Directadvocate.com FAQ

What Is Directadvocate?

Directadvocate is the first online marketplace for those seeking legal advice to find lawyers all over the world and receive legal advice comparing prices and capabilities online. Who seeking legal advice can post consultations online for being reviewed by lawyers all over the world who bid on the consultation and post details of their proposed legal advice. Users who seek legal advice can post their requests for legal advice for free and eventually choose the preferred lawyer. Take a look at some of the consultations already posted and you'll see just how effective and convenient the Directadvocate consultation bidding process is. Directadvocate also provides facilities for Users who seek legal advice to make payment to their chosen preferred lawyer through the site using a credit card or PayPal, and even has a payment Escrow facility to help ensure you get the service you expect from your consultant.

How Do I Get Started?
Once you have signed up you can create a new consultation by clicking "Post a Consultation". Check your email in a few moments you will receive an email from Directadvocate with your username and password. From here you can select the area of expertise that you require, deciding to be it a Users who seek legal advice or or a lawyer.Then you can publish on the site a request of legal advice for free with the maximum budget that you spend and the maximum time to respond to your request(maximum of 90 days). Optionally you can pay a $15 fee and thereby make your consultation "Featured!", giving your consultation extra exposure so that it gets the most possible bids. If your consultation is Urgent you can pay a $1 fee more and thereby make your consultation "URGENT !"After you have submitted your consultation details a notification email will be sent to hundreds of lawyers worldwide who match the areas of expertise that you selected, notifying them of your consultation. They will then be able to bid on your consultation and post messages on your consultation's "Consultation Message Board".If your consultation receives a bid or someone leaves a message on the consultation message board (PMB) you will be notified immediately by email.

What are the costs to me?
It is completely free to join Directadvocate.

How do I rate another user?
You are able to rate any legal consultant that you have concluded a donsultation with. To do so, log into your account through the 'Manage Account' menu option, following which your account page will contain a list of the members which you may rate. Click on the relevant user's name to reach the rating page, where you may enter a mark out of 10 plus a comment. Please ensure that your ratings are accurate

How do 'Escrow' payments work?
By paying all or part of the agreed fees via an escrow account for the Consultant, the money is held securely and independently by directadvocate until all parties are satisfied that the Consultation has been completed, at which time the Buyer releases the funds. Should any dispute or problem arise, either directadvocate or the Consultant can release the funds back to the Buyer, and in the event of a disagreement directadvocate will mediate. By using escrow, the Consultant knows that funds have been commited for his benefit, but he/she doesn't have access to the money until the completion of the Consultation. So all parties to the agreement can be confident that payment will be made and the Consultation will be completed to everyone's satisfaction. The escrow payment functionality can be accessed via the "Manage My Account" section.

How should I make payment to my chosen a Consultant?
Buyers do also have the option to easily pay their Consultant through the site. Each user on directadvocate maintains a running balance of funds which can be added to using either a Credit card or a PayPal account. Funds may then be transfered either directly to the account of the chosen Consultant, or via an escrow account which holds the funds securely whilst the Consultation is completed to both parties satisfaction.

What if my chosen consultant does not complete the Consultation to my satisfaction?
As in any cases when you enter a new contractual relationship with a lawyer, you can never be sure that the service you will receive is exactly what your looking for. We therefore encourage you to the check the Consultant ratings and references available at directadvocate Security. However should your chosen Consultant not live up to expectations, please remember that directadvocate Security is not a party to the contract reached and only acts as a facilitator. Any action to enforce your contractual rights should be with the Consultant directly. For further information please refer to the Terms and Conditions.

Are all Directadvocate Legal Consultants licensed to conduct my Consultation?
Directadvocate Security cannot check the licensing requirements for all types of legal consultations and therefore makes no assertions as to the licensing status of any member. We request that all Buyers check for the identity details of the winning bidder as well as the appropriate licensing for their Consultation and the location of work and only proceed with a Consultation once they are satisfied that the work required is covered by necessary licenses or registrations. Note that registraton requirements vary considerably between countries and even between different states, and that a license is not always required depending on the type of service being provided.

Can't I contact the Consultant directly?
Once bidding has been concluded and you have chosen a Consultant and he/she has accepted the Consultation, you will be put in touch with your Consultant directly by us. During the bidding, you may use the message board and private messaging functions on the site to discuss the Consultation and provide any further details or clarification that is required. Any attempts to bypass this and allow contact with the Consultant directly by posting phone numbers, web site addresses or other contact information may result in the suspension of your account. Please help support the concept behind directadvocate Security to ensure it remains a worthwhile and productive venture for all involved by respecting the Terms and Conditions.

