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Legal Sandbox Georgia LLC
Document Type: Function Rulebook (Binding) Version: 1.1 Effective Date: 13 May 2026 Document Language: English (Georgian version prevails in case of conflict) Status: Binding contract, incorporated by reference into all applicable Role Terms and Conditions
This Reviews & Ratings Function Rulebook ("Rulebook") establishes the rules governing the submission, processing, publication, appeal, and consequences of Reviews and Ratings on the legal.ge platform operated by Legal Sandbox Georgia LLC, Registration Number 405713768 (the "Platform").
This Rulebook is a binding part of the Terms and Conditions of every role permitted to submit, receive, moderate, or interact with Reviews and Ratings. By submitting a Review, receiving a Review, responding to a Review, or otherwise interacting with the Reviews & Ratings system on the Platform, You agree to be bound by this Rulebook.
In the event of any conflict between this Rulebook and a specific Role Terms and Conditions document, the Role Terms and Conditions prevail with respect to that role's specific obligations not addressed in this Rulebook; this Rulebook prevails on matters of Reviews and Ratings workflow, permissions, and rules common to all roles.
1.1.1 This Rulebook provides a single authoritative source of truth governing the Reviews & Ratings function on the Platform.
1.1.2 This Rulebook serves to:
(a) Define the lifecycle of all Reviews;
(b) Establish role-based permissions for submitting, receiving, moderating, and appealing Reviews;
(c) Allocate liability for Review content and consequences;
(d) Govern the calculation and display of aggregate Ratings;
(e) Ensure consistency across all Role Terms and Conditions referencing Reviews or Ratings;
(f) Provide a fair appeal mechanism for contested Reviews.
1.2.1 This Rulebook applies to:
(a) All Reviews in any status (Pending, Published, Flagged, Removed);
(b) All Ratings derived from Reviews;
(c) All Users with permissions to submit Reviews;
(d) All Specialists, Companies, and Trainers receiving Reviews;
(e) All Moderators processing appeals.
1.2.2 This Rulebook governs two parallel review systems:
(a) Service Reviews — Reviews submitted by Clients of Solo Specialists, Company Specialists, and (indirectly) Companies;
(b) Training Reviews — Reviews submitted by Trainees of Trainers.
1.2.3 This Rulebook does NOT govern in v1.0:
(a) Direct user reviews of Organisations (Organisations are not directly reviewable in v1.0; aggregate Organisation Ratings derived from member Specialists' ratings are permitted per Section 1.2.4 and are governed by Organisation Terms and Conditions Article 19.2);
(b) Reverse reviews of Clients or Trainees by Specialists or Trainers (no such system exists in v1.0; reserved for future);
(c) Off-platform engagement verification for Review eligibility (deferred to v2.0; reserved);
(d) Public response functionality on Reviews (no public response feature in v1.0; only private one-time response).
1.2.4 Aggregate Organisation Rating (Permitted Exception):
(a) Each Organisation registered on the Platform per the Organisation Terms and Conditions is assigned an aggregate Organisation Rating;
(b) The Organisation Rating is calculated as the median of all Affiliated Member Specialists' Overall Service Ratings (parallel to the Company Rating model in Section 5.3);
(c) The Rating is displayed on the Organisation Profile only;
(d) The Rating is NOT displayed on individual member Specialist Profiles, nor does it affect or modify the member Specialists' individual Service Ratings;
(e) Members opted out of Public Verification Service per Organisation T&C Article 14 continue to contribute to the Organisation Rating calculation; opt-out is about public visibility, not rating contribution;
(f) The aggregate Organisation Rating is governed in operational detail by Organisation Terms and Conditions Article 19.2.
1.3.1 This Rulebook directly affects the following roles:
| Role | Capability Type |
|---|---|
| User (Client) | Reviewer (Service Reviews) |
| Trainee | Reviewer (Training Reviews) |
| Solo Specialist | Reviewed party (Service Reviews) |
| Company Specialist | Reviewed party (Service Reviews) |
| Company | Indirectly reviewed (via Specialist Ratings) |
| Trainer | Reviewed party (Training Reviews) |
| Moderator | Appeal arbiter / Enforcer |
2.1 Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Rulebook have the meanings given in the applicable Role Terms and Conditions or in the Platform's master Terms and Conditions.
2.2 For purposes of this Rulebook:
"Aggregate Rating" means a numerical score derived from the median of multiple Reviews, calculated per Article 5.
"Appeal" means a formal contest of a Review by the Reviewed Party, governed by Article 7.
"Appeal Fee" means the non-refundable fee charged for filing an Appeal, in an amount published on the Platform.
