Code of Conduct & Community Guidelines

Last Updated: January 202610 min read

This Professional Code of Conduct & Community Guidelines (“PCC & CG”) establishes the mandatory ethical, professional, and commercial standards governing all Users registered on Bharat Legal Chambers (the “Platform”). Compliance with this PCC & CG is a condition for continued access to and use of the Platform...

Part A: Professional Code of Conduct (PCC)

The Users acknowledge and agree that compliance with this Professional Code of Conduct (“PCC”) is mandatory as a condition of continued access to and use of the Platform. The PCC is supplementary to and does not override, dilute, or conflict with any of the statutory and professional duties applicable to legal professionals under Indian law...

Section 1: Professional Integrity, BCI Compliance & Non-Solicitation Duty

1.1 Independent Professional Status and Intermediary Framework

User hereby agrees and acknowledges that Bharat Legal Chambers functions strictly as an “Intermediary” as per the Information Technology Act, 2000 and does not operate as a law firm, partnership, legal consultancy, or legal process outsourcing entity...

1.2 Mandatory Professional Verification and Authentic Credentials

Access to core legal-workflow features of the Platform including Workstation, job acceptance, Escrow, and professional networking is conditional upon successful completion of identity and professional verification...

1.2A Mandatory Disclosure of Professional Suspension

If at any time a User’s licence to practice law is suspended, cancelled, restricted, kept in abeyance, or becomes otherwise non-operational due to disciplinary, administrative, regulatory, or judicial action, the User shall have a mandatory duty to immediately disclose such change in status to the Platform...

1.3 Strict Prohibition of Advertisement, Promotion & Solicitation

The Platform is designed exclusively for licensed advocates/legal professionals. In strict conformity with the laws of India, the Platform shall not be used for any form of direct or indirect solicitation of clients or legal work...

1.4 Compliance with Bar Council of India Rules

Every legal professional shall, at all times, comply with the Advocates Act, 1961, the Bar Council of India Rules, and all applicable ethical and professional standards governing advocates...

1.5 Platform Enforcement Rights

If a User engages in solicitation, advertisement, promotional conduct, credential manipulation, or any other activity inconsistent with professional ethics or this Code, Bharat Legal Chambers reserves the right to take corrective action...

1.6 Prohibited Promotional and Solicitation Conduct

Users shall not, under any circumstances, engage in conduct on the Platform that constitutes advertising, solicitation, or promotion of legal services...

  • Making claims guaranteeing case outcomes, promising success, or asserting superiority...
  • Using agents, celebrities, influencers, circulars, paid advertisements...
  • Posting promotional content, discounts, offers, or victory guarantees.
  • Publishing photographs, recordings, or giving media interviews relating to cases...

1.7 Factual Disclosure Exception

User profiles must be modest and restricted to factual, verifiable information, including but not limited to name, contact details, qualifications, enrollment number, and areas of practice...

Section 2: Duty of Confidentiality and Privilege Protection

Users agree and acknowledge that they are individually bound by all applicable laws regarding client confidentiality and attorney-client privilege, including but not limited to Section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872...

Section 3: Data Fiduciary, Security, and Fee Integrity

When managing client data through the CMS or Workstation, the legal professional retains the primary responsibility as the Data Fiduciary. This requires the legal professional to obtain and document informed consent...

Part B: Community Guidelines (CG)

The Community Guidelines (“CG”) govern the conduct of Users on the Platform, ensuring professional, ethical, and respectful interaction while maintaining the integrity and commercial fairness of the digital marketplace...

Section 1: Marketplace Integrity and Anti-Circumvention Policy

A User shall not solicit, offer, accept, negotiate, or perform any legal assignment, brief, appearance, drafting work, consultation, or professional engagement outside the Platform if such work was first posted, published, discovered, assigned, or introduced through Bharat Legal Chambers...

Section 2: Content and Behavioral Standards

2.1 Decorum, Civility, and Professional Conduct

  • Defamation or False Statements: Posting or transmitting false, malicious, exaggerated, misleading, or unverified allegations...
  • Harassment or Abusive Conduct: Using disrespectful, insulting, derogatory, inflammatory, profane, or sexually suggestive language...
  • Threatening Behavior or Intimidation: Any form of threat, coercion, blackmail, manipulation, or aggression...
  • Disruptive or Unprofessional Conduct: Any act that undermines the safety, decorum, or professional atmosphere of the Platform.

2.2 Content Standards for the Public Feed / Forum

  • Service Advertisements or Solicitation for Work (direct or indirect).
  • Promotional or Comparative Claims such as “best lawyer,” “guaranteed win,”...
  • Client-Specific or Case-Specific Information, including names, details, orders...
  • Case-Specific Legal Advice offered to individuals or entities without context.
  • Any content that may contravene the BCI Rules or established professional ethical standards.

Section 3: Integrity of Reviews and Feedback

The Platform does not permit any system of reviews or feedback that evaluates litigation success, comparative superiority, or perceived competence of legal professionals. The following conduct is strictly prohibited: Fake or Coerced Reviews; Retaliatory Feedback; Coordinated Negative Targeting...

Section 4: Enforcement

Violations of the TOS, Professional Code of Conduct, or Community Guidelines may result in one or more of the following, depending on severity: Warning or advisory notice; Temporary suspension of account access; Permanent termination of account; Freezing or forfeiture of Escrow/Wallet balances...

Section 5: Legal Shields

Intermediary Status: The Platform functions solely as an Intermediary and is not the publisher, editor, or controller of User-generated content or professional decisions. Non-Supervision: The Platform does not supervise, evaluate, or guarantee the professional expertise... User Liability and Indemnification: Users act in an entirely independent professional capacity and bear sole responsibility for their conduct...

Part C: Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute, controversy, misunderstanding or claim arising between a User and the Platform under or in connection with these Terms of Service (“TOS”), the parties shall first attempt to resolve the matter through good-faith mutual discussion via virtual meeting(s) within 15 (fifteen) days...


This completes the Professional Code of Conduct & Community Guidelines.