1. Terms and Conditions

Introduction

An agreement is concluded between you and ALS when you register as a User and accept our user agreement, terms and conditions. The User agreement, terms and conditions detail the agreement between you and ALS.
Should you have any questions, suggestions, queries or concerns about any part of the User agreement, please feel free contact us. We will happily explain why these agreement provisions are important for the successful operation of the ALS Service.

In order to receive full access rights to the ALS Service and to fully reap the rewards of its use, ALS needs to have your agreement of the User agreement and the ALS terms and conditions.

In this agreement, we have referred to the ALS service and systems as the "ALS Service", to you as the "User" and to this agreement as the "Agreement".

The headings herein are merely for convenience purposes and are not to be used in the interpretation hereof.

The Nature of the Relationship between ALS and the User

ALS is an Internet forum that facilitates communication between legal professionals and potential Users of legal services. ALS acts as a venue for service providers and potential Users of legal services to exchange information with the goal of eventually forming a professional relationship. ALS does not guarantee that Users will successfully find legal representation through this Service. ALS furthermore takes no position and offers no opinion on when or if a Lawyer-client relationship has been formed.

In order to provide an optimal forum for Users and legal professionals, ALS does not involve itself in the agreements between subscribing legal professionals and Users nor does ALS involve itself in the actual legal representation of the ALS User. ALS does not therefore guarantee the completion of an agreement or the bona fides or integrity of either party. The User, and not ALS, is solely responsible for assessing the integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness of all persons with whom the User deals or interacts on the ALS Service.

ALS does not screen nor vouch for any of its Users or service providers

Providing a service where Users and legal professionals can meet does not imply an endorsement of any subscribing Lawyer or service provider. ALS makes no representations concerning a Lawyer’s qualifications (with the exception that the Lawyer was a member of a Law Society, was in good standing with that Law Society and was entitled to practice law in South Africa or Namibia or other relevant Country at the time of such members registration with ALS), nor does ALS sanction or endorse any material or statements which a Lawyer may post on the ALS Service.

Your case submission will never be viewed or accessed by non-Lawyer service providers or other Users without your prior written consent. ALS does not screen case submissions made by any User, or otherwise channel Users to selected Lawyers, nor will ALS tolerate any such channelling of ALS users to unsubscribed lawyers. The ALS Service is strictly an automated impartial Service which relies on information submitted (e.g. User location, case type and affordability) by the User to source appropriate Lawyers who are suitably qualified, located and affordable, so as to be able to assist the User and from which the User makes an election. There is no manual manipulation of cases submitted to ALS and only matching Lawyers selected automatically on the above criteria are notified of the cases submitted and are then eligible to express an interest in the Users case.

No Lawyer-client or Attorney-Client relationship is created by use of ALS Service

Any form of use of the ALS Service by a subscribing member or a User or a potential User is not intended to and will never create a Lawyer-client relationship between any person or entity and ALS. Any electronic communication sent to ALS will not create a Lawyer-client relationship between the User and ALS.

The ALS User is not to submit incriminating information under any circumstances

The User is accordingly made aware and agrees not to submit incriminating, sensitive or confidential material when submitting a case to ALS as the User will not enjoy the protection afforded to the lawyer-Client relationship. The appropriate time to divulge any such information is only after the User has chosen a Lawyer, the Lawyer has accepted the instruction and thereby formed a Lawyer-Client relationship with that User and then such information should only be divulged to that Lawyer and NOT to ALS. The User hereby acknowledges that this is understood and indemnifies ALS against any and all damages which may be suffered in whatsoever manner as a result of any such disclosure of incriminating, sensitive or confidential information to ALS.

Confidentiality of submitted User information

ALS makes every effort to maintain the confidentiality of all information submitted by Users to ALS. However, because ALS cannot control the conduct of others, we cannot guarantee that this information will remain confidential. Please use caution in deciding what information to input into the ALS Service.

Do not make any confessions or admissions. Do not use proper names or addresses in case submission. Do not provide any other highly personal, sensitive, or incriminating information when submitting your case. ALS is not responsible for the release or improper use of such information by other Users or any release due to error or failure in the ALS Service.

Each User agrees that Lawyers contacted by the User through the ALS Service may report to ALS on whether their services were engaged by the User and the total Lawyer’s fees which were paid.

No legal advice is provided by ALS under any circumstances

ALS is not a law firm or a legal advice centre and accordingly ALS does not offer legal advice, recommendations, mediation, or counselling under any circumstances. ALS encourages the User not to accept any information received from any source found on this service, unless it is from a Lawyer the User has chosen and instructed.

Disclaimer of representations provided by Lawyers, law firms, legal service providers, non lawyers and other service providers

ALS makes no representation, guarantee, or warranty (express or implied) as to the legal ability, competence or quality of the representation which may be provided to a User by any of the subscribing Lawyers, law firms or service providers which are listed through this Web site or any affiliated website. ALS also makes no representations concerning the qualifications or ability of non-Lawyer or other service providers which are listed through ALS or any affiliate thereof.

Further access to services denied

ALS reserves the right to immediately and without notice deny further access, in its sole, absolute and unfettered discretion, to the ALS service to any User who:

violates any of these terms, conditions or rules
is the subject of complaints by other ALS Users
engages in any activity intended to injure or harm others
displays or attempts to display any material containing nudity or pornographic material or in any manner displays material that exploits children under 18 years of age
uses the ALS Service for displaying harassing, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar or obscene material or for invading any other person’s privacy or promotes physical harm or injury against any group of persons or individual
provides material that is offensive to the online community or who violates generally accepted Internet standards as are determined by the administrators of the ALS Service
engages in any activity involving blatant expressions of bigotry, prejudice in any form, racism, hatred, or profanity or who defames any person or group of persons for any reason or cause whatsoever
promotes or provides instructional information about any illegal activities or who encourages any illegal activity, including anything to do with drugs, gambling, pornography, prostitution, child pornography, robbery, theft, spreading of computer viruses, hacking into private computer Services, any software infringement, or any other criminal offences
in any manner violates the rights of another, including but not limited to the intellectual property rights of another and those of ALS
interferes with or disrupts the ALS Service or servers or networks connected to the Service by posting advertisements or links to competing services, by transmitting "junk mail", "spam", "chain letters", or unsolicited mass distribution of e-mail or who in any manner whatsoever compromises the security of the Service ALS provides or attempts to gain access to Service areas private to ALS, or to other Users, or
for any other reason which ALS in its sole and absolute discretion deems sufficient.

Performance review of ALS and its service providers

ALS encourages User comments and feedback in all forms which are calculated to improve the service which ALS provides to its Users and ALS welcomes User comments, suggestions and criticisms. Users may comment on aspects like ALS services, suggested improvements, the quality of the legal services received, complaints and the like and ALS shall attend to this feedback from Users. ALS does in any manner not tolerate offensive behaviour or language whether defamatory, hostile, vulgar, or otherwise distasteful and such behaviour or language will result in termination of this agreement and suspension of that User's rights.

Information on the ALS Service and its service providers

ALS does not warrant the validity or accuracy of any information posted to the ALS site by others. As a User you are accordingly requested and expected to use caution and common sense when using the ALS site.

ALS makes no representation, guarantee, or warranty (express or implied) as to the legal ability, competence or quality of representation which may be provided to a User by any of the subscribing Lawyers, law firms or legal service providers which are listed through ALS or any affiliate thereof. Providing a service where Users and legal professionals can meet does not imply an endorsement of any subscribing Lawyer or service ALS.

ALS makes no representation concerning a subscribing Lawyer’s qualifications (with the exception that the Lawyer was a member of a Law Society, was in good standing with that Law Society and was entitled to practice law in South Africa or Namibia at the time of registration with ALS), nor does ALS sanction or endorse any material or statements which a subscribing Lawyer may post on the ALS Service.

ALS does not continuously review the standing of any Lawyer subscriber with that Lawyers controlling body. When considering employing any Lawyer or law firm, Users should verify the Lawyer’s standing with the listed Law Society. When considering employing a non-Lawyer legal service ALS, Users should conduct enquiries with the agency that certified the service provider or with the service provider's applicable regulatory or controlling body.

ALS is unable to continually verify and or monitor the good standing of each subscribing Lawyer using the ALS Service and accordingly ALS makes no representation regarding the current status, standing or ability of any subscribing Lawyer or law firm that is listed through the ALS Web site. ALS will however conduct spot checks with relevant controlling bodies from time to time to confirm good standing of subscribing lawyers and services providers, however Users are not to place any reliance on ALS having done such checks on any particular subscribing lawyer or service provider and the User accordingly indemnifies ALS for any damages caused by a user placing reliance hereon.

Users are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any firm or ALS lawyer being considered. ALS is not responsible for, and in no way supports or endorses, any description or indication of specialization or limitation of practice by a subscribing Lawyer or law firm listed on the ALS Service. It is the responsibility of the User to question the subscribing Lawyers and service providers on any statement which such subscribing Lawyer or Service provider makes and to verify all such information.

Although ALS strongly encourages subscribing Lawyers to comply with all rules of the various Law Societies governing Lawyer ethics and conduct, it is physically impossible for ALS to continuously monitor members' compliance with applicable rules of ethical conduct.

ALS in no way endorses the content or legality of any responses, statements, or promises made by Subscribing Lawyers or any other parties, on or off the ALS site.

Indemnification of ALS by the User

The User agrees that ALS is not responsible for any harm that the ALS service may cause. The User agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold ALS harmless from and against any and all liability and costs incurred in connection with any loss, liability, claim, demand, damage, and expenses arising from or in connection with the contents or use of the ALS Service.

The User agrees that this indemnity shall also apply to any breach by the User of the Agreement or of the foregoing representations and warranties. The User further agrees that this indemnity shall also include, without limitation, an indemnity against all Lawyer fees and costs.

The User also agrees that this indemnity shall apply to ALS, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees. ALS reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defence and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by the User and the User shall not in any event settle any matter without the written consent of ALS.

Loss of Data

ALS is not responsible for any loss of data resulting from accidental or deliberate deletion, network, Service or power outages, file corruption, or any other reason whatsoever.

Other ALS Rights

ALS also reserves the rights to release current or past User information, pursuant to the terms of the Privacy Policy, in the event ALS believes that accounts are in violation of the terms of service or page content guidelines, used to commit unlawful acts, if the information is subpoenaed, and/or if ALS deems it necessary and/or appropriate.

ALS also reserves the right to deny service to offenders of these guidelines or the Agreement and to terminate or deny service to anyone for any reason or no reason at all.

Modifications and or changes to the ALS Terms and conditions and terms of Service and or the ALS service itself may be changed at any time. The User will not be notified of the change and will be responsible for promptly reading and complying with the new terms and conditions. Continued use of the service will indicate acceptance of the new terms and conditions and it is the User’s sole responsibility to ensure that they remain appraised of the terms and conditions and adhere to them at all times.

ALS reserves the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the ALS Service with or without notice to the User. The User agrees that ALS shall not be liable to the User or any third party for any modification or discontinuance of the Service. The User acknowledges and agrees that any termination of Service under any provision of this Agreement may be effected without prior notice, and acknowledges and agrees that ALS may immediately delete data and files in the User's account and bar any further access to such files or to the ALS Service.

ALS's Proprietary Rights

The User acknowledges ALS's proprietary rights in all aspects of the Service but not limited to the look of the Service, the name of the Service, and the collective work and copyright on the ALS Service. Users and subscribers cannot reproduce anything from the ALS Service, either electronically or in print, without ALS's written consent thereto. User’s and Subscribers are strictly forbidden from any acts which are in competition with ALS, which diminish the good name of ALS, which defeat the purpose and goals of ALS or which, in the sole and unfettered discretion of ALS, are detrimental to ALS.

The User acknowledges and agrees that content, including but not limited to text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, page layout and design, or other material contained in the ALS Service or information presented through the ALS Service is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents, or other proprietary rights and laws.

The User acknowledges and agrees that the User is permitted to use this material and information only as expressly authorized by ALS and may not copy, reproduce, transmit, distribute, or create derivative works of such content or information without express authorization.

Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability

There exists a real risk for ALS that we might be held accountable for the wrongful actions of our Users. Accordingly, we require that all Users accept responsibility for their own acts, and accept that an act by another User that damages them cannot and will not be blamed on ALS, but only on the other User.

It is ALS's aim to provide Users with a reliable, quality Service but ALS may make mistakes or experience Service failure from time to time. Such problems are inevitable in operating a Service of this magnitude and we would be unable to make the ALS Service available to Users if ALS was to accept blame or financial liability for any usability problems, Service failures or errors, or mistakes or damages of any kind.

In order to continue offering and improving our service, ALS must deny any warranties on the ALS service (and hereby does so) and ensure that ALS liability for any problems connected with the use of the ALS Service is strictly limited.

The user expressly agrees that use of the ALS service is at the User's sole risk. The service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. ALS expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.

ALS makes no warranty that the service will meet user's requirements, that the service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; nor does ALS make any warranty as to the results that may be obtained from the use of the service or as to the accuracy or reliability of any information obtained through the service or that defects in the software will be corrected. ALS makes no warranty regarding any goods or services purchased or information obtained through the ALS service or any transactions entered into through the ALS service.

No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by the user from ALS shall create any warranty not expressly stated herein.

The user agrees that ALS shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages resulting from the use or the inability to use the service or for cost of procurement of substitute goods and services or resulting from any goods or services purchased or obtained or messages received or transactions entered into through or from the service or resulting from unauthorized access to or alteration of user's transmissions or data, including, but not limited to damages for loss of profits, use, data or other intangibles, even if ALS has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

The User further agrees that ALS shall not be liable for any damages arising from interruption, suspension or termination of service, including, but not limited to, direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, whether such interruption, suspension or termination was justified or not, negligent or intentional, inadvertent or advertent.

Arbitration Clause

Any dispute, difference or question which may arise at any time hereafter between ALS and the User or Service Provider involving the true construction/interpretation of this agreement, or the rights and liabilities of the parties hereto, shall, unless otherwise herein expressly provided, be referred for the decision of a single arbitrator in PORT ELIZABETH, RSA to be agreed upon between the parties or, in default of agreement for 14 (FOURTEEN) business days, to be appointed at the request of ALS in accordance with and subject to the provision of the Arbitration Act 42 of 1965 or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force.

In the event of any dispute concerning the amount of any moneys due or payable by a party to this agreement to the other under this agreement, a certificate as to the amount signed by the auditors for the time being of ALS shall be conclusive and binding on both parties. Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause ALS may in its sole and absolute discretion elect to approach the relevant High court for relief as opposed to arbitration.

Application of South African law

This agreement shall be deemed to have been made in the Republic of South Africa and the construction, validity and performance of this agreement shall be governed in all respects by the law of the Republic of South Africa.

Authentic text

The text of this agreement herein written in the English language is the authentic text and any difficulties or uncertainties in interpretation arising shall be resolved solely by reference to this text.

Agreement contains whole contract between parties

This agreement, as amended from time to time by ALS, embodies the entire undertaking of the parties and there are no promises, terms, conditions or obligations, oral or written, express or implied, other than those contained herein.

Waiver

If ALS fails to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement, that failure shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Invalidity of a provision

If any provision of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, then such provision shall be severed from the agreement and that the other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

Prescription of claims

The User agrees that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to the use of the ALS Service or the Agreement must be instituted within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose, failing which such User’s claim shall be deemed prescribed and the User shall have no further claim in Law.

2. Privacy Policy

Privacy - access to and use of information

ALS receives various types of information from Users and Service Providers who access and use the ALS Website. ALS makes every effort to protect any and all Information received by it.

Despite such undertaking, it is possible for Internet-based communications to be intercepted. Without the use of encryption, the Internet is not a secure medium and privacy cannot be ensured. Internet e-mail is vulnerable to interception and forging. ALS will not be responsible for any damages you or any third party may suffer as a result of the transmission of confidential information that you make to ALS through the Internet, or that you expressly or implicitly authorise the ALS to make, or for any errors or any changes made to any transmitted information. To ensure acquaintance with and awareness of the privacy measures and polices of ALS, the User is urged to take care to read and understand the underlying privacy clauses incorporated in these Terms and Conditions.