"Client" means a User who has engaged a Specialist's Services through the Platform via a qualifying interaction defined in Article 4.
"Engagement" means a qualifying Service interaction between a Client and a Specialist that triggers Review eligibility, defined in Article 4.
"Flagged" means a Review whose visibility has been temporarily restricted pending Moderator review of an Appeal or a Report.
"Lead Specialist" means, where multiple Specialists work on the same matter, the Specialist designated as primary or principal contact with the Client. In v1.0, only the Lead Specialist is reviewable.
"Pending" means a Review that has been submitted but is held from public visibility during the Appeal Window (72 hours).
"Private Feedback" means the optional written textual content accompanying a Review, visible only to the Reviewed Party and Platform Moderators.
"Private Response" means a one-time written reply by the Reviewed Party to the Reviewer's Private Feedback, visible only to the Reviewer, the Reviewed Party, and Platform Moderators.
"Published" means a Review whose Ratings are publicly visible and counted toward Aggregate Ratings.
"Rating" means a numerical score (1–5 stars) submitted by a Reviewer in a specific Rating Category, or an Aggregate Rating derived from multiple such scores.
"Rating Categories" means the specific evaluation vectors defined in Article 3, on which Reviewers score the Reviewed Party.
"Removed" means a Review that has been permanently excised from public view following an upheld Appeal or Moderator enforcement action.
"Review" means an evaluation submitted by a Client or Trainee, consisting of (a) Ratings across the applicable Rating Categories, and optionally (b) Private Feedback.
"Reviewed Party" means the Solo Specialist, Company Specialist, or Trainer who is the subject of a Review. The Affiliated Company of a Company Specialist is indirectly affected via aggregation but is not the Reviewed Party.
"Reviewer" means a Client or Trainee who has submitted or is eligible to submit a Review.
"Service Review" means a Review submitted by a Client of a Specialist's professional services.
"Top Rated Badge" means a publicly visible badge awarded to Reviewed Parties meeting the criteria in Article 9.
"Training Review" means a Review submitted by a Trainee of a Trainer's training.
"Trainee" means an individual who has enrolled in and attended a Training, as governed by the Trainee Terms and Conditions.
"Violation" means a confirmed breach of this Rulebook, as determined by a Moderator.
3.1.1 Service Reviews include Ratings across three (3) categories:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Communication | Responsiveness, clarity, and professionalism in communications with the Client |
| Expertise | Demonstrated knowledge and competence in the relevant practice area |
| Value for Money | Quality of Service relative to cost paid |
3.1.2 Each category is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 stars:
| Stars | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 5 | Excellent |
| 4 | Good |
| 3 | Average |
| 2 | Below Average |
| 1 | Poor |
3.2.1 Training Reviews include Ratings across three (3) categories:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Content Quality | Accuracy, relevance, and depth of Training material |
| Delivery | Presentation, clarity, engagement, and professionalism |
| Value | Quality of Training relative to price paid |
3.2.2 Each category is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 stars per the same scale in Section 3.1.2.
3.3.1 Reviewers may, at their option, include written textual feedback alongside Ratings. Such feedback constitutes Private Feedback.
3.3.2 Private Feedback is visible only to:
(a) The Reviewed Party;
(b) Platform Moderators (for compliance and abuse detection).
3.3.3 Private Feedback is not visible to:
(a) Other Users or the public;
(b) The Affiliated Company of a Company Specialist;
(c) Other Specialists or Trainers.
3.3.4 No public-facing written reviews exist on the Platform in v1.0. Only Ratings (the numerical scores and Aggregate Ratings derived from them) are publicly visible.
4.1.1 A User is eligible to submit a Service Review of a Specialist if and only if a qualifying Engagement occurred. A qualifying Engagement is one of:
(a) A completed free or paid consultation conducted through the Platform (video, phone, in-person, or written);
(b) An active or completed litigation case in the Cabinet involving the Specialist;
(c) A paid Inquiry that converted to a service relationship per the Inquiries & Messaging Function Rulebook (forthcoming).
4.1.2 Engagements occurring outside the Platform are not eligible for Review submission in v1.0. Off-platform verification is reserved for v2.0.
4.1.3 All Engagements must be Platform-recorded; the Platform's records are dispositive of Engagement status.
4.2.1 A Trainee is eligible to submit a Training Review of a Trainer if and only if:
(a) The Trainee was enrolled in the Training; AND
(b) The Trainee actually attended at least one (1) Session of the Training; AND
(c) The Trainee did not receive a full refund for the Training.
4.2.2 A Trainee who paid and enrolled but did not attend any Session (No-Show) is not eligible to submit a Review in v1.0.
4.2.3 A Trainee who received a full refund (regardless of cause) is not eligible to submit a Review.
4.3.1 Where multiple Specialists worked on the same matter for a Client (e.g., co-counsel, collaboration via Cabinet), only the Lead Specialist is reviewable in v1.0.
4.3.2 The Lead Specialist is the Specialist designated as primary contact for the matter. In Cabinet, the Lead Specialist is the case owner.
4.3.3 Reviews of non-Lead Specialists in multi-Specialist matters are not supported in v1.0.
4.4.1 A Reviewer may submit a Review within one (1) month of the conclusion of the Engagement (Service Reviews) or completion of the Training (Training Reviews).
4.4.2 After the one-month window, the right to submit a Review expires permanently.
4.4.3 "Conclusion of the Engagement" is determined as follows:
(a) For consultations: the date of the completed session;
(b) For Cabinet cases: the date of case closure or final action;
(c) For converted paid Inquiries: the date of completion of the agreed service deliverable.
4.5.1 A Reviewer may submit one (1) Review per Engagement.
4.5.2 A Reviewer with multiple Engagements with the same Specialist (e.g., multiple consultations or successive cases) may submit one Review per Engagement, each Review tied to its specific Engagement.
4.5.3 A Reviewer may not submit multiple Reviews for the same single Engagement.
4.6.1 Anonymous Reviews are not permitted. All Reviews are linked to verified Reviewer accounts and remain identifiable to the Reviewed Party (in the case of Private Feedback) and Moderators.
5.1.1 Service Reviews are linked to the specific Service Category for which the Engagement was conducted.
5.1.2 Aggregate Ratings are calculated using the median function, hierarchically:
(a) Sub-Sub-Category Rating: The median of all individual Ratings for services within that Sub-Sub-Category;
(b) Sub-Category Rating: The median of all Sub-Sub-Category Ratings within that Sub-Category;
(c) Main Category Rating: The median of all Sub-Category Ratings within that Main Category;
(d) Overall Rating: The median of all Main Category Ratings for the Reviewed Party.
5.1.3 The use of median (rather than mean) ensures that outlier ratings have limited impact on the Aggregate Rating.
5.1.4 Where a Reviewed Party has Ratings in multiple Service Categories, the Overall Rating is displayed publicly; sub-category breakdowns may be displayed at the Platform's discretion.
5.2.1 Training Review aggregation:
(a) Per-Training Rating: The median of all submitted Trainee Reviews for that specific Training;
(b) Overall Trainer Rating: A weighted aggregate of all Training Ratings for the Trainer, with the most recent five (5) Trainings weighted at 1.5× compared to older Trainings.
5.2.2 The Overall Trainer Rating is updated automatically after each new Review.
5.3.1 The Company Rating is calculated as the median of all affiliated Specialists' Overall Ratings.
5.3.2 Only verified Company Specialists with publicly displayed Ratings (i.e., who have met the minimum display threshold per Article 6) are included in the Company Rating calculation.
5.3.3 When a Company Specialist departs the Affiliated Company:
(a) The Specialist's individual Ratings transfer with the Specialist (Rating portability per Article 8);
(b) The Company Rating is recalculated immediately without the departed Specialist;
(c) No grace period or rating freeze applies.
5.4.1 Private Feedback (written textual content) is not included in any numerical calculation. Only Ratings (numerical scores) contribute to Aggregate Ratings.
6.1.1 A Specialist's Aggregate Ratings are not publicly displayed until the Specialist has received a minimum of five (5) verified Reviews.
6.1.2 Prior to reaching this threshold:
(a) The Specialist's Profile displays "New Specialist" or equivalent indicator;
(b) The Specialist may view their own accumulated Ratings in their Dashboard;
(c) Ratings are accumulated but not publicly visible;
(d) The Specialist is not eligible for the Top Rated Badge (Article 9).
6.2.1 A Trainer's Overall Rating is not publicly displayed until:
(a) A minimum of three (3) Trainings have been completed; AND
(b) A minimum of five (5) total Trainee Reviews have been received.
6.2.2 Prior to reaching the threshold, the Trainer's profile displays "New Trainer" or equivalent indicator, and the rules of Section 6.1.2 apply analogously.
6.3.1 A Company Rating is not publicly displayed until at least one (1) Affiliated Specialist has met the Service Review threshold per Section 6.1.1.
