1. Acceptance of Terms
Welcome to LawVetted ("we," "our," "us," or the "Platform"). By accessing or using the LawVetted website, lawyer directory, client intake tools, attorney portal, or related commercial lead services, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service and all incorporated policies. If you do not agree to these terms in their entirety, you must immediately discontinue use of the Platform.
2. No Legal Advice or Attorney-Client Relationship
LawVetted is an independent directory and technology routing platform, NOT a law firm or a lawyer referral service.
- Content published on LawVetted, including legal guides, directory listings, case assessments, and automated matching questions, is provided strictly for educational and informational purposes.
- Transmitting information through LawVetted, completing an intake assessment, or viewing attorney directory profiles does NOT create an attorney-client relationship.
- An attorney-client relationship is only formed when an attorney and prospective client independently execute a formal written retainer agreement. LawVetted is not a party to any agreement between users and attorneys.
3. State Bar Ethical Compliance & Zero Fee-Splitting (ABA Model Rules 5.4 & 7.2)
LawVetted operates in strict compliance with American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct 5.4 (Professional Independence of a Lawyer) and 7.2 (Advertising and Communications Concerning a Lawyer's Services):
- No Fee-Splitting: LawVetted never shares in, demands, or receives any percentage of legal fees, contingency recoveries, settlements, or verdicts earned by participating attorneys.
- Technology Infrastructure Fee: All fees paid by attorneys, firms, or subscribers are strictly fixed technology, software hosting, directory listing, and marketing distribution fees. Fees are earned upon provision of technological access and advertising distribution, strictly independent of case outcomes or whether an inquiry retains counsel.
- No Endorsement: LawVetted does not recommend, evaluate, or select specific attorneys for particular legal problems, nor does it guarantee the competence or outcome of any legal matter.
4. Directory Listings and Verification Disclaimers
Lawyer profiles displayed on LawVetted reflect publicly accessible state court licensing records, bar association registers, and self-reported attorney information. While LawVetted runs automated verification routines, bar statuses and disciplinary records can change rapidly. Users must independently verify an attorney's current good standing with their respective state licensing authority before retaining counsel.
5. Advertising and Sponsored Placements
Certain listings, badges, and top-of-directory placements are paid commercial advertisements ("Sponsored"). In accordance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and state bar advertising regulations, paid listings are clearly distinguished. Paid inclusion does not represent an endorsement of superior legal ability or specialization compared to other attorneys.
6. Commercial Lead Intake & Pay-Per-Lead (PPL) Terms
The following commercial terms govern all attorneys, law firms, and media buyers who purchase consultation leads, directory sponsorships, or claim exclusive case inquiries through the LawVetted Attorney Portal:
6.1 Lead Nature & Exclusive Claiming
Client inquiries ("leads") are generated when prospective clients complete an intake questionnaire requesting consultation in a specified jurisdiction and practice area. Unclaimed leads may appear in the shared regional pool; once claimed by a participating attorney, contact details are unlocked exclusively for that attorney.
6.2 Campaign Budget Cap & Media Fulfillment
To deliver qualified inquiries, LawVetted deploys proprietary automated digital acquisition across search, social media, and contextual network placements. The Attorney explicitly acknowledges that campaign delivery is governed by a Campaign Budget Cap:
- If actual digital acquisition and third-party media costs exceed the allocated package fees, LawVetted reserves the right to cap ad distribution or adjust inquiry volume without penalty or breach of contract.
- LawVetted does not warrant specific volume minimums where external media costs or market conditions render delivery unviable. Under no circumstances shall LawVetted be liable for advertising auction fluctuations.
6.3 Non-Refundable Purchases & Chargeback Waiver
All directory sponsorships, intake package fees, and claimed lead fees are earned upon allocation and strictly non-refundable. The Attorney agrees to resolve any quality or technical inquiries exclusively through the internal Seven-Day Lead Replacement Engine.
Waiver of Payment Dispute / Chargeback Rights: The Attorney explicitly agrees not to initiate merchant chargebacks, claims, or payment reversals through credit card issuers, Stripe, Payoneer, PayPal, or banking networks. Initiating an unauthorized chargeback constitutes a material contractual breach, resulting in immediate termination of portal credentials and referral to commercial collections.
6.4 Seven (7) Day Lead Replacement & Exchange Policy
In lieu of chargebacks and to maintain premium quality standards, LawVetted provides a 7-Day Quality Replacement Guarantee. An attorney in good standing may request a lead replacement through the Attorney Portal within seven (7) calendar days of lead delivery if:
- The provided telephone number is permanently disconnected, invalid, or belongs to a wrong party;
- The prospective client resides and the legal incident occurred entirely outside the attorney's licensed jurisdiction; or
- The prospective client explicitly denies having submitted an online legal consultation inquiry.
Upon submission through the Attorney Portal, our quality audit team will verify the submission. Validated claims will be credited with a replacement verified inquiry or equivalent portal credit within 3 to 5 business days.
6.5 TCPA Express Written Consent & Telemarketing Compliance
Every lead submitted through LawVetted captures a verifiable digital audit trail, including:
- Precise UTC timestamp of submission;
- Originating IP address (IPv4 / IPv6);
- Full browser User-Agent header; and
- Recorded acceptance of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. § 227) consent disclosure.
The Attorney agrees to initiate contact with prospective clients strictly in compliance with the TCPA, state telemarketing rules, the National Do-Not-Call Registry, and all applicable state bar solicitation guidelines.
7. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, LawVetted, its parent entities, officers, directors, employees, and technological partners shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including lost profits, lost retainers, legal malpractice claims, or business interruptions) arising out of or related to use of the Platform or commercial intake leads.
8. Governing Law & Mandatory Binding Arbitration
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the breach thereof shall be settled by binding confidential arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules.