Last Updated: January 1, 2026
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Welcome to Counsl.ai. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our legal services marketplace platform.
Counsl.ai connects individuals seeking legal assistance with licensed family law attorneys in California. Our Platform facilitates attorney-client matching, consultation scheduling, secure messaging, and payment processing.
By using Counsl.ai, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our Platform.
Important: Messages between attorneys and clients are encrypted end-to-end. We do not access, monitor, or use the content of attorney-client communications.
Account: Email, password, name, phone
Profile: Location, preferred language
Preferences: Notification settings
Case information (type, details, urgency)
Family information (children, ages)
Budget range
Legal status (opposing counsel)
Consultation preferences
Payment information (via Plaid)
CA State Bar number and license status
Practice areas and specializations
Education and credentials
Work experience
Availability and calendar
Banking information (via Stripe Connect)
Subscription and billing details
Device: IP address, browser, device type, OS
Usage: Pages visited, features used, time spent
Session: Login times, actions taken
Location: Geographic location from IP
Cookies: Session IDs, preferences, auth tokens
California State Bar: Attorney verification (names, bar numbers, license status)
Payment Processors: Stripe (payments), Plaid (bank verification)
Calendar Services: Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook availability or other utilizing Cronofy Scheduling/Calendar Aggregator
Professional Networks: LinkedIn profile data (with consent)
Create and manage accounts
Match clients with attorneys
Schedule consultations
Enable secure messaging
Process payments and payouts
Improve matching algorithms and UX
Monitor performance and security
Generate anonymized statistics
Collect quality feedback
Verify attorney credentials
Comply with laws and regulations
Prevent fraud and unauthorized access
Maintain required records
Send confirmations and receipts
Provide customer support
Notify of platform updates
Marketing (with opt-out option)
We do NOT sell your personal information. We share only in these circumstances:
Clients view attorney public profiles
Attorneys view client case info when matched
Contact details exchanged after consultation acceptance
Stripe & Plaid: Payment processing
Azure: Cloud infastructure
SendGrid: Email delivery
Google/Microsoft/Cronofy: Calendar integration
Sentry: Error tracking
JetAdmin: Admin User management
Daily.co: Audio/Video meetings
Comply with legal obligations
Protect rights and safety
Investigate fraud or illegal activity
Enforce Terms of Service
Respond to law enforcement
Note: Attorney-client privileged communications disclosed only as required by law.
In merger, acquisition, or bankruptcy, information may transfer. We will notify you.
Encryption:
TLS 1.2+ for all data transmission
AES-256 for data at rest
End-to-end encryption for messages
bcrypt password hashing
Access Controls:
Role-based permissions
Secure authentication with lockouts
Limited admin access with audit logs
Monitoring:
Continuous security monitoring
Regular audits and assessments
Incident response procedures
Comprehensive event logging
Payment Security:
PCI DSS SAQ-A compliant
No payment data stored
Tokenization via Stripe
Secure bank verification via Plaid
Account data: Active period + 30 days
Attorney-client messages: 7 years
Payment records: 7 years
Consultation records: 7 years
System logs: 90 days-1 year
Marketing: Until opt-out
Anonymous data: Indefinitely
California residents have specific rights:
Request what personal information we collect
Request how we use and share it
Receive a copy of your data
Request deletion of your personal information
Exceptions for legal/regulatory requirements
Third-party deletion requests sent
We do not sell personal information. Third-party sharing limited to service providers.
Right to Non-Discrimination:
We do not discriminate for exercising your privacy rights.
Email: privacy@counsl.ai or use account settings. We will respond within 45 days.
We use cookies and similar technologies:
Required for authentication, security, and platform functionality. Cannot be disabled.
Help us understand usage patterns. Can be controlled via browser settings.
Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies. Note: Disabling essential cookies may impair functionality.
Our Platform is not intended for individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If we learn we have collected data from a child, we will delete it promptly. Parents who believe their child provided information should contact us.
Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted with a new "Last Updated" date. We will notify you of material changes via email or prominent platform notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
Questions about this Privacy Policy? Contact us:
Counsl.ai
Email: privacy@counsl.ai
Support: support@counsl.ai
For California privacy rights requests, include "CCPA Request" in subject line.
Platform Role:
Counsl.ai is a technology platform connecting clients with attorneys. We are NOT:
A law firm or legal services provider
An attorney referral service (CA State Bar definition)
Providing legal advice or representation
No attorney-client relationship exists until explicit agreement between you and an attorney. The initial consultation does not guarantee representation. Attorneys are independent professionals responsible for their own services.
Each attorney is solely responsible for:
Quality of legal services
Professional conduct and ethics
Maintaining bar membership
Client communications and case management
Legal advice provided
We verify attorney credentials with the California State Bar but make no guarantees about:
Quality of legal representation
Outcomes of legal matters
Attorney availability or responsiveness
Compatibility with your specific needs
While we provide encrypted messaging, attorney-client privilege is maintained between you and your attorney, not the platform. Privileged communications should be made directly with your attorney through our secure messaging system.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please consider your safety when using this Platform. We recommend:
Using a private device and internet connection
Clearing browser history after use
Using caution when scheduling consultations
Informing your attorney of safety concerns
When providing information about children (in custody matters), we collect only:
Number and ages of children
Basic custody status
Relevant case information
We do not collect children's personal information (names, photos, detailed information). All child-related data is subject to the same security protections as other sensitive information.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:
1.1 Personal Information
When you voluntarily provide it, we collect personal information such as your name, email address, contact details, and any other information you submit through our forms or sign-ups.
1.2 Non-Personal Information
We may automatically collect non-personal information about your visit, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referral source, and pages visited on our website. This data helps us understand how visitors use our website and improve user experience.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
To provide and maintain our services.
To communicate with you, including responding to inquiries, sending updates, and providing information relevant to your account or our services.
To improve our website by analyzing user behavior and preferences.
To ensure compliance with legal obligations and protect the safety and rights of users and the public.
We will not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.
3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us recognize your preferences and provide a customized experience. You can control cookie settings through your browser, but disabling cookies may limit certain features of the website.
4. Third-Party Services
We may use third-party service providers to help operate our website or services, such as hosting providers, analytics tools, and email services. These third parties have access to your information only to perform specific tasks on our behalf and are obligated to keep your information confidential.
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or loss. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.
6. Your Rights
You have the right to access, update, or delete the personal information we hold about you. You may also request that we stop processing your data or restrict certain uses. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.
7. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, or legal obligations. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our website constitutes your acceptance of any changes.
8. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us.