7.1.1 Every Review moves through one or more of the following statuses:
PENDING → PUBLISHED → FLAGGED → REMOVED
↘ → PUBLISHED (if Appeal rejected)
7.1.2 Status definitions:
| Status | Visibility | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | Hidden from public; visible to Reviewed Party + Moderators | Submitted; in 72-hour Appeal Window |
| Published | Public (Ratings only); Private Feedback to Reviewed Party + Moderators | Cleared 72-hour window; counted in Aggregate Ratings |
| Flagged | Hidden from public during Moderator review | Under Appeal or Moderator review |
| Removed | Hidden from public, retained for audit per Article 11 | Permanently excised from public score |
7.2.1 Upon Reviewer submission, a Review enters Pending status and the 72-hour Appeal Window begins.
7.2.2 During the Pending stage:
(a) The Review is not publicly visible;
(b) The Ratings are not counted toward Aggregate Ratings;
(c) The Reviewed Party is notified of the Pending Review (Article 10);
(d) The Reviewed Party may file an Appeal at any time before the window expires;
(e) The Reviewer cannot edit the Review (Section 7.6);
(f) The Reviewer may delete the Review (Section 7.5).
7.2.3 Auto-publication: If no Appeal is filed within seventy-two (72) hours of submission, the Review automatically transitions to Published status at the expiration of the window.
7.2.4 The Reviewed Party may not "Accept" a Review to publish it before the 72-hour window expires. The 72-hour window is mandatory for fairness.
7.3.1 A Published Review:
(a) Has its Ratings counted toward the Reviewed Party's Aggregate Ratings;
(b) Has its Ratings publicly visible (Private Feedback remains private per Section 3.3);
(c) Cannot be appealed by the Reviewed Party (the 72-hour window is the only opportunity);
(d) May still be Flagged by Moderators in cases of Platform-detected abuse or third-party complaint.
7.4.1 A Review may enter Flagged status when:
(a) An Appeal has been filed during the Pending window;
(b) The Platform detects suspected abuse (e.g., review-bombing, fake account submission);
(c) A Moderator opens enforcement review for any reason.
7.4.2 While Flagged:
(a) The Review is hidden from public view;
(b) Its Ratings are temporarily excluded from Aggregate Ratings until the Flag is resolved;
(c) Resolution moves the Review to Published (Flag dismissed) or Removed (Violation confirmed).
7.4.3 A Removed Review:
(a) Is permanently hidden from public view;
(b) Has its Ratings permanently excluded from Aggregate Ratings;
(c) Has its underlying record retained per Article 11.
7.5.1 A Reviewer may delete their own Review at any time, regardless of status (Pending, Published, Flagged).
7.5.2 Upon deletion:
(a) The Review's Ratings are removed from the Aggregate Rating calculation;
(b) The Aggregate Rating is recalculated immediately;
(c) The deleted Review record is retained per Article 11.
7.5.3 Specialists, Companies, and Trainers shall not pressure, incentivize, or coerce Reviewers to delete Reviews. Such conduct constitutes a Violation per Article 13.
7.6.1 Reviewers may not edit a Review once submitted. The submission is final.
7.6.2 A Reviewer who wishes to revise a Review may delete the original and submit a new Review, subject to the submission window in Section 4.4.
8.1.1 A Reviewed Party may appeal a Review filed against them within the 72-hour Appeal Window per Section 7.2.
8.1.2 Appeals filed after the 72-hour window expires are not accepted, regardless of grounds.
8.2.1 Appeals are subject to a non-refundable Appeal Fee in an amount published on the Platform.
8.2.2 The Appeal Fee:
(a) Is payable upon Appeal submission;
(b) Is not refunded regardless of outcome (upheld or rejected);
(c) Covers administrative costs of investigation;
(d) May be adjusted by the Platform from time to time without amendment to this Rulebook; current fees are published on the Platform.
8.3.1 Appeals may be filed only on the following grounds:
(a) Defamation: The Review contains false statements of fact that damage the Reviewed Party's reputation;
(b) Spam or Fake Review: The Review was not submitted by a genuine Reviewer or is part of a coordinated attack;
(c) Inappropriate Language: The Review (specifically, the Private Feedback) contains obscene, threatening, or discriminatory language;
(d) Factual Error: The Review relates to services or training not actually provided by the Reviewed Party;
(e) Conflict of Interest: The Reviewer has an undisclosed conflict of interest with the Reviewed Party.
8.3.2 Mere disagreement with the Reviewer's subjective opinion is not grounds for Appeal. Low Ratings reflecting genuine Reviewer dissatisfaction with a service properly rendered are valid Reviews and not subject to Appeal.
8.4.1 The Reviewed Party files the Appeal through the Platform interface, identifying the Permitted Ground(s) and providing supporting reasoning.
8.4.2 Upon Appeal filing, the Review enters Flagged status. The Review is hidden from public view; the 72-hour window is paused; auto-publication is suspended pending Appeal resolution.
8.4.3 Appeals are decided by Moderators at the Platform's sole discretion. SUPER_ADMIN may also decide Appeals or override Moderator decisions.
8.4.4 Moderators target a decision window of fourteen (14) days from Appeal filing.
8.4.5 Moderators may, in the course of investigation:
(a) Request additional information from the Reviewer or Reviewed Party;
(b) Examine Engagement records, Cabinet activity, and other Platform data;
(c) Consult relevant Platform staff.
8.5.1 Upheld Appeal:
(a) The Review is moved to Removed status;
(b) The Review's Ratings are permanently excluded from the Reviewed Party's Aggregate Ratings;
(c) The Aggregate Rating is recalculated immediately;
(d) The Appeal Fee is not refunded;
(e) The Review record is retained per Article 11.5;
(f) The Reviewer may receive a Violation per Section 13.2 if the Review was found to be defamatory or fake.
8.5.2 Rejected Appeal:
(a) The Review is moved to Published status;
(b) The Review's Ratings are counted toward Aggregate Ratings from that point forward;
(c) The Appeal Fee is not refunded;
(d) The Reviewed Party receives a "strike" toward future appeal limits per Section 8.6;
(e) No further appeal of the Review on Platform is permitted.
8.5.3 Moderator decisions are final. There is no formal further-appeal mechanism within the Platform. The Reviewed Party retains any rights they may have under applicable Georgian law to seek judicial relief.
8.6.1 A Reviewed Party who accumulates repeated rejected Appeals may have their appeal rights suspended.
8.6.2 Specific thresholds, sanctions, and reinstatement criteria are governed by operational policy and are not part of this Rulebook. The Platform may publish such policies separately.
8.6.3 The Appeal Fee acts as a primary deterrent against frivolous Appeals.
9.1.1 A Reviewed Party qualifies for the Top Rated Badge if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The Reviewed Party's Overall Rating (per Article 5) is 4.5 stars or higher; AND
(b) The Reviewed Party has received at least ten (10) Published Reviews; AND
(c) The Reviewed Party meets the minimum display threshold per Article 6.
9.2.1 Once earned, the Top Rated Badge is displayed on the Reviewed Party's Profile for a period of three (3) months from the date of badge issuance.
9.2.2 The badge remains displayed throughout the 3-month period even if the Reviewed Party's Overall Rating drops below 4.5 during that time.
9.2.3 At the expiration of the 3-month period, the badge is automatically re-evaluated:
(a) If criteria are still met, the badge is renewed for another 3 months;
(b) If criteria are not met, the badge is removed until criteria are next met.
9.3.1 The Platform may revoke the Top Rated Badge at any time, before the 3-month expiration, in cases of:
(a) Confirmed Rating manipulation per Article 13;
(b) Account suspension or termination;
(c) Findings of misconduct unrelated to Reviews but materially affecting public trust.
9.4.1 The Top Rated Badge is the only Rating-based badge in v1.0. Additional badges (e.g., "Rising Star," practice-area-specific badges) may be introduced in future Rulebook versions.
10.1.1 Notifications are an integral part of the Reviews & Ratings system in v1.0 because the 72-hour Appeal Window and other time-sensitive operations require timely awareness by affected parties.
10.2.1 The Platform shall provide the following notifications:
(a) Review submission: The Reviewed Party is notified immediately upon submission of a Review against them, with the 72-hour Appeal Window clock and instructions to appeal;
(b) Appeal filed: The Reviewer is notified that an Appeal has been filed against their Review (without disclosing Appeal grounds);
(c) Appeal decision: Both the Reviewer and the Reviewed Party are notified of the Appeal outcome within a reasonable time of decision;
(d) Auto-publication: The Reviewed Party is notified when a Review they did not appeal has auto-published;
(e) Private Response received: The Reviewer is notified when the Reviewed Party has sent a Private Response;
(f) Review deletion by Reviewer: The Reviewed Party is notified when a Reviewer deletes a previously submitted Review.
10.3.1 Notifications are delivered via:
(a) In-app notification (mandatory);
(b) Email to the address on file (mandatory);
(c) Other channels at the Platform's discretion.
10.4.1 The Platform makes reasonable efforts to ensure notifications are delivered. Where a notification fails (e.g., bounced email, Platform downtime), this does not extend the 72-hour Appeal Window or any other deadline. Reviewed Parties are responsible for maintaining accurate contact information and reasonable monitoring of their Platform Account.
11.1.1 When submitting a Review, the Reviewer may include written Private Feedback in addition to Ratings.
11.1.2 Private Feedback content is governed by the standards in Article 13.3 (Prohibited Content). Private Feedback that contains defamatory, threatening, or discriminatory content is grounds for an Appeal under Article 8.3.
11.2.1 A Reviewed Party may send a single Private Response to the Reviewer per Review, after the Review has Published or after Appeal proceedings (if any) have concluded.
11.2.2 The Private Response is:
(a) Limited to one (1) message per Review;
(b) Visible only to the Reviewer, the Reviewed Party, and Platform Moderators;
(c) Final — no further messages by the Reviewed Party on that Review thread; the thread closes after the response;
(d) Subject to the same Prohibited Content standards as Private Feedback.
11.2.3 The Reviewer is not obligated to read or respond to a Private Response.
| Element | Public | Reviewer | Reviewed Party | Moderators | Affiliated Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratings (numerical) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (aggregate only) |
| Aggregate Ratings | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Private Feedback | ❌ | ✅ (own) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Private Response | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (own) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Top Rated Badge | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
12.1.1 Pending Reviews are held until they transition to Published or are Removed via upheld Appeal.
12.2.1 Published Reviews are retained without time limit while in Published status.
12.3.1 Reviews removed as a result of an upheld Appeal are deleted from public-facing systems immediately upon Appeal resolution.
12.3.2 Underlying Review records (including original Ratings and Private Feedback) are retained for the Platform's internal audit purposes for a period reasonably necessary to support enforcement action, dispute defense, or legal compliance, and may be deleted thereafter at the Platform's discretion.
12.4.1 Reviewer-deleted Reviews are removed from public-facing systems immediately. The deleted record is retained per Section 12.3.2.
12.5.1 Private Feedback is retained indefinitely, regardless of whether the parent Review is Published, Removed, or Reviewer-deleted, for audit and compliance purposes.
12.6.1 Private Response content is retained indefinitely for audit purposes.
12.7.1 Records of Appeals (filings, supporting submissions, Moderator decisions, internal notes) are retained indefinitely for legal and audit purposes.
12.8.1 Voluntary departure: When a Reviewed Party voluntarily deletes their Platform Account, their associated Reviews are retained permanently in the Platform's records for analytics and historical purposes. Public visibility of Reviews ceases when the Profile is removed from public listings.
12.8.2 Suspension or termination for misconduct: When a Reviewed Party is suspended or terminated, their Reviews are retained for evidentiary and audit purposes, consistent with Section 12.3.2 and 12.7.1.
12.8.3 Specialist switching Companies: Per Section 5.3.3, Ratings travel with the Specialist; Company Rating recalculates immediately. No Reviews are deleted in this scenario.
12.9.1 Public Aggregate Ratings and Top Rated Badges are visible to all Platform visitors, registered or not. The Platform may aggregate viewing data per the master Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy.
12.9.2 Reviewer identity in connection with Private Feedback is shared with the Reviewed Party (per Section 4.6 and 11.1) but is otherwise governed by the master Privacy Policy.
12.10.1 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Platform may retain any Review or related data for any period required by applicable law, regulatory requirement, or pending legal proceeding.
13.1.1 The Reviewed Party shall not:
(a) Submit or solicit fake Reviews;
(b) Offer incentives in exchange for positive Reviews;
(c) Create fake Reviewer accounts to submit self-reviews;
(d) Coordinate with others to exchange favorable Reviews;
(e) Threaten, retaliate against, or pressure Reviewers who submit unfavorable Reviews;
(f) Pressure, coerce, or incentivize Reviewers to delete Reviews;
(g) Engage in any other conduct intended to artificially inflate Ratings or suppress legitimate negative feedback.
13.2.1 The Reviewer shall not:
(a) Submit Reviews based on fabricated or non-existent Engagements;
(b) Submit Reviews containing false statements of fact (defamation);
(c) Submit Reviews on behalf of others or under false identity;
(d) Coordinate with others to manipulate Aggregate Ratings (review-bombing);
(e) Submit Reviews where the Reviewer has an undisclosed conflict of interest;
(f) Engage in patterns of submission-and-deletion designed to extort or harass the Reviewed Party;
(g) Use Reviews as a vehicle for harassment, discrimination, or unlawful content.
13.3.1 Private Feedback and Private Response shall not contain:
(a) Defamatory statements (false statements of fact);
(b) Obscene, threatening, or discriminatory language;
(c) Personal attacks or harassment;
(d) Spam or promotional content;
(e) Information unrelated to the Engagement experience;
(f) Confidential information of third parties;
(g) Content that violates applicable Georgian law.
13.4.1 Where an Appeal is upheld on the ground of Defamation (Section 8.3.1(a)) and the Moderator determines the Reviewer knew the statements to be false:
(a) First instance: The Reviewer's account receives a formal warning;
(b) Second instance: The Reviewer's account is suspended.
