1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing, browsing, or using lawyersinpondicherry.com (the "Website"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"), our Privacy Policy, and our Disclaimer, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use this Website. These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and any other persons who access or use the Website or engage our legal services.
2. About the Website and Services
lawyersinpondicherry.com is the official website of a law practice based in Pondicherry (Puducherry), India. The Website provides:
- General legal information and educational content
- Information about our legal services and practice areas
- A means to contact us for legal consultation
- Legal guides, articles, and blog content
The Website is operated in compliance with the Bar Council of India Rules. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. See our Disclaimer for full details.
3. Use of the Website
You may use this Website for lawful purposes only. You agree not to:
- Use the Website in any way that violates applicable Indian or international law
- Use the Website to transmit any unsolicited commercial communications (spam)
- Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Website or its underlying infrastructure
- Copy, reproduce, distribute, or republish any content from this Website without our prior written consent
- Use the Website in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair it
- Collect or harvest any personal data of other users from the Website
- Use the Website to transmit any material that is defamatory, offensive, or promotes illegal activities
4. Consultation & Engagement Terms
4.1 Free Initial Consultation
We offer a free initial consultation to prospective clients. The initial consultation is for the purpose of understanding your legal matter and advising you on your options. The free consultation does not constitute a formal engagement, and we reserve the right to decline representation at our professional discretion.
4.2 Formal Engagement
A formal advocate-client relationship is established only through a written retainer or engagement letter signed by both parties, setting out the scope of representation, fees, and terms. Until such a formal agreement is executed, we are under no obligation to represent you.
4.3 Professional Fees
Our professional fees are discussed and agreed upon at the time of engagement. Fees may be structured as fixed fees, hourly rates, or retainer arrangements depending on the nature of the matter. Government fees (court filing fees, stamp duty, registration fees, etc.) are separate and are in addition to our professional fees. Fee arrangements are subject to the Bar Council of India Rules and applicable legal professional standards.
4.4 Payment Terms
Payment terms are as agreed in the engagement letter. Fees are typically paid in advance or at agreed milestones. In the event of non-payment, we reserve the right to pause or discontinue services after giving reasonable notice. All fees paid are non-refundable except as specifically agreed in the engagement letter.
4.5 Conflict of Interest
We conduct a conflict check before accepting any new matter. We reserve the right to decline representation if a conflict of interest exists. We will inform you promptly if a conflict arises during the course of representation.
4.6 Termination of Engagement
Either party may terminate the advocate-client relationship by giving written notice, subject to applicable professional rules and the terms of the engagement letter. We may withdraw from representation if: you fail to pay fees, you provide false information, you ask us to act unethically or illegally, a conflict of interest arises, or for other good cause. On termination, you will be provided with your original documents and a summary of the status of your matter.
5. Confidentiality
All communications between you and our advocates relating to legal matters are confidential and protected by professional privilege, in accordance with the Advocates Act, 1961 and Bar Council of India Rules. We will not disclose confidential information about your matter except as required by law, a court order, or with your explicit consent.
Please note that communications through our Website contact forms, before a formal engagement is established, are treated with confidentiality but may not be protected by full attorney-client privilege.
6. Intellectual Property
All content on this Website - including text, graphics, logos, layout, design, code, and other materials - is the intellectual property of lawyersinpondicherry.com and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
You may view, download, and print pages from the Website for your personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, transmit, republish, or commercially exploit any content from this Website without our prior written permission.
Legal documents, precedents, or draft agreements that we create for you as part of our engagement remain our intellectual property unless explicitly assigned to you in writing.
7. User-Submitted Content
By submitting any information through our contact forms, consultation request forms, or other website features, you:
- Confirm that the information provided is accurate and truthful to the best of your knowledge
- Grant us the right to use this information to respond to your enquiry and provide legal services
- Acknowledge that submitting false information may have legal consequences
We do not accept unsolicited legal documents, confidential information, or proprietary material. Do not submit sensitive documents through the Website before a formal engagement is established.
8. No Guarantee of Outcomes
Legal matters depend on many factors - facts, evidence, court discretion, opposing party's conduct, and applicable law. We make no guarantees, representations, or warranties about the outcome of any legal matter. Past results described on this Website do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases.
Our commitment is to provide competent, diligent, and professional legal representation - we cannot and do not promise any specific legal outcome.
9. Third-Party Services
The Website may integrate with or link to third-party services (such as WhatsApp, Google Maps, Google Fonts, analytics providers). Your use of these third-party services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the practices, content, or availability of third-party services.
10. Disclaimer of Warranties
This Website is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without any warranties of any kind - express, implied, or statutory. We do not warrant that the Website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we disclaim all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
11. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Indian law, lawyersinpondicherry.com and its associates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Website or reliance on its content.
Our total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Website shall not exceed the amount paid by you (if any) for our services in the 3 months preceding the claim.
12. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of this Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at Pondicherry, India.
13. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Changes are effective immediately upon posting to the Website. Your continued use of the Website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.
14. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
15. Contact Us
For any questions, concerns, or clarifications regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact us:
- Email: sglawindia@gmail.com
- Phone: +91-95977-46476
- Address: Adv. Ganesh Shriram G R Office, No.86, Convent Street, Nellithope, Puducherry – 605005