Lawyer pays website to get clients, held guilty of misconduct

A lawyer, who had paid a website to find clients for him, has been held guilty of professional misconduct by a consumer forum which also asked the Bar Council of Delhi to ban such Internet sites.
The North District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum said the website, which claims to connect buyers with sellers as well as provide comprehensive updated information on products and services for a fee, acted as a "tout" and refused to provide any relief to the advocate who had sought refund of money paid to the website for allegedly failing to follow through on its assurance to provide him clients.

A bench presided by Babu Lal observed that under the 'Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette' framed by the Bar Council of Delhi, an advocate is under an obligation not to solicit work or advertise, either directly or indirectly, whether by circulars, advertisements, or through touts.
"For all practical purposes, the opposite party has acted as a tout...As by its own admission, it (the website) has referred clients against monetary consideration of Rs 15,000 for period of contract with the advocate.
"The complainant himself is guilty of committing professional misconduct by resorting to availing services of a tout providing references of cases to him against financial consideration. Such contract being contract against public policy cannot be enforced by the forum nor the complaint can be entertained," the forum said.