13.4.2 Determination of "knowledge" is at the Moderator's discretion, considering available evidence including but not limited to Engagement records, prior conduct, and communications.
13.5.1 The Platform may, at its discretion, detect and reverse coordinated review-bombing or fake engagement patterns, including but not limited to:
(a) Automatic exclusion of suspicious Reviews from Aggregate Ratings;
(b) Suspension of accounts engaged in coordinated manipulation;
(c) Reversal of badge awards predicated on manipulated Ratings.
13.5.2 Specific detection methodologies, thresholds, and parameters are governed by operational policy and are not part of this Rulebook.
13.6.1 Consequences scale with severity. The Platform may impose:
| Severity | Possible Consequences |
|---|---|
| Minor | Warning to Reviewer or Reviewed Party |
| Standard | Account warning; loss of appeal rights for a period |
| Serious | Account suspension; loss of Top Rated Badge; reversal of disputed Reviews |
| Severe | Account termination; permanent loss of posting/reviewing privileges |
13.6.2 Specific consequence application is at Moderator/SUPER_ADMIN discretion. Patterns of Violations escalate consequences.
13.7.1 The Platform may, at its discretion, take action against a Reviewed Party whose Ratings reflect a sustained pattern of unsatisfactory service. The escalation pathway is:
(a) Warning — formal notice to the Reviewed Party;
(b) Investigation — Platform review of the Reviewed Party's service quality;
(c) Temporary suspension — pending the outcome of the Investigation;
(d) Termination — permanent removal from the Platform if persistent quality issues are demonstrated.
13.7.2 The specific quantitative thresholds triggering each step are at the Platform's discretion and are not specified in this Rulebook.
13.8.1 Decisions made by Moderators or SUPER_ADMIN under this Article — including warnings, suspensions, and terminations — are final and not subject to formal appeal within the Platform.
13.8.2 A Reviewed Party or Reviewer may submit a written request for reconsideration. The Platform may, but is not obligated to, respond.
14.1.1 The Reviewer is solely liable for:
(a) The truthfulness, accuracy, and lawfulness of any Review (Ratings and Private Feedback);
(b) Any third-party claim arising from the Review (including defamation);
(c) Compliance with applicable law in the submission of Reviews.
14.2.1 The Reviewed Party is solely liable for:
(a) The truthfulness, accuracy, and lawfulness of any Private Response;
(b) Any third-party claim arising from the Private Response;
(c) Compliance with applicable law in any communication with Reviewers regarding Reviews;
(d) Any conduct violating Article 13.1 (Reviewed Party Prohibitions).
14.3.1 The Platform does not endorse, verify, or vouch for the truthfulness, accuracy, or completeness of any Review.
14.3.2 Aggregate Ratings reflect Reviewer-submitted scores; the Platform does not represent that Aggregate Ratings are accurate measures of professional quality.
14.3.3 Top Rated Badges reflect Reviewer-submitted scores meeting threshold criteria; the badge is not an endorsement of professional competence by the Platform.
14.4.1 Users selecting a Specialist or Trainer based on Ratings shall conduct their own assessment. Aggregate Ratings shall not be construed as professional advice or a guarantee of service quality.
14.5.1 The Reviewer shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Platform from and against all claims, damages, losses, and expenses arising from:
(a) Their Review;
(b) Violation of Section 13.2 (Reviewer Prohibitions) or Article 13.3 (Prohibited Content).
14.5.2 The Reviewed Party shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Platform from and against all claims, damages, losses, and expenses arising from:
(a) Their Private Response;
(b) Violation of Section 13.1 (Reviewed Party Prohibitions).
14.6.1 The Platform does not impose a mandatory disclaimer on individual Reviews or Profiles. Liability allocation is established through this Rulebook and the master Terms and Conditions.
15.1.1 Ratings belong to the individual Specialist, not to any Affiliated Company.
15.1.2 When a Company Specialist:
(a) Departs an Affiliated Company to become a Solo Specialist; or
(b) Joins a different Affiliated Company; or
(c) Re-joins after a period of absence;
— all of the Specialist's Ratings transfer with the Specialist and continue to appear on the Specialist's Profile, regardless of the Company affiliation.
15.1.3 Aggregate Company Rating is recalculated immediately when a Specialist joins or leaves a Company.
15.2.1 A Specialist who also serves as Trainer maintains separate Service Ratings and Training Ratings; both travel with the individual across Company affiliations.
