Justice Connect Answers Secondee Lawyer Agreement (Lawyer User Agreement) 

Thank you for participating in Justice Connect Answers (JCA). JCA is an online legal clinic through which eligible clients post discrete legal questions to a question board and participating pro bono lawyers from Justice Connect's member firms select and answer questions.

Lawyers who participate in JCA are secondees (Secondee/s) of Justice Connect. This agreement sets out the terms of that secondment.

Secondment Terms

1.      Your secondment is subject to your firm's continued involvement in JCA and your desire to remain  a participant.
   
   
2.      Before answering a question on JCA you undertake that:

   2.1.      you are authorised to give legal advice, including holding all necessary professional qualifications and a current practicing certificate;

   2.2.      you will select questions to answer from the JCA platform in circumstances where you have sufficient capacity to assist within the required timeframe (up to five days from the date the question is assigned to your personal queue) and knowledge of the area of law;

   2.3.      if you are a law graduate, you have adequate supervision before answering a question on JCA;

   2.4.      you have reviewed all training materials and attended all mandatory training sessions that are required by Justice Connect;

   2.5.      you have reviewed and understand JCA policies and procedures including the Justice Connect Client Conflict of Interest Policy; and

   2.6.      if you become aware of a claim or potential claim arising in respect of JCA, you will alert Justice Connect personnel as soon as possible. 

3.     You agree that you will not act on a JCA question or other Justice Connect matter if you have a  conflict of interest.

4.      You remain an employee of your firm throughout the secondment. You continue to be paid and to accrue all employment benefits subject to your contract of employment with your firm. 

5.      You are on secondment to Justice Connect when accessing the JCA platform and working on JCA questions (Relevant Time). 

6.      During the Relevant Time you acknowledge that you must:

    6.1.     identify yourself as a "Justice Connect secondee lawyer" in all JCA correspondence (alternatively you may refer to yourself on a first name basis).

    6.2.     draft all advice in plain English and ensure the advice is sufficiently detailed.

    6.3.     advise the client of the existence of any limitation period(s) and when the limitation period expires.

    6.4.     ensure your advice is drafted in accordance with the jurisdiction in which the legal problem is located, and in which you practice, or have expertise. 

7.     During the Relevant Time Justice Connect acknowledges that:

    7.1.     You are covered by Justice Connect's professional indemnity insurance (PII Policy) (excluding workers compensation and public liability insurance that is provided as part of your employment with your firm); and

    7.2.     Your firm is indemnified by Justice Connect during the Relevant Time except for any loss or claim resulting from dishonest, fraudulent, malicious, or illegal acts or omissions. 

8.      A lawyer/client relationship between a Secondee and the client is limited to providing an answer to the client's question. The lawyer/client relationship ends after the Secondee has completed their response to the client via the JCA platform.

9.      At no time are you permitted to engage in any additional representation of the help-seeker outside the JCA platform. You acknowledge that you will not:

    9.1.     make calls, or attend meetings, on behalf of clients;

    9.2.     go to court for clients;

    9.3.     write letters for clients;

    9.4.     sign or file documents for clients; or

    9.5.     do any other work for clients outside the JCA platform. 

10.       You may provide guidance to clients on language to include in correspondence (for example, you may include a template letter within the body of your answer that can be adapted for use by the client).

11.     You should notify Justice Connect personnel via the JCA platform if you believe that a client requires alternative assistance (such as urgent or more intensive help). 

12.     If you have any concerns or wish to lodge a complaint in relation to your secondment with Justice Connect or participation in JCA, you should raise this with your firm's pro bono coordinator or, if that is not appropriate, with Justice Connect personnel. 

Privacy Policy and Confidentiality Statement

13.     Information posted on the JCA website is subject to Justice Connect's Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.

14.     Client legal questions and responses must be maintained in accordance with Justice Connect's legal obligations. JCA responses may be accessed by Justice Connect personnel. 

15.     Your personal information is only accessible by Justice Connect personnel. 

Please click "I Agree" below to confirm your acceptance of this agreement

Thankyou for participating in JCA.