Terms of Engagement

01About These Terms & Regulatory Status

If we provide a written Scope of Work or Proposal, it forms part of the agreement and prevails over these Terms where inconsistent. Legal Lens is the trading name of John Barwell, operating as a sole trader in England and Wales. Our office is at 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX.

No Legal Professional Privilege

Communications with us are not protected by legal professional privilege in the same way as communications with a solicitor or barrister. You should assume our communications and drafts may be disclosable in proceedings.

Redress and Oversight

We are not within the Legal Ombudsman scheme: Legal Lens is a sole trader and is not regulated by the SRA, so the Legal Ombudsman will generally be unable to investigate complaints about Legal Lens. Complaints are handled under these Terms and any dispute is governed by contract and consumer law. You retain all rights under consumer protection legislation.

02Scope of Services

Our Services are limited to non-reserved support. We may provide general legal information (for example, what a rule says or what a process typically involves). We do not provide advice on merits, prospects, remedies or what you should do.

Documentary Support

Structure, clarity, formatting, organisation, chronologies and indexes

Procedural Information

Information about tribunal processes, timelines and requirements

Evidence Organisation

Gap and inconsistency analysis of documentary evidence

Case Presentation Planning

Development of presentation strategies and structure

Regulatory Research

Summarisation of applicable rules, codes and procedural requirements

Protected Disclosure Information

Process information on whistleblowing frameworks

Explicit Exclusions

We explicitly do not:

• Represent you, act as your legal representative, appear as an advocate, or exercise rights of audience
• Conduct litigation or take any step that may amount to the conduct of litigation
• Issue, file, lodge, serve, or submit documents to a court or tribunal on your behalf; accept service; or correspond with a court or tribunal as your representative
• Sign statements of truth or verify documents on your behalf
• Advise on limitation, jurisdiction, prospects, remedies, settlement terms/undertakings, or costs exposure (we may flag that these issues exist and should be taken to a regulated adviser)
• Provide immigration advice/services, regulated claims management activity, or any service requiring FCA or OISC authorisation

03Your Responsibilities

As our client, you agree to:

• Information Accuracy: Provide complete and accurate information and documents promptly
• Review Outputs: Review all outputs for factual accuracy before use
• Deadlines and Filings: You are solely responsible for time limits, filing, service, and compliance
• Deadline Verification: If you ask us to work to a deadline, you must provide the deadline in writing and independently verify it using official sources or regulated advice

Accepting Instructions

We accept instructions only when confirmed in writing. We may refuse or discontinue instructions where:

• The matter falls outside our consultancy scope
• A conflict of interest exists or may arise
• There is a risk the work may constitute reserved legal activity
• You request services we cannot lawfully provide
• Payment terms are not met or necessary information is not provided

04Fees & Payment

Fees are as agreed in writing. Current pricing:

Hourly Rate

£60–£75

Initial Consultation

Free (60 min)

Document Review

£50 per bundle

Urgent Work Premium

+50%

Fixed fees may be agreed for defined scope work. Bundle definition to be agreed in advance.

Payment Terms

• Advance Payment: We may require advance payment or retainer before commencement of work
• Invoicing: Invoices are payable within 14 days unless agreed otherwise
• Late Payment: Interest at 8% above Bank of England base rate (calculated daily) on overdue amounts

05Consumer Rights & Cancellation

If you are a consumer, you have statutory rights. Nothing in these Terms limits rights that cannot lawfully be limited, including the requirement to perform services with reasonable care and skill. Where a statutory remedy applies, it may include repeat performance and/or price reduction depending on circumstances.

Cancellation Rights (Distance/Off-Premises Contracts)

If you are a consumer and the contract is concluded at a distance or off-premises:

• 14-Day Right: You may have a 14-day right to cancel starting the day after the contract is made
• Work During Cancellation Period: If you ask us to start work during the cancellation period, you may be liable for a proportionate amount for work completed up to cancellation, provided required information was given and you made an express request
• Cancellation Information: We will provide cancellation information and (where appropriate) a cancellation form at onboarding

06Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability where unlawful to do so. Subject to this:

• Maximum Liability: Total liability is capped at £500,000 per claim or series of related claims
• Excluded Losses: No liability for indirect or consequential loss
• Time Limitation: Claims must be commenced within 12 months of the date you became aware (or ought reasonably to have become aware) of the relevant facts
• Contributory Factors: Liability may be reduced to the extent your acts or omissions contributed, including failure to verify deadlines or provide accurate information

Professional Indemnity Insurance

John Barwell, trading as Legal Lens, holds professional indemnity insurance with Markel International Insurance Company Limited providing coverage of £500,000 per claim.

Policy: CE32941

Cyber & data risks cover of £100,000 in total per period of insurance is maintained (subject to policy terms). If cover changes, we will update these Terms and disclose the position before new instructions are accepted.

07Confidentiality & Data Protection

We keep your information confidential, subject to:

• Legal Obligations: Disclosure required by law or court order
• Professional Advisers: Disclosure to insurers or professional advisers as reasonably necessary
• Your Consent: Where you explicitly authorise disclosure

You must not share our templates, methods, or proprietary materials without written permission.

Data Protection

Legal Lens is the data controller for personal data processed for the Services. We process data for:

• Contract performance and pre-contract steps
• Legitimate interests (service delivery, quality, fraud prevention)
• Legal obligations where applicable
• The establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims

We do not rely on legal professional privilege exemptions in respect of our communications. We will provide or reference a Privacy Policy explaining processing, recipients, retention, and your rights.

Retention: 7 years after matter conclusion for insurance and record-keeping unless otherwise required or justified.

ICO Registration: ZB903494

08Intellectual Property & Complaints

Our materials remain our intellectual property. You receive a limited licence to use them solely for your matter and must not share or repurpose them without consent.

Complaints and ADR

We aim to provide a careful, transparent and professional service. If you are dissatisfied with our service, communications, fees or any other aspect of your engagement with Legal Lens, please email complaints@legallens.org.uk and mark your message “Formal complaint”.

Please explain what happened, the outcome you are seeking and any relevant dates or documents.

We will:

• acknowledge your complaint within two working days;
• investigate it fairly and review the relevant records;
• provide a final written response within 14 calendar days; and
• if the matter is unusually complex, explain the reason for any delay and provide a final response no later than 28 calendar days after receiving the complaint.

Our final response will explain our findings, any proposed remedy and whether any external dispute-resolution arrangement is available.

Legal Lens is a sole trader and is not regulated by the SRA. The Legal Ombudsman will therefore generally be unable to investigate complaints about Legal Lens. If we cannot resolve a consumer-contract complaint, we will explain any alternative dispute-resolution arrangement that applies or that we are prepared to use.

You may obtain independent information about consumer rights from Citizens Advice or seek advice from another suitably qualified adviser. Nothing in this procedure limits statutory rights or legal remedies.

Data-protection concerns may be sent to privacy@legallens.org.uk. Complaints received through another Legal Lens address will be routed to the appropriate process.

09Termination & General Terms

Either party may terminate on 7 days’ written notice. Immediate termination may occur for breach, non-payment, abusive conduct, or unlawful/prohibited requests. Upon termination:

• All outstanding fees become immediately payable
• Confidentiality and intellectual property obligations continue

General Terms

• Entire Agreement: These Terms (together with any Scope of Work) constitute the complete agreement between us
• Variations: Any changes must be agreed in writing
• Severability: Invalid provisions will be severed without affecting remaining terms
• Governing Law: English law governs these Terms
• Jurisdiction: Exclusive jurisdiction of courts of England and Wales
• Force Majeure: Neither party liable for failures due to circumstances beyond reasonable control

10Acceptance of Terms

By instructing Legal Lens, you confirm that you:

• Have read and understood these Terms
• Accept our unregulated status and that we are not solicitors or legal advisers
• Understand that communications with us are not covered by legal professional privilege
• Accept the scope exclusions and that we do not conduct reserved legal activities
• Accept responsibility for all decisions, deadlines and filings relating to your matter
• Agree to be bound by these Terms of Engagement