15.3.1 A Specialist's Service Ratings and (if applicable) Training Ratings are displayed separately on the Profile.
16.1.1 This Rulebook is governed by the laws of Georgia.
16.2.1 Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Rulebook that cannot be resolved through Platform mechanisms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Tbilisi, Georgia, consistent with the Platform's master Terms and Conditions.
16.3.1 This Rulebook is published in English, Georgian, and Russian. In the event of any conflict between language versions, the Georgian version prevails.
17.1.1 The Platform reserves the right to amend this Rulebook at any time, in its sole discretion, with immediate effect upon publication.
17.2.1 Upon publication of any amendment to this Rulebook, the Platform shall present a re-consent prompt to all affected Users on their next Platform login or on next interaction with the Reviews & Ratings function, whichever is earlier.
17.2.2 Continued use of the Reviews & Ratings function after publication of an amendment constitutes acceptance of the amended Rulebook.
17.2.3 A User who declines to re-consent shall lose Reviews & Ratings privileges (submitting Reviews, receiving Reviews, filing Appeals, sending Private Responses). Existing Published Reviews remain Published unless separately Removed.
17.3.1 Amendments take effect immediately upon publication. No grace period applies.
17.4.1 The Platform shall make reasonable efforts to surface material amendments via the Platform interface. The Platform is not obligated to provide email or other out-of-band notification beyond the re-consent prompt.
18.1.1 This Rulebook is incorporated by reference into each of the following Role Terms and Conditions:
(a) User Terms and Conditions (governs Reviewer rights and obligations);
(b) Solo Specialist Terms and Conditions (governs receipt and appeal of Service Reviews);
(c) Company Specialist Terms and Conditions (governs receipt and appeal of Service Reviews; subject to Affiliated Company aggregation);
(d) Company Terms and Conditions (governs Company Rating aggregation and Company-level conduct);
(e) Trainer Terms and Conditions (governs receipt and appeal of Training Reviews);
(f) Trainee Terms and Conditions (governs Trainee Reviewer rights and obligations);
(g) Moderator Terms and Conditions (governs Appeal arbitration and enforcement).
18.2.1 Conflicts between this Rulebook and a Role Terms and Conditions document are resolved as follows:
(a) Matters specific to a single role (e.g., Moderator employment, Specialist licensing) are governed by the applicable Role T&C;
(b) Matters of Reviews and Ratings workflow, lifecycle, eligibility, aggregation, appeals, and rules common across roles are governed by this Rulebook;
(c) In genuine ambiguity, the Role T&C prevails for that role.
18.3.1 The following existing Role T&Cs require amendment to reference this Rulebook:
| Role T&C | Required Action |
|---|---|
| Solo Specialist T&C | Article 19 wholly replaced with reference to this Rulebook |
| Company Specialist T&C | Article 17 wholly replaced with reference to this Rulebook |
| Company T&C | Article 9 wholly replaced with reference to this Rulebook |
| Trainer T&C | Article 7 wholly replaced with reference to this Rulebook |
| Trainee T&C | Article 9 wholly replaced with reference to this Rulebook |
| User T&C | New Article added covering Reviewer rights and obligations |
| Moderator T&C | Update to reference this Rulebook for appeal arbitration |
19.1.1 If any provision of this Rulebook is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid; if not possible, the provision shall be severed, and the remaining provisions shall continue in force.
19.2.1 This Rulebook, together with the master Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookies Policy, and applicable Role Terms and Conditions, constitutes the entire agreement regarding the Reviews & Ratings function on the Platform.
19.3.1 The Platform's failure to enforce any provision shall not constitute a waiver. Any waiver must be in writing to be effective.
| Version | Date | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 13 May 2026 | Legal Sandbox Georgia LLC | Initial publication |
| Parameter | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Service Review categories | 3: Communication, Expertise, Value for Money | Art. 3.1.1 |
| Training Review categories | 3: Content Quality, Delivery, Value | Art. 3.2.1 |
| Rating scale | 1–5 stars | Art. 3.1.2 |
| Submission window post-Engagement | 1 month | Art. 4.4.1 |
| Reviews per Engagement | 1 | Art. 4.5.1 |
| Aggregate calculation method | Median (hierarchical for Service) | Art. 5.1, 5.2 |
| Trainer recent-Trainings weighting | 1.5× for last 5 Trainings | Art. 5.2.1(b) |
| Service Review minimum display threshold | 5 verified Reviews | Art. 6.1.1 |
| Trainer minimum display threshold | 3 Trainings + 5 Reviews | Art. 6.2.1 |
| Appeal window | 72 hours from submission | Art. 7.2 |
| Auto-publication after | 72 hours, no Appeal | Art. 7.2.3 |
| "Accept early" feature | None — system always waits 72h | Art. 7.2.4 |
| Reviewer edit