Privacy – casual surfing

The User may visit the ALS Website without providing any personal information. The ALS Website servers will in such instances collect the IP address of the User’s computer, but not the email address or any other distinguishing information. This information is aggregated to measure the number of visits, average time spent at the Website, pages viewed, etc. ALS uses this information to determine use of the Website, and to improve Content thereon. ALS assumes no obligation to protect this information, and may copy, distribute or otherwise use such information without limitation.

Privacy - unsolicited information

If the User posts unsolicited content or other information (“the Information”) to the ALS Website, and unless otherwise indicated, then the User grants to ALS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sub-licensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, and display such Information throughout the world in any media. The User grants to ALS the right to use the name that the User submits in connection with such Information, if they choose. The User warrants that the User owns or otherwise controls all of the rights to the Information that the User posts; that the Information is accurate; that by the supply of the Information to ALS, the User does not violate this Policy and does not infringe the rights of any person or entity; and that the User indemnifies ALS for all claims resulting from the receipt by ALS of the Information the User supplies to it. ALS reserves the right but not the obligation to monitor and edit or remove any Information, where posted to public pages. ALS takes no responsibility, and assumes no liability for any Information posted by the User or any third party.

Privacy and Security Statement

At associatedlawservices.com, we are committed to protecting your privacy. It is also our aim to continually improve our service to you and to keep up with rapidly changing technologies. In order to maximize our services to you, we use information collected about you while still protecting your privacy. These policies are subject to change but if there are any modifications to these policies, we will post them on this webpage and notify you of the latest version as described at the end of this policy.

Personal Information

While transmission of information over the Internet cannot be guaranteed 100% secure, we make every effort to provide protection for the information that we collect about you. We, on our fully functional site, will use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology in the transmission of logon identification, passwords and payments online. SSL technology provides advanced encryption tools that convert the information you input into code before it is sent to us. The encryption helps protect you and the information in your account.

Your personal information is password-protected. It is our policy to never sell or share traceable information about our users to third parties without user permission. Advanced firewall technologies protect our database from outside threats. Your password and password reminder answers are kept encrypted at all times, so they cannot be decoded even if someone gains access to our database.

ALS is not responsible for the privacy practices of link sites. You should not assume that other sites take similar steps in securing your information and should evaluate their privacy standards before using their Services.

Collection of Information

When you register with ALS, we ask that you provide your name, e-mail address, and other information. If you are a Lawyer or other professional services provider, you will also be asked to provide your firm name, address, telephone number, province where you are licensed, and practice number.

In the course of your use of the site, we may also request additional information from you. For example, if you are a Lawyer or other professional service provider, you will be asked to describe your areas of practice, experience, and education. If you are searching for a Lawyer, you will be asked to describe your matter so that Lawyers can evaluate your legal needs and express an interest in accepting your case.

ALS uses cookie technology to assist users in navigating through our site more efficiently. Third party affiliates may also set cookies on the site for the purpose of tracking leads. A cookie is a small text file that resides on your hard drive. At various points on our site, our Service will request the cookie from your browser so that we can retrieve the stored information. The cookie may be linked to a unique number that our Service can read to determine your user ID and preferences. This prevents you from repeatedly making the same selections. Knowing how you use the site enables ALS to better tailor content and services to meet your needs. The cookie does not contain information that others could use to personally identify you, and other Web sites cannot access the information we store on your computer. Most cookies are "session cookies," meaning that they are automatically deleted at the end of a session. You must set your browser to accept cookies to be able to use our site at this time.

Use of Collected Information

The primary reason that ALS collects information from its users is to match the right Lawyers and professional service providers with Users who need them.

ALS does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others. We use your information to improve our marketing and promotional efforts, statistically analyze site usage, and improve our site's content, offering, and layout. Your IP address may be used to help diagnose problems with our server, to administer our Web site, and for security needs. ALS.com may provide aggregate statistics about our customers, sales, traffic patterns, and related site information to third-party vendors, but these statistics will include no personal identifying information.

We may use the information we collect to notify you about the status of your ALS account, important functionality changes to our Web site, new ALS.com services, and special offers we think you'll find valuable. We may also contact you to verify your information or ask you about your experiences with our Service.

Except for communications that relate directly to the service being provided, you may "opt out" of receiving communications from us.

If you are seeking a Lawyer, required communications may include:

1. confirmation of your registration as a client,
2. notification that Lawyers have submitted expressions of interest to work on your case and
3. requests to determine which Lawyer (if any) you have chosen.

If you are a Lawyer, required communications may include:

1. confirmation of your registration,
2. notification that your registration has been verified,
3. requests to determine which ALS users have chosen you and
4. if you are subscribed to ALS, invoices.

When it is necessary to contact you, we use your e-mail address and, in some situations your mailing address, phone or fax number.

Note: ALS will not ask you for your password if we contact you. Do not disclose your password if asked by a caller claiming to represent ALS. In order to achieve the benefits of the ALS service, there are some situations in which personal information may be disclosed to third parties. These are:

Service related disclosure: This Web site is designed to disclose certain limited information to connect Lawyers with the people who need them. The users have full control over when and to whom personally identifying information is disclosed. Our service is designed specifically to keep initial exchanges of information between Users and Lawyers anonymous. The limited information we disclose is described below.
When a user posts a description of his or her legal matter, that information is reviewed only by Lawyers, ALS members or potential members and ALS staff. The information is anonymous, meaning that the user's personally identifying information is kept hidden unless the user chooses to release it. If the user chooses to release personally identifying information, it will only be released to ALS members and staff.
When a Lawyer expresses an interest in a submitted case, certain information pertaining to the interested Lawyer is seen by that specific user who submitted the case.
If a user chooses a Lawyer who has expressed an interest in the case, the lawyer may then accept the case and the case is removed from the view of all other Lawyers on ALS.
The name of the user will be released to that Lawyer and the lawyer details to that user.
Information regarding whether a Lawyer-client relationship was formed will be used only for our internal records and statistics. We will not disclose this information to other parties, unless we are required to do so by law.
Except for the information referred to above, user's contact information (i.e. address, telephone, fax, or e-mail) is never revealed to Lawyers or other users.

ALS may also develop business partnerships with other companies, as part of our service to users and professional service providers. These special business partnerships may include acquisitions by or mergers with other companies or special joint ventures that integrate our Web sites and services.

Whenever ALS shares personally identifying information with a partner, we will do so confidentiality and require use restrictions on the information.

Legal Related Disclosure

ALS.com may release account information when we believe, in good faith, that such release is reasonably necessary to comply with law, enforce or apply the terms of any of our user agreements or protect the rights, property or safety of ALS, our users, or others.

Consent and Changes to This Policy

By using the ALS Web site, you consent to the collection and use of this information by ALS. If ALS changes its privacy policy, ALS will post those changes on this page so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.

3. Lawyers Payment and Related Provisions

ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES is a delivery orientated legal matching service that sources appropriate legal services to the public at large.

Subject to need, availability and receipt of payment, requests for listing and membership will be processed and accepted within 5 business days by way of electronic acceptance and confirmation.

The provision of membership services by ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES is subject to acceptance of the lawyer request by ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES.

The initial registration of a lawyer is on a free trial basis and without any commitment to take up subsequent membership with ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES.

Cancellation by a lawyer of subscription and payment for membership will under no circumstances entail any entitlement by the lawyer to any refund of the application fee so paid by the lawyer.

ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES shall take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information of lawyers and users. For the purpose of this clause, "personal information" shall be defined as detailed in the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA). The PAIA may be downloaded from: http://www.polity.org.za/attachment.php?aa_id=3569.

Payment may be made via Visa, MasterCard credit cards or by bank transfer into the ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES bank account, the details of which will be provided on request.

Credit card transactions will be acquired for ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES via PayGate (Pty) Ltd who are the approved payment gateway for ABSA South Africa. PayGate uses the strictest form of encryption, namely Secure Socket Layer 3 (SSL3) and no credit card details are stored on the website. Lawyers may go to www.paygate.co.za to view their security certificate and security policy.

Lawyer details will be stored by ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES separately from card details which are entered by the lawyer on PayGate’s secure site. For more detail on PayGate refer to www.paygate.co.za

The merchant outlet country at the time of presenting payment options to the cardholder is South Africa. Transaction Currency is South African Rand (ZAR).

ASSOCIATED LAW SERVICES takes responsibility for all aspects relating to the payment transaction and registration of the lawyers’ membership on this website. It does not however take responsibility for the lawyer service and support, dispute resolution and delivery of any legal services.

