Mere Vakil

Welcome to Mere Vakil ("Platform", "we", "us", "our"). These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Mere Vakil website at merevakil.in and the Mere Vakil mobile application (collectively, the "Platform"). By registering, accessing, or using the Platform in any manner, you agree to be bound by these Terms in their entirety.

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "Citizen", or "Advocate") and Mere Vakil, operated by its sole proprietor and founder, under the laws of the Republic of India. By clicking "I Agree", completing registration, or otherwise using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and unconditionally accepted these Terms.

2. About the Platform

Mere Vakil is an independent technology intermediary that provides a digital infrastructure connecting Indian citizens with independent, licensed legal practitioners. The Platform offers:

• A bilingual (English/Hindi) directory of verified advocates, mapped by district, tehsil, and police station.
• Automated legal screening wizards for common legal situations (FIR, RTI, MSME disputes, family law, consumer complaints).
• Simplified, layman-language explanations of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) and related statutes.
• Secure, private peer-to-peer WebRTC video and audio consultations with independent advocates.
• Automated document drafting assistance (RTI applications, MSME interest statements, demand notices).
• Integrated Razorpay payment escrow for nominal consultation fee processing.

3. Eligibility & Registration

• You must be at least 18 years of age to register and use the Platform.
• You must provide a valid Indian mobile number for account verification. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your account credentials.
• You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to promptly update such information to keep it accurate.
• One account per person — creating multiple accounts to circumvent Platform policies is prohibited and may result in permanent suspension.

4. Terms for Citizens (Users)

4.1 Nature of Service

The Platform connects you with independent advocates for nominal-fee consultations. Mere Vakil is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not represent you in any legal proceedings. All legal advice and representation is solely the responsibility of the independent advocate you engage.

4.2 Accuracy of Information

You agree to provide truthful and accurate information when describing your legal situation in screening wizards and during consultations. Providing false or misleading information to advocates or the Platform may result in immediate account termination.

4.3 Consultation Conduct

You agree to conduct yourself respectfully and professionally during all virtual consultations. Abusive, threatening, or inappropriate behaviour toward advocates will result in immediate session termination and account suspension.

5. Terms for Advocates (Lawyers)

5.1 Eligibility

Only advocates enrolled with a recognized State Bar Council under the Advocates Act, 1961, and holding a valid Certificate of Practice, may register as Advocates on the Platform. By registering, you represent that you are in good standing with your Bar Council.

5.2 Non-Solicitation Compliance

Your listing on the Platform is structured in strict compliance with Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules, which prohibits active solicitation or advertising by advocates. Mere Vakil operates as a neutral technology intermediary — it does not promote or endorse any individual advocate over another.

5.3 Independent Practice

Advocates are independent sole practitioners. Mere Vakil is not your employer and does not direct or control the legal advice you provide. You are solely responsible for your professional conduct, ethical obligations, and Bar Council compliance.

5.4 Payout Terms

Consultation fees (minus the Platform's administrative hosting commission) are transferred to your registered bank account or UPI ID on a weekly basis, subject to the successful completion criteria defined in our Refund & Cancellation Policy.

6. Payments, Fees & Escrow

• All payments are processed exclusively through Razorpay Software Private Limited, our PCI-DSS compliant payment gateway partner.
• Mere Vakil does not store your card numbers, UPI PINs, CVVs, or any sensitive payment credentials on its servers.
• Consultation fees are held in escrow and released to advocates only upon verified session completion as per our published Refund & Cancellation Policy.
• Mere Vakil reserves the right to revise its service fees and commission structure with 14 days' prior notice to registered Advocates.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Platform for any of the following:

• Soliciting or receiving legal advice for activities that are illegal under Indian law.
• Bypassing the Platform's payment escrow by arranging off-platform payments directly with advocates.
• Uploading or transmitting malware, viruses, or any harmful code.
• Impersonating another person, advocate, or entity.
• Scraping, crawling, or systematically extracting data from the Platform without written permission.
• Using automated bots, scripts, or tools to interact with the Platform.
• Harassing, threatening, or abusing any advocate, citizen, or Platform administrator.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform — including the Mere Vakil brand name, logo, software code, database structure, BNS explanations, screening wizard logic, and UI designs — is the exclusive intellectual property of Mere Vakil and is protected under the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Information Technology Act, 2000. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works without express written permission.

9. Limitation of Liability

10. Safe Harbor — IT Act Section 79

11. Termination

Mere Vakil reserves the right to suspend or permanently terminate your account, with or without prior notice, if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent or abusive conduct, or if your account is involved in any activity that may harm other users, advocates, or the Platform's integrity. You may also terminate your account at any time via the in-app deletion flow or by emailing support@merevakil.in.

12. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall first be referred to mediation. If mediation fails, disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of competent authority in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

13. Contact & Grievance Officer

If you have any questions, complaints, or grievances regarding these Terms or the Platform, please contact our designated Grievance Officer as required under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021: