Legal Terms & Policies

Effective Date: January 1, 2026 Version: v2.0-2026-01-01 Provider: The Underwood Group, LLC (“Firm,” “we,” “us,” “our”)

These Terms govern your access to ugroupsite.com and related pages, scheduling flows, portals, and linked tools (the “Site”).

1. Source of Truth; No Attorney–Client Relationship Without EngagementNo attorney–client relationship is formed unless and until (a) conflicts are cleared, and (b) you and an attorney of The Underwood Group, LLC sign a separate written engagement agreement. Using the Site, contacting us, booking a meeting, paying fees, or using Lawvocate does not, by itself, create representation.

2. No Legal Advice Through the SiteThe Site provides general information and educational content. No legal advice is provided through the Site or Lawvocate. Content may not reflect current law and may be incomplete or jurisdictionally inapplicable. You agree not to rely on Site content as legal advice.

3. No Monitoring of Deadlines; No Acting Unless EngagedWe do not monitor deadlines or act on your behalf unless expressly stated in a signed engagement agreement. Unless we agree otherwise in writing, you remain responsible for deadlines, filings, service, and compliance.

4. Jurisdiction and Practice LimitsOur attorneys are licensed in Michigan and admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (as applicable). We provide legal services only where authorized and only as defined in a signed engagement agreement.

5. Limited-Scope / Unbundled ServicesIf we offer limited-scope services, the scope is defined in writing. Unless expressly stated, we do not assume responsibility for monitoring deadlines, filing documents, service of process, or ongoing compliance after the limited scope ends.

6. No Emergency or Rush RepresentationThe Site is not for emergencies or urgent matters. If you have imminent deadlines or urgent legal needs, contact a qualified attorney or appropriate authority directly.

7. Communications; Pre-Engagement Confidentiality WarningPre-engagement communications may not be privileged. Do not send confidential or highly sensitive information unless and until we confirm representation and provide a secure channel. Web forms and email may not be fully secure. You consent to receive electronic communications related to your Site use.

8. Scheduling, Fees, Subscriptions, and Payments (Zoom / Stripe)We may offer flat-fee services, subscription fractional CLO/GC services, and pay-per-use services. Specific terms appear in your engagement agreement, order form, or checkout. We use third-party processors (e.g., Stripe/ACH). We do not store full payment card numbers on our servers. Payment does not create representation: payment for access to a session, subscription, or tool does not create representation and does not substitute for a signed engagement agreement.

9. AUTHORIZED AI WORKSPACE & AGENCY OF TOOLS (The "Matrix" Clause) A. Definition of Collaborative Workspace: Upon entering a Step 1 Engagement, The Underwood Group provides access to a "Collaborative AI Workspace" (utilizing tools such as Lawvocate Studio, JuristAI, and proprietary firm architectures). B. AI as "Agent of Counsel": Within this specific Workspace, AI tools function strictly under the direct supervision and prompt-architecture of The Underwood Group. You acknowledge and agree that:

• These tools are acting as extensions of legal counsel (similar to a paralegal or research clerk) for the purpose of organizing your case data.
• All inputs and outputs within this Workspace are generated at the direction of counsel to facilitate legal advice.
• Consequently, data processed within this Workspace is intended to remain protected under the Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine. C. Client Obligation: You agree to use ONLY the specific links, portals, and credentials provided by The Underwood Group for case work. Using personal, public-tier AI accounts (e.g., your personal ChatGPT or Claude account) for case strategy falls outside this protection and is done at your own risk.

10. Independent Counsel (No Agency / No Network Implication)If you are referred to independent counsel, that lawyer/law firm is a separate entity responsible for their own advice, services, and terms. Any relationship with independent counsel is between you and that counsel unless expressly stated in a signed engagement 

agreement with us.

11. Acceptable UseNo unlawful use, malware, scraping, impersonation, or interference with security features. We may suspend access for security, compliance, or material breach.

12. Intellectual PropertyWe own the Site content/design (excluding your submissions). You may not copy or redistribute without permission except as permitted by law.

13. THIRD-PARTY AI & INFRASTRUCTURE LIABILITY

• A. Vetted Tools: We utilize third-party AI and cloud infrastructure (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS) that we have vetted for security and compliance ("Authorized Sub-Processors").
• B. Limitation of Liability: While The Underwood Group remains professionally responsible for the final legal advice and work product delivered to you, we are not liable for:
  
  • Platform Outages: Technical downtime or service interruptions of third-party tools.
  • Hallucinations: Inaccuracies in raw AI outputs that occur before attorney review.
  • Third-Party Breaches: Data breaches occurring on third-party servers that are outside our direct reasonable control, provided we have selected such vendors with reasonable professional care.

14. DisclaimersTHE SITE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Professional responsibility carve-out: nothing in these Terms limits duties or liabilities that cannot be limited under law or rules of professional conduct. Engagement agreements control legal-services disputes.

15. Limitation of LiabilityTo the maximum extent permitted, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from Site use. For Site-only claims (not arising from an engagement agreement), our total liability will not exceed amounts you paid (if any) to access Site features in the three (3) months before the event giving rise to the claim.

16. IndemnificationYou agree to indemnify us from third-party claims arising from your misuse of the Site, unlawful submissions, or violation of these Terms.

17. Governing Law; VenueMichigan law governs these Terms. Any Site-only dispute will be brought in state courts in Ottawa County, Michigan or, if federal jurisdiction exists, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Engagement agreements control disputes relating to legal services.

18. ChangesWe may update these Terms by posting a revised version and updating the Effective Date. Continued use indicates acceptance.

19. Contactsupport@ugroupsite.com | privacy@ugroupsite.com Mailing Address: 101 Washington Ave., Ste 221B, Grand Haven, MI 49417