US-Specific Terms & External Services Agreement

These terms apply specifically to users accessing CounselCrest® services from the United States and govern your use of external service integrations, regional features, and third-party data sources. CounselCrest® is a brand of LawyerDesk Advocacy Pvt Ltd (India).

1. External Service Integrations

1.1 CourtListener API Integration

CounselCrest® integrates with CourtListener API (operated by the Free Law Project) to provide legal precedent research capabilities. CourtListener provides access to millions of federal and state court opinions. By using precedent research features, you acknowledge and agree that:

• CourtListener's terms supersede CounselCrest's terms when accessing legal precedents and case law data
• You are bound by CourtListener's Terms of Service and API Usage Guidelines
• CourtListener's data usage policies apply to all precedent information accessed through our platform
• CourtListener provides data "as is" and "as available" without warranties of accuracy or completeness
• You may not engage in bulk downloading, scraping, or systematic data mining from CourtListener through our platform
• Rate limiting and usage restrictions apply as defined by CourtListener's API guidelines
• Database copyrights and attribution requirements must be respected as per CourtListener's terms

1.2 Google Search API Integration

CounselCrest® uses Google Search API for enhanced research capabilities. When using search-related features:

• Google's terms of service and privacy policies apply to search-related activities
• Search results are provided by Google and may be subject to Google's content policies
• CounselCrest® does not control or guarantee the accuracy of Google search results
• Your search queries may be subject to Google's data collection and usage policies
• Commercial use restrictions may apply to certain search results
• Rate limiting and usage quotas are enforced by Google's API policies

1.3 SOC 2 Compliant Infrastructure

CounselCrest® utilizes SOC 2 compliant Google Cloud Platform services for data processing and storage. This ensures:

• Google Cloud Platform's security controls and compliance frameworks apply to your data
• Data residency within SOC 2 compliant data centers
• Adherence to Google's security and privacy standards
• Regular security audits and compliance monitoring
• Data encryption in transit and at rest

1.4 Perplexity AI Integration

CounselCrest® may integrate with Perplexity AI for enhanced research and analytical capabilities. When using these features:

• Perplexity's terms of service and privacy policies apply to research activities
• Research queries may be subject to Perplexity's data processing policies
• CounselCrest® does not control the accuracy or completeness of Perplexity's responses
• Commercial use restrictions may apply to certain research results
• Rate limiting and usage quotas are enforced by Perplexity's API policies

1.5 Data Privacy and Redaction Practices

Before sending any requests to external services, CounselCrest® implements comprehensive data protection measures:

• Automatic Redaction: Personal identifiers, case-specific details, and confidential information are automatically redacted before external API calls
• Anonymization: Client names, case numbers, and sensitive legal details are anonymized or removed
• Query Sanitization: Search queries are processed to remove attorney-client privileged information
• Selective Data Sharing: Only non-confidential, generalized legal concepts are shared with external services
• Encryption in Transit: All external API communications are encrypted using industry-standard protocols
• No Persistent Storage: External services are not permitted to store or retain your data beyond immediate processing
• Error Tracking Anonymization: All application errors, performance metrics, and system diagnostics are automatically anonymized before being sent to monitoring services (Sentry/GlitchTip). No personal information, case details, or attorney-client privileged communications are included in error reports

1.6 Additional External Services

CounselCrest® may integrate with additional external services to enhance functionality, including but not limited to:

• AI Research Services: OpenAI, Anthropic, Claude, and other AI platforms for legal analysis
• Legal Databases: Westlaw, LexisNexis, and other legal research platforms
• Document Processing: OCR and document analysis services
• Translation Services: Google Translate, Microsoft Translator for multi-language support
• Cloud Infrastructure: AWS, Azure, and other cloud service providers

When such integrations occur:

• You will be notified of new external service integrations through platform updates
• Additional terms may apply for specific service integrations
• External service terms may supersede CounselCrest® terms in specific areas
• Data redaction and privacy protections apply to all external service interactions
• You may have the option to opt-out of specific external service integrations where technically feasible

2. Regional Feature Limitations

2.1 Unavailable Modules in US

The following CounselCrest® modules are currently unavailable for US users due to regulatory, licensing, or operational considerations:

• Case Tracking Module: Not available for US jurisdictions
• Legal Opinion Module: Not available for US jurisdictions
• Additional modules may be restricted based on evolving regulatory requirements

2.2 Jurisdictional Compliance

CounselCrest® adapts its services to comply with various US jurisdictional requirements:

• State-specific legal practice regulations
• Federal compliance requirements
• Professional responsibility obligations
• Data privacy and security standards

2.3 International Data Transfers

As a service operated by LawyerDesk Advocacy Pvt Ltd (India), certain data processing may occur internationally:

• Data Localization: US user data is processed in accordance with applicable US data protection laws
• Cross-Border Transfers: Any international data transfers comply with US privacy regulations and international frameworks
• Encryption Standards: All data transfers between jurisdictions use enterprise-grade encryption
• Data Retention: Client data is retained only as long as necessary for service provision or as required by law
• Right to Data Deletion: Users may request deletion of their data subject to legal and operational requirements

3. Third-Party Data Sources

3.1 Legal Database Access

CounselCrest® accesses various legal databases and repositories on your behalf:

• Federal and state court databases
• Legal precedent repositories
• Legislative and regulatory databases
• Professional legal publications

3.2 Data Accuracy and Reliability

While CounselCrest® strives to provide accurate information:

• Third-party data sources may contain errors or omissions
• Information may not be current or up-to-date
• Professional verification is recommended for critical legal matters
• CounselCrest® is not responsible for third-party data accuracy

4. Professional Responsibility & Data Handling

4.1 Attorney-Client Privilege Protection

LawyerDesk Advocacy Pvt Ltd implements stringent measures to protect attorney-client privilege:

• Privilege Preservation: Attorney-client privilege considerations are paramount in all system design and external integrations
• Confidentiality Safeguards: All client data is treated as confidential and protected according to legal professional standards
• External Service Isolation: Privileged communications are never shared with external services without explicit redaction
• User Responsibility: Users must exercise professional judgment regarding the sensitivity of information entered into the platform
• Audit Trails: Complete logs of data processing and external service interactions for professional accountability

4.2 Compliance with Legal Ethics

Users must ensure compliance with:

• State bar association rules and regulations
• Professional conduct standards
• Confidentiality requirements
• Conflict of interest obligations

5. Service Availability

5.1 External Service Dependencies

CounselCrest®'s functionality depends on various third-party services. We cannot guarantee:

• Continuous availability of external services
• Consistent performance of integrated APIs
• Maintenance of external service terms
• Preservation of external service functionality

5.2 Service Interruptions

External service interruptions may affect:

• Legal precedent research capabilities
• Search functionality
• Data synchronization features
• Real-time legal information updates

6. Liability Limitations

6.1 External Service Liability

CounselCrest®'s liability is limited regarding:

• Third-party service interruptions or data inaccuracies
• Unavailability of regional modules or features
• Compliance with third-party terms beyond our control
• Changes in external service availability or terms

6.2 Professional Liability

Users remain responsible for:

• Professional judgment in using platform information
• Verification of critical legal information
• Compliance with professional responsibility obligations
• Appropriate use of external service integrations

7. Security Incidents and Emergency Procedures

7.1 Data Breach Response

In the event of a security incident affecting US user data:

• Immediate Containment: LawyerDesk Advocacy Pvt Ltd will immediately contain and investigate any security incidents
• User Notification: Affected users will be notified within 72 hours of incident discovery
• Regulatory Compliance: All required notifications to US authorities will be made in accordance with applicable laws
• External Service Coordination: If incidents involve external services, we will coordinate response efforts with affected providers
• Forensic Analysis: Complete investigation and documentation of security incidents for compliance purposes

7.2 Service Continuity

To ensure continuous service availability despite external service dependencies:

• Backup Systems: Alternative systems are maintained for critical functions
• Data Recovery: Regular backups ensure data can be recovered in case of service interruptions
• Emergency Protocols: Documented procedures for handling external service outages
• Client Communication: Proactive notification of any service disruptions affecting US operations

8. Updates and Modifications

8.1 External Service Changes

When external services modify their terms or capabilities:

• CounselCrest® will notify users of material changes
• Updated terms will be reflected in this document
• Users will be provided reasonable notice of changes
• Continued use constitutes acceptance of updated terms

8.2 Regional Feature Updates

Regional availability may change based on:

• Regulatory developments
• Licensing requirements
• Operational considerations
• Market conditions

9. Contact Information

For questions about these US-specific terms or external service integrations, please contact our legal team at:

• Email: {COMPANY_CONFIG.contact.legal.email}
• Phone: 1-800-COUNSEL (1-800-268-6735)
• Mail: CounselCrest® Legal Department, LawyerDesk Advocacy Pvt Ltd, [Address], India

For technical issues related to external service integrations, contact our support team at {COMPANY_CONFIG.contact.support.email}.