Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using FederalLawyer.com ("the Site"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provisions of this agreement. If you do not agree to abide by these terms, please do not use this site. These Terms of Service apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Site.

2. Description of Service

FederalLawyer.com is an online directory and professional networking platform that connects individuals seeking legal representation with attorneys who practice federal law across the United States. The Site provides lawyer profiles, ratings, reviews, articles, a question-and-answer community, job listings, and premium listing services for attorneys.

3. User Accounts

To access certain features of the Site, you may be required to create an account. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate, current, and complete.

You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. FederalLawyer.com will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this section.

4. Attorney Profiles and Listings

Attorneys who create or claim profiles on FederalLawyer.com are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information they provide. By creating a profile, attorneys represent that they are licensed to practice law in the jurisdictions indicated and that all information provided is truthful and not misleading.

FederalLawyer.com reserves the right to remove or modify any profile that contains inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate content, or that violates these Terms of Service.

5. Premium Listings and Payments

FederalLawyer.com offers premium listing services for attorneys on a subscription basis. By purchasing a premium listing, you agree to pay the applicable fees as described on the Site at the time of purchase. All payments are processed through Stripe, a third-party payment processor, and are subject to Stripe's terms of service.

Subscription fees are billed on a recurring basis (monthly or annually, as selected). You may cancel your subscription at any time through your dashboard. Cancellation will take effect at the end of the current billing period. Refunds are not provided for partial billing periods.

Sponsored listing purchases are one-time payments for a specified duration. Once a sponsored listing period has begun, refunds will not be issued.

6. User Content

Users may submit reviews, articles, questions, answers, comments, and other content ("User Content") to the Site. By submitting User Content, you grant FederalLawyer.com a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and display such content in connection with the Site and its services.

You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to submit User Content and that such content does not violate the rights of any third party. You agree not to submit content that is defamatory, obscene, abusive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful.

7. Reviews and Ratings

Client reviews must be based on genuine experiences with the attorney being reviewed. Reviews that are fraudulent, misleading, or that constitute harassment are prohibited and will be removed. FederalLawyer.com reserves the right to moderate, edit, or remove any review at its sole discretion.

Attorney ratings are calculated using a proprietary algorithm and are intended to provide general guidance to users. Ratings do not constitute a guarantee of the quality of legal services.

8. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to: (a) use the Site for any unlawful purpose; (b) impersonate any person or entity; (c) interfere with or disrupt the Site or its servers; (d) attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site; (e) use automated means to access or collect data from the Site without prior written consent; (f) submit false or misleading information; or (g) engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits any other user from using or enjoying the Site.

9. Intellectual Property

The Site and its original content (excluding User Content), features, and functionality are owned by FederalLawyer.com and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws. Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without the prior written consent of FederalLawyer.com.

10. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall FederalLawyer.com, its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from: (a) your access to or use of (or inability to access or use) the Site; (b) any conduct or content of any third party on the Site; (c) any content obtained from the Site; or (d) unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless FederalLawyer.com and its licensees, licensors, employees, contractors, agents, officers, and directors from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses arising from: (a) your use of and access to the Site; (b) your violation of any term of these Terms of Service; (c) your violation of any third-party right; or (d) any User Content you submit to the Site.

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account and bar access to the Site immediately, without prior notice or liability, under our sole discretion, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach the Terms. All provisions of the Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in the United States.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. By continuing to access or use our Site after any revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms.

15. Advertising Disclosure

For Hosts: All hosts must clearly disclose any paid sponsorships, endorsements, or advertising relationships associated with their streams. All sponsored content must be identified at the beginning of the stream and in the stream description. Failure to disclose paid relationships may result in stream removal and account suspension. Hosts are responsible for compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines on endorsement disclosures, including 16 CFR Part 255.

For Viewers: Streams may contain sponsored content or paid endorsements. While hosts are required to disclose such relationships, the Platform does not independently verify all advertising disclosures. Viewers should exercise their own professional judgment regarding sponsored content and independently verify any claims or recommendations made during sponsored segments.

16. Speaker Compensation Disclosure

For Hosts: If any speaker, panelist, or guest appearing on the stream receives compensation (monetary or otherwise), the Host must disclose this to viewers. Compensation includes but is not limited to: direct payment, referral fees, speaking fees, promotional consideration, in-kind benefits, equity arrangements, or future business considerations. This disclosure must appear in the stream description and be announced verbally at the start of the stream.

For Viewers: Speakers and panelists appearing on streams may receive compensation from the Host or third parties. Compensation disclosures are the responsibility of the Host. The Platform does not verify speaker compensation arrangements. Viewers should consider potential conflicts of interest when evaluating content presented by compensated speakers.

17. No Attorney-Client Relationship

IMPORTANT NOTICE: All content presented during live streams and CLE classes on this Platform is for educational and informational purposes only. NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP is formed between any Host, speaker, panelist, the Platform, and any viewer by virtue of viewing, attending, or participating in a stream. Viewers should not rely on stream content as legal advice for their specific legal situations. If you need legal advice, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can evaluate your specific circumstances.

Hosts must include a verbal disclaimer at the beginning of each stream stating that no attorney-client relationship is being formed. The Platform displays this disclaimer automatically, but Hosts bear independent responsibility for ensuring viewers understand this limitation. No communication through the Platform's chat, Q&A, or other interactive features creates an attorney-client relationship.

18. State Accreditation Disclosures

For Hosts: Hosts offering CLE-accredited content must accurately represent which state bar associations have approved their courses. Hosts must not claim accreditation in any jurisdiction where approval has not been obtained. Hosts are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining proper accreditation with each relevant state bar. Misrepresentation of accreditation status may result in immediate stream removal, account suspension, and reporting to the relevant bar association.

For Viewers: CLE accreditation information displayed on the Platform is provided by the Host. The Platform does not independently verify state bar approvals. It is your responsibility to confirm that a CLE class is approved for credit in your jurisdiction before enrolling. Earning a certificate of completion does not guarantee that your state bar will accept the credits. Contact your state bar's CLE department to verify acceptance of specific courses.

19. Refund Policy for Live Streaming & CLE

Paid CLE Classes: If a stream is canceled by the Host before it begins, all enrolled attendees will receive a full refund. If a stream experiences significant technical difficulties (defined as more than 25% cumulative downtime during the scheduled duration), attendees may request a refund within 48 hours of the stream's scheduled end time. Refunds for completed streams are at the Host's discretion unless the stream failed to deliver the advertised content. The Platform will process approved refunds through Stripe within 5-10 business days. The Platform retains its service fee on refunded transactions.

VOD (Video on Demand) Purchases: Refunds for VOD content are available within 24 hours of purchase if the content is materially different from what was advertised. No refunds are available after the viewer has watched more than 50% of the VOD content. Technical issues with VOD playback should be reported to support for troubleshooting before requesting a refund.

Dispute Resolution: Payment disputes should first be directed to the Host. If unresolved, the Platform will mediate in good faith. Chargebacks filed without first attempting resolution through the Platform may result in account restrictions.

20. Attendance Tracking Compliance

How Tracking Works: The Platform uses automated heartbeat verification to track viewer attendance during CLE streams. This system sends periodic check-ins (approximately every 30 seconds) to verify active viewing. Attendance data is collected and stored for CLE compliance purposes and is maintained for a minimum of 5 years in accordance with regulatory requirements.

For Hosts: Hosts must not circumvent or manipulate attendance tracking mechanisms. Hosts are responsible for setting appropriate minimum attendance thresholds in accordance with their accrediting jurisdiction's requirements. The Platform provides attendance reports that can be exported for bar association submission.

For Viewers: By attending a CLE stream, you consent to attendance tracking through automated heartbeat verification. You must maintain an active connection and respond to engagement polls to receive attendance credit. Manipulating or circumventing attendance tracking (including but not limited to using automated tools, scripts, or browser extensions to simulate attendance) is strictly prohibited and may result in: (a) revocation of any certificates issued, (b) permanent account suspension, (c) reporting to your state bar association, and (d) forfeiture of any fees paid.

Data Retention: Attendance records, including timestamps, heartbeat logs, poll responses, and engagement metrics, are retained for a minimum of 5 years. This data may be shared with state bar associations upon their request for compliance verification purposes.

