User agreement

This agreement governs the administrative and financial terms of any mandate entrusted to Labo Legal, operated by MEKA AVOCAT, a law firm whose place of business is located at 204 Notre-Dame Street West, Suite 300, Montréal, Québec H2Y 1T3. It takes effect upon the purchase of a service and supplements our terms of sale and our terms of use.

1. Object and scope of the mandate

Each service purchased constitutes a mandate of limited scope. The firm undertakes to render only the services described on the page of the service ordered, under the heading "What is included". Any additional service or any step going beyond that scope is the subject of a separate agreement and may give rise to additional fees, which are communicated before being incurred.

The description of the services remains accessible at all times on the site and is confirmed to you by email after purchase. The firm carries out the mandate with diligence and professionalism, in accordance with the ethical obligations applicable to members of the Barreau du Québec.

2. Opening of the file and performance

The turnaround time indicated on the page of the service ordered runs from receipt of the complete file. A file is complete when the firm has the information and documents necessary to carry out the mandate. The information sent through the intake form forms part of the file; its accuracy conditions compliance with the announced turnaround time.

After payment, the firm carries out the conflict of interest check and opens your file. Where additional information or documents are necessary, they are requested from you by email or by any other agreed means. The mandate proceeds as soon as they are received.

Where the service includes a discussion with the lawyer, it is scheduled according to your availability and that of the lawyer, following contact within 24 business hours of the order.

3. Nature of the amounts paid

The total amount paid for a service is divided between the professional fees relating to the legal work, the government fees required by the authorities concerned, where applicable, and the administrative and technological processing fees relating to the opening, management, retention and follow-up of your file.

The applicable breakdown is communicated to you on your invoice. Government fees are billed at cost, without taxes.

4. Deposit in trust

The amounts corresponding to the professional fees are first deposited in the firm's trust account, that is, a separate account kept in accordance with the rules of the Barreau du Québec, and allocated exclusively to your file. They remain there until the corresponding legal work has been performed. The firm then disburses the amounts earned and sends you an invoice or a final receipt.

5. Payment terms

Payment in full is due at the time of the order. The mandate begins after receipt of payment and, where applicable, of the necessary information. In the event that you dispute a payment with your financial institution or with the payment provider, you undertake to inform the firm and to send it the relevant information within five days. If the dispute proves to be unfounded, the firm may claim the amounts owed, including by way of formal notice or judicial proceedings, as well as the reasonable costs incurred for collection. Any unpaid balance bears interest at the annual rate of 12% from the thirtieth day following invoicing.

6. Cancellation of an appointment

Any cancellation or rescheduling of an appointment must be communicated at least 72 hours in advance. Failing that, or in the event of non-attendance at the scheduled appointment, the value of the consultation provided for in the mandate remains due and is non-refundable, as is any cost incurred by the firm at that point.

7. Termination

You may terminate the mandate at any time by written notice. The professional fees corresponding to the work already performed remain due and are disbursed from the trust account; the balance, if any, is remitted to you with a final receipt. Government fees already disbursed and the processing and billing administration fees of $100 are non-refundable.

The firm may also terminate the mandate, in particular in the event of a conflict of interest, failure to cooperate, inaccurate information, failure to pay or loss of the relationship of trust, in accordance with its ethical obligations. The amounts not earned are then remitted to you.

8. Client's obligations

You undertake to provide accurate, complete and current information, to send the required documents within a reasonable time and to inform the firm without delay of any change to your contact details or of any element liable to have a bearing on the mandate. The consequences of erroneous or incomplete information, including correction costs and additional government duties, remain your responsibility.

9. Communications

Exchanges may take place by email, by telephone, by mail or by any other agreed means. You acknowledge that electronic communications may be intercepted, delayed or altered, and you accept this method of communication. If you prefer that certain sensitive information not be transmitted electronically, you need only inform the firm.

10. Role of technology and of the AI assistant

The platform and the AI assistant serve only to make your online experience easier and to guide you to the appropriate service. They render no legal service, have no legal effect and are no substitute for consulting a lawyer. All legal work is performed by the lawyer responsible for your file, a member of the Barreau du Québec.

11. Confidentiality and professional secrecy

The information you entrust to the firm in the course of a mandate is protected by the professional secrecy of the lawyer and processed in accordance with our privacy policy. Exchanges with the AI assistant, before a file is opened, do not benefit from that protection.

12. Conflicts of interest

The firm and the lawyer responsible must avoid placing themselves in a situation of conflict of interest. Such a situation exists where there is a serious risk that the lawyer's personal interest, or his duties towards another client, a former client or a third party, will impair his duties towards you.

13. Retention of files

The firm keeps your file for the periods provided for by the applicable professional obligations, then disposes of it securely. You may request a copy of the documents concerning you, in accordance with the applicable rules.

14. Limitation of liability

To the extent permitted by law and subject to the rules applicable to the legal profession, the firm's liability with respect to a mandate is limited to the amount of the professional fees paid for the service concerned. The firm assumes no responsibility for the processing times of government authorities, for the decisions they render, or for the consequences of inaccurate information provided by the client.

15. Dispute resolution

Any dispute is first the subject of an attempt at amicable settlement. Failing agreement, you are informed that the fees billed may be submitted to the account conciliation and arbitration process of the Barreau du Québec.

16. Coming into force and governing law

This agreement comes into force upon the purchase of a service and remains valid until the mandate has been fully performed or until it is terminated. It is governed by the laws applicable in Québec. Any dispute is submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the judicial district of Montréal.