When posting a Consultation, how much detail should I provide?
We encourage you to post as much detail on your proposed Consultation as you can, to ensure that the full scope and detail of the Consultation is understood by both parties. Details can be entered directly into directadvocate Security when entering the Consultation, or by attaching a file, such as a Word document, to the Consultation for potential bidders to download. However please do not post any personal information in the Consultation description as such will be public to other users and search engines. Keep personal information for your selected consultant only.

Payments FAQ

When you have to pay a provider your best choice is to take advantage of our safe Escrow payment system which protects both buyers and provider and is FREE of charge. To send a payment, all you have to do is log in, click on the Escrow payment link (in the payments area, near the Balance), enter the provider's username and the amount you wish to put in the Escrow account. Once the Consultation is completed to your full satisfaction you can release the funds by going to the 'Payment Transaction' area and cliking on the 'Finish Payment' link in the 'Outgoing Escrow Payments' table.

Should I deposit money if I have none in my wallet ?
Money should be deposited as soon as possible in order to start working with Directadvocate. You cannot post a Consultation if your account is zero or under 5$. For your and our security, directadvocate doesn't accept balances below 0$ (debts). If you need to make a payment through directadvocate you must deposit enough money in your wallet first.

How do I add money to my account?
To add money, log in, click on 'Payment Transactions' and then 'Deposit Money'. You can deposit money from Paypal. You can also use your credit card through Paypal.

Can I withdraw money from my account?
Yes, money can be withdrawn whenever you want as long as you are logged in. Click on 'Payment Transactions' and then 'Withdraw Money' to withdraw money from your PayPal account. You must withdraw a minimum amount of 10$ for each withdrawal. All withdrawals are processed manually in 2 to 3 days from day of request for Paypal, and 4 to 7 days for Moneybookers.

Can money be transferred between users not involved in any Consultation or to another one of my accounts?
No. Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for a Consultation once it is completed.

Is any fee applied for transferring money to another directadvocate account?
No, there is no transfer fee when sending payment to another directadvocate account.

Buyers - Consultations FAQ

How do I open a new Consultation?
Click on the 'Post Consultation' link on the header to land on the New Consultation page. Select up to three job types and then give a description of the Consultation. You may attach a file if you want (2,5 mb max uploading). Fill in the rest of the fields and then click on 'Submit Consultation'.

How do I close, cancel or extend my Consultation?
Log in to your account, click on the 'Buyer Activity' link and choose the applicable option. A menu will be displayed for you to make changes or close a Consultation by selecting a provider. You are also given the possibility to extend your Consultation duration up to 7 days more.

Why must I fill the 'Days open for bidding' field in?
Providers need to know how much time is available for bidding before Consultation ends. This gives everyone a guideline to work within. However, you can extend the bidding time of your Consultation any time.

What is a budget range?
The budget range is an approximate estimate of how much you are willing to pay for a specific Consultation. You definite your budget range by choosing a minimum and a maximum spending limits. This is necessary because it helps providers deciding on how much to bid.

Can I re-open a closed Consultation ?
No. You need to post a new Consultation.

What does it mean that a Consultation is frozen?
A Consultation is frozen when the bidding period expires. When the Consultation is frozen, it's your time to either select a provider or extend the bidding time. Consultation will continue to be frozen until the selected provider accepts (or rejects) your Consultation.

Lawyers FAQ

How does directadvocate work for Lawyers?
Lawyers can view posted Consultations and choose which one(s) to bid on according to their qualifications. A Lawyers can also give buyers information about the type of work he can do. When the bidding period ends the buyer selects the winning Lawyers, who can begin to work, complete the job, and get paid!

What benefit do I get from using directadvocate?
Finding clients can sometimes be difficult, especially if you are just starting out or in traditionally slow times of the year. directadvocate is advertised all over the Internet, attracting many potential clients who may require your services. You have nothing to lose and and everything to gain by joining directadvocate.