All the foregoing provisions relating to Users apply equally to Subscribing Lawyers and acceptance of these terms and conditions is an acceptance of this. Furthermore ALS engages lawyers in good faith and in the interests of the general public and accordingly Subscribing Lawyers are strictly forbidden from any acts which are, or are, seen by ALS to be in competition with ALS, which diminish the good name of ALS, which defeat the purpose and goals of ALS or which, in the sole and unfettered discretion of ALS, are detrimental to ALS or in any manner detrimental to other subscribing ALS Lawyers.

All Subscribing ALS lawyers understand and accept that this service was designed and developed for the greater good of the general public who are seeking to find the most suitably qualified lawyer in their area at an affordable cost. The ALS service is totally automated in giving the user such a choice of lawyers, based on location, practice speciality and fee structure.

ALS will not, under any circumstances, allow any manipulation of this automated process and ALS accordingly places absolute reliance on subscribing lawyers adhering to the following principles at all times:

1. Only select your fields of practice in which you personally practice law.
2. Only select fields of law in which you are competent.
3. The accepting lawyer or his or her Candidate attorney must personally deal with the user and must personally conduct the user’s case.
4. No cases accepted on ALS by a lawyer may be passed on to an associate, professional assistant, staff member, colleague or partner whether for reward or not.
5. ALS is a practitioner specific concept not a law firm concept and accordingly a Law firm will not merely have one lawyer representing a firm in all fields of law.
6. An ALS lawyer may not accept cases with the intent of instructing any other person to conduct the case. It is immaterial whether this is done for reward or not. An ALS Lawyer in this instance accepts that, in these circumstances, a fraud has been perpetrated on both ALS and the user, and that ALS will suffer damage or potential damage as a result of the misrepresentation.

Further access to services denied

ALS reserves the right to immediately terminate membership and deny further access, in its sole, absolute and unfettered discretion, to the ALS service to any registered or subscribing lawyer who:

Violates any of these terms, conditions or rules.
Involves themselves in any manipulation of the ALS system.
is the subject of any complaint(s) by other ALS Lawyers.
engages in any activity intended to injure or harm others ALS lawyers, ALS or any user.
displays or attempts to display any material containing nudity or pornographic material or in any manner displays material that exploits children under 18 years of age
uses the ALS Service for displaying harassing, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar or obscene material or for invading any other person’s privacy or promotes physical harm or injury against any group of persons or individual
provides material that is offensive to the online community or who violates generally accepted Internet standards as are determined by the administrators of the ALS Service
engages in any activity involving blatant expressions of bigotry, prejudice in any form, racism, hatred, or profanity or who defames any person or group of persons for any reason or cause whatsoever
promotes or provides instructional information about any illegal activities or who encourages any illegal activity, including anything to do with drugs, gambling, pornography, prostitution, child pornography, robbery, theft, spreading of computer viruses, hacking into private computer Services, any software infringement, or any other criminal offences
in any manner violates the rights of another user or ALS lawyer, including but not limited to the intellectual property rights of another and those of ALS
interferes, hampers, or disrupts the ALS Service or servers or networks connected to the Service by posting advertisements or links to competing services, by transmitting "junk mail", "spam", "chain letters", or unsolicited mass distribution of e-mail or who in any manner whatsoever compromises the security of the Service ALS provides or attempts to gain access to Service areas private to ALS, or to other Users, or
for any other reason which ALS in its sole and absolute discretion deems sufficient.

In the event that ALS, under any circumstances, terminates membership and denies further access to the ALS service to any Lawyer, such lawyer shall not be entitled to any refund of any subscriptions paid under any circumstances whatsoever. Any refund which may be paid shall be of a gratuitous nature and there shall be no obligation on ALS in this regard and no claim therefore by the Lawyer. Such termination shall be effected by an email advice to such effect, followed by the immediate revoking of that lawyer access rights.

User’s and lawyers are strictly forbidden from any acts which are in competition with ALS, directly or indirectly, which diminish the good name of ALS, which defeat the purpose and goals of ALS or which, in the sole and unfettered discretion of ALS, are detrimental to ALS or its other users or lawyers.

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