1. Service Fee

A flat service fee of $50.00 is automatically deducted from every fee offered for an appearance. The fee offered to a covering attorney reflects the posting attorney's budget minus the $50 service fee. The posting attorney is charged the full offered amount at checkout; the $50 service fee is retained by Appearance Partners and the remaining balance is paid to the covering attorney.

2. Cancellation Policy

If an appearance is cancelled, the amount due to the appearing (covering) attorney is determined by how close the cancellation is to the scheduled appearance time:

• More than 48 hours before:No charge. The posting attorney receives a full refund of any amount paid.
• Less than 48 hours before:50% of the coverage fee is due to the appearing attorney.
• Within 24 hours of the appearance:The full coverage fee is due to the appearing attorney.

The $50 service fee is non-refundable once a covering attorney has accepted an appearance, except as provided in the Liability section below.

3. Liability and Non-Appearance

Appearance Partners acts solely as a marketplace connecting attorneys. The only liability Appearance Partners assumes in connection with any appearance is the $50 service fee it collects. Appearance Partners is not liable for the conduct, negligence, or non-performance of any attorney.

If the appearing (covering) attorney fails to appear, Appearance Partners will refund the $50 service fee to the posting attorney and will not release any payment to the appearing attorney.

Payment to the appearing attorney is initiated only after the appearing attorney uploads the results of the appearance (for example, a courtesy notice, court order, or attendance confirmation). Until results are uploaded, no payment is released to the appearing attorney.

4. Payments

All payments are processed through Appearance Partners's secure checkout. The posting attorney pays the coverage fee plus the $50 service fee. Funds are released to the covering attorney only after the covering attorney uploads the results of the appearance.

5. Attorney Responsibilities

Covering attorneys must be registered bar members in good standing and are responsible for appearing at the scheduled time and place. Posting attorneys must provide accurate case details, court information, and instructions.

6. No Circumvention of the Platform

By using Appearance Partners, both the posting attorney and the covering attorney agree not to arrange, negotiate, or complete any appearance coverage directly with one another outside of this network in order to bypass the platform or avoid the service fee. This restriction does not prohibit either party from using other similar platforms that connect attorneys for appearance coverage. Any arrangement made outside Appearance Partners to circumvent these Terms may result in suspension or termination of the user's account.

7. Contact

Questions about these terms can be directed to info@alginnovationgroup.com.