_EMAIL] to discuss concerns

13. General Provisions

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [STATE/JURISDICTION], without regard to conflict of law principles.

13.2 Entire Agreement

These Terms (together with the Privacy Policy and any other incorporated documents) constitute the entire agreement between you and LegalPixel.

13.3 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

13.4 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

13.5 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms to any affiliate or successor.

13.6 Force Majeure

We are not liable for any delay or failure to perform due to causes beyond our reasonable control (natural disasters, wars, pandemics, government actions, etc.).

13.7 Notices

To contact LegalPixel:

Email: [SUPPORT_EMAIL]
Mail: [COMPANY_ADDRESS]

To serve legal notices:

Certified mail to: [LEGAL_NOTICES_ADDRESS]
Email to: [LEGAL_EMAIL]

We will send notices to the email address associated with your account.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms of Service:

Email: [SUPPORT_EMAIL]
Visit: [HELP_CENTER_URL]

For legal matters:

Email: [LEGAL_EMAIL]