Effective Date: 21-04-2025

🔹 1. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to www.barrister24.com, operated by Vidhivrtti Solutions LLP (“we”, “our”, “us”). This Privacy Policy and Terms of Use outline the information we collect, how we use it, and the conditions under which you may access and use our platform. By accessing or using the platform, you agree to comply with these terms.

This policy adheres to Rule 3(1) of the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 and Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, ensuring our commitment to user privacy and data protection.

🔹 2. USER CONSENT

By accessing or using Lawyer-Talk.com, you, as a lawyer, client, or visitor, agree to the following:

• Acceptance of Terms: You acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
• Accurate Information: You commit to providing accurate, true, and complete information during the registration and usage of the platform.
• Data Collection Consent: By using our platform, you consent to the collection, storage, and processing of your personal data in accordance with this policy.

If you do not agree to these terms, you are not permitted to use Lawyer-Talk or its services.

🔹 3. MANDATORY DISCLAIMER & ACCEPTANCE

Before accessing consultations (chat, audio, video, or scheduled meetings) through Lawyer-Talk, you must accept the following disclaimer:

• Platform Nature: Lawyer-Talk is a technology platform that facilitates communication between lawyers and clients. It does not provide legal advice directly.
• Lawyer’s Responsibility: Any legal advice, opinions, or consultations offered by the lawyers on the platform are solely their responsibility. Lawyer-Talk is not liable for the outcomes of such consultations or any related legal decisions.
• User Due Diligence: Users are encouraged to perform due diligence when selecting a lawyer and are advised not to rely solely on the platform’s tools for legal decision-making.

Consequences of Non-Acceptance:

• If you do not accept this disclaimer, you will not be allowed to use the platform, and your account may be suspended or terminated without further notice.

🔹 4. COLLECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

To use Lawyer-Talk, we collect the following types of personal information:

• Mandatory Information:
  • Full Name
  • Email Address
  • Phone Number (for OTP verification)
  • Date of Birth
  • Verification Documents (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN Card, Bar Council License for lawyers)
• Optional Information:
  • Profile Photo
  • Education Details, Practice Areas, Experience
  • Location and Availability Preferences

Sensitive Data:

• Any sensitive personal data (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN) will only be collected when necessary and with your explicit consent.

🔹 5. PURPOSE OF DATA COLLECTION

The personal data collected by Lawyer-Talk serves the following purposes:

• Account Creation and Profile Management: To create and manage your personalized profile for seamless service delivery.
• Identity Verification and Security: To verify your identity and prevent fraudulent activities.
• Service Improvement: To analyze platform usage trends and enhance the user experience by refining our services.
• Legal Compliance: To ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including KYC requirements for lawyers.

🔹 6. DATA DELETION & RETENTION

• Account Deletion: Users can request account deletion by following the “Delete Your Account” option within their account settings. Please note that some data may be retained for legal, compliance, or security purposes.
• Data Retention: We will retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the services and legal obligations, or for the time required to resolve disputes or complete business transactions.

🔹 7. DATA SECURITY

We implement stringent security measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access or disclosure:

• Encryption: All data transmissions are encrypted to secure personal and financial information.
• Access Control: Sensitive data is accessible only by authorized personnel with strict confidentiality obligations.
• Regular Audits: Periodic security audits are conducted to ensure compliance with data protection standards and to identify potential security risks.
• Non-Disclosure: We will not disclose your sensitive personal data (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN, Bar Council details) without your consent, except when required by law.

🔹 8. DATA DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your data under the following circumstances:

• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws or to cooperate with law enforcement authorities when required.
• Third-Party Service Providers: We may share necessary data with trusted third-party service providers (e.g., payment processors, cloud service providers) to perform services on our behalf. These providers are bound by strict confidentiality obligations.
• No Sale of Data: We do not sell, rent, or lease your data to any third-party for marketing or advertising purposes.

🔹 9. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Lawyer-Talk may use third-party service providers for the following functions:

• Payment Processing: To handle financial transactions securely.
• Analytics: For website and platform performance analysis.
• Customer Support: To assist with user queries and concerns.

These service providers are prohibited from using your data for any other purposes and are required to adhere to strict data protection policies.

🔹 10. COOKIES & TRACKING

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your user experience and analyze usage patterns:

• Cookies: Cookies are small text files stored on your device that allow us to remember your preferences and improve functionality. You can control cookie settings through your browser.
• Tracking Technologies: We may use analytics tools to track user behavior and improve the platform’s performance.

🔹 11. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 18. If we discover that such data has been inadvertently collected, we will promptly delete it from our records.

🔹 12. MODIFICATIONS TO THE POLICY

Lawyer-Talk reserves the right to modify or update this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use at any time. Any changes will be reflected on the platform, and users will be notified accordingly. We recommend reviewing the policy periodically for any updates.

🔹 13. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

If any personal data is transferred outside of India, we ensure that such transfers comply with the applicable data protection laws and regulations. Adequate measures will be in place to safeguard your information during international transfers.

🔹 14. ACCOUNT SECURITY

Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials (username and password). Lawyer-Talk is not liable for any unauthorized access to accounts resulting from user negligence or failure to maintain the confidentiality of their credentials.

🔹 15. DATA BREACH NOTIFICATION

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify the affected users within the time frame required by applicable data protection laws. We will take all necessary steps to mitigate the breach and prevent further risks.

🔹 16. COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES

You have the right to manage your communication preferences:

• Marketing Communications: You can opt-out of receiving marketing or promotional emails at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in the email.
• Service-Related Communications: You may still receive non-marketing communications related to your account or service usage.

🔹 17. USER RIGHTS

Under Indian data protection laws, users have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of their personal data stored with us.
• Update: Correct or update their personal information.
• Delete: Request deletion of their personal data under certain conditions.
• Withdraw Consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent for data processing, where applicable.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@barrister24.com.

🔹 18. DATA SHARING WITH AFFILIATES

In some cases, we may share user data with our affiliated business entities for platform improvement or service provision. However, no data will be shared for external marketing purposes.

🔹 19. USER RESPONSIBILITIES

As a user, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information when registering and using the platform.
• Use the platform responsibly and adhere to all legal, ethical, and community guidelines.
• Refrain from any illegal, harmful, or abusive behavior while using the platform’s services.

🔹 20. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION

This Privacy Policy and Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising from the use of the platform will be resolved under the jurisdiction of courts in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

🔹 21. GRIEVANCE OFFICER

For any complaints, concerns, or issues related to our platform, users can contact:

• Grievance Officer: Kajal Singh
• WhatsApp (Text Only): +91 72075 83477
• Email: support@barrister24.com
• Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (IST)
• Response Time: Within 7 business days from the date of the complaint

📢 For all other inquiries or legal queries, please reach out to us at:
Email: support@barrister24.com

🚀 Thank you for choosing Lawyer-Talk — India’s trusted and secure platform for online legal consultations.