21. Educational Information Only — No Legal Advice

PROMINENT DISCLAIMER: All content on FederalLawyer.com — including articles, Q&A responses, federal guides, live streams, CLE presentations, blog posts, and any other materials — is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on this Site constitutes legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by your use of the Site, submission of questions, viewing of content, or any other interaction.

You should not act or refrain from acting based on any content on this Site without seeking the advice of a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can evaluate your specific circumstances. Legal outcomes depend on facts and circumstances unique to each situation, and the information on this Site may not reflect the most current legal developments.

22. No Discussion of Active Cases with Identifying Details

Users — including attorneys — are strictly prohibited from posting, discussing, or referencing active cases with identifying details on any part of the Site, including Q&A, articles, live streams, comments, and messages. "Identifying details" includes but is not limited to: party names, case numbers, specific court dockets, dates of proceedings, or any information that could reasonably identify the parties involved in pending litigation.

Violations of this policy may result in immediate content removal, account suspension, and in serious cases, reporting to the relevant bar association. Attorneys have an independent ethical obligation to protect client confidentiality under the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct.

23. Q&A Moderation Policy

The Q&A community on FederalLawyer.com is designed for general legal questions only. All questions and answers are subject to moderation. The following types of content will be blocked or removed:

• Fact-specific legal advice requests (e.g., "Should I plead guilty to my charge in Case No. ...")
• Requests that would require an attorney to form a professional opinion about a specific legal matter
• Content that could reasonably be construed as creating an attorney-client relationship
• Questions containing confidential information about pending cases
• Solicitation of legal representation through the Q&A feature

Attorneys responding to Q&A questions must include a disclaimer that their response is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Responses that provide fact-specific legal advice will be removed.

24. Advertising Labeling Requirements

All sponsored content on FederalLawyer.com is clearly labeled as advertising. This includes:

• Sponsored Landing Pages: Marked with "Sponsored" badges and advertising disclosure labels
• Display Ads: Clearly identified as advertisements with "AD" labels
• Sponsored Live Streams: Must include verbal and written sponsorship disclosure
• Boosted Federal Guides: Marked with "SPONSORED" badges
• Premium Listings: Identified as paid placements where applicable

Attorneys and advertisers must not attempt to disguise paid content as organic content. All advertising must comply with the applicable state bar advertising rules and the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, particularly Rules 7.1 through 7.3 regarding communications concerning a lawyer's services.

25. Stream Recording & Archival

All live streams on FederalLawyer.com are recorded and archived. This policy serves multiple purposes: (a) moderation review — archived streams can be reviewed for compliance with these Terms; (b) dispute resolution — recordings provide evidence in the event of content disputes; (c) CLE compliance — archived recordings satisfy state bar requirements for CLE content documentation; and (d) viewer access — archived streams may be made available for on-demand viewing.

By hosting a live stream, you consent to the recording and archival of all stream content, including audio, video, chat messages, and Q&A interactions. Hosts may request deletion of archived content, subject to regulatory retention requirements.

26. Terms for Lawyers Using This Platform

Attorneys using FederalLawyer.com in any capacity (profile listings, articles, Q&A responses, live streams, federal guides, or advertising) agree to the following additional terms:

• No Misleading Claims: All profile information, credentials, case results, and testimonials must be truthful and not misleading. Attorneys must not overstate their experience, qualifications, or track record.
• No Guaranteed Outcomes: Attorneys must not guarantee or imply guaranteed outcomes in any content, including profiles, articles, Q&A responses, or advertisements. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and this must be clearly communicated.
• Jurisdiction Disclosures: Attorneys must clearly disclose all jurisdictions in which they are licensed to practice. Content that discusses laws of a specific jurisdiction must identify that jurisdiction. Attorneys must not imply that they are licensed in jurisdictions where they are not admitted.
• Professional Responsibility: Attorneys remain subject to the Rules of Professional Conduct of their licensing jurisdictions at all times when using this platform. FederalLawyer.com does not waive, modify, or supersede any professional responsibility obligations.
• Advertising Compliance: Attorney advertising on this platform must comply with the advertising rules of all jurisdictions in which the attorney is licensed. Attorneys are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with jurisdiction-specific advertising requirements.
• Conflict Checks: Attorneys must perform appropriate conflict checks before engaging with potential clients through this platform. The platform does not perform conflict checks on behalf of attorneys.

27. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through our Contact page.