What are the Lawyers Profiles and the Sample Portfolio Area?
The Lawyers Profile and the Sample Portfolio are two free services directadvocate offers you after registering. You can use them to publish a presentation of you

How much does it cost to join directadvocate ?
Signing up is free. You will only be charged a small commission for every Consultation that you win. We only charge a small commission on closed regular Consultations: 7% or $20 (whichever is greater).You don't have to pay commissions on featured Consultations. VIP Members don't pay any commissions on any Consultations.

How much does it cost to become a VIP Provider?
VIP Providers pay a $ 15 monthly fee. Upgrading to VIP membership gets you some exclusive benefits:
- No commission charged for winning Consultations: a VIP provider saves money!
- More Exposure: as a VIP Provider your bids will be displayed on top of the Consultations' bid list.
This way, buyers immediately see your bid. Your bid will also be highlighted in a special color and a VIP symbol will be displayed next to your nickname.

How can I communicate with a buyer?
You can send the buyer a private message. Privates messages are meant to be read only by the buyer and you.

How can I stop receiving e-mail notifications of new Consultations?
Log in to your account and click on the 'Edit Account Info' link. If the e-mail notification box is ticked off, uncheck it to stop receiving e-mail notifications.

Can I be refunded the Consultation fee if the Consultation fails?
Directadvocate is only in charge for getting you in touch with buyers from all over the world. It is not responsible for any Consultation failure.

What is a private message and how can I send one?
Private messages are a direct line between a buyer and a provider to discuss the details of a Consultation. Private messages cannot be seen by other providers. You can send a private message by clicking on 'Private message to (buyer username)' on the Consultation page.

Can I change my account password?
Yes, you can change your password at any time. Log in to your account and go to the 'Modify Login Info': you will be given the option to change your password immediately.

Lawyers - Receiving Payment FAQ

How does the Escrow system for payments work?
The Escrow system is a great way to ensure safe payments for the work you provide a buyer with.

How much is the commission for each Consultation?
The commission is 7% of the bid amount. VIP Providers pay no commissions.

Should I have money in my account?
Once you have been selected as the winning provider of a Consultation by the buyer, you will need to have money in your account to pay the commission.

How can I add money to my account?
Go to the 'My Account' area, click on the 'Payment Transactions' link where you will be given the option of depositing money. Money can be deposited via Credit Card, PayPal and MoneyBookers.

Can I withdraw money from my account?
Of course. In the 'My Account' area, click on the 'withdraw money' link in the "Payment Transactions" section and money will be deposited into your PayPal account. Please note you cannot withdraw less than $10 at a time.

Can money be transferred between users not involved in any Consultation or to another one of my accounts?
No. Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for a Consultation once it is completed.

If I don't invoice the buyer for the total bid amount, can I receive a partial refund of the commission charge?
No. directadvocate stores a Consultation as soon as it is closed by the buyer, therefore you will be charged according to the bid amount.

When do you collect the Consultation fee?
Consultation fees are automatically taken from your account, however taking such fees must not result in a negative balance, so you should make sure you have enough money in your account wallet or deposit some in advance if you don't. You can not have a negative balance (below zero).You can not obtain contact information about the selected provider and you can not start working with him until your fee is paid.

Lawyers - Bidding on Consultations FAQ

How do I place a bid on a Consultation?
Click the 'Place Bid' link on the Consultation page. You will be redirected to the bid page, where you can enter the bid amount, provide an estimated time for the Consultation completion and add details of your bid (optional). When placing a bid, you can choose to be notified via e-mail when lower bids are placed on the same Consultation by checking the corresponding box. All bids are reviewed manually, they will appear to be delayed as it takes time to do this review. The reviewing staff will check for contact information, any information of this kind will be edited out.

Can I change a bid I have already placed on a Consultation?
Yes, you can change your bid by clicking the place bid button again. The buyer will see your latest bid.

Can I cancel a bid I have already placed?
Yes, you can cancel your bid by going to the 'My Account' area, clicking the 'provider activity' link and then the 'Retract your bid' button.

Can I ask a question about a posted Consultation?
If you need to ask a buyer a question to get any details about the Consultation, you can post a message either on the public or the private message board. You can access these boards by clicking on one of the corresponding text links on the Consultation page.

Can I estimate the cost of a Consultation when bidding?
You shouldn't estimate the cost of a Consultation and post it as a bid.You could end up bidding yourself too high, or on the other end, you could put in a lot of work and not be receiving adequate compensation. When you place a bid, you enter into a legal binding contract and you would be required to perform the work for the amount you have bid. If you require more information to make an accurate bid, you can use the public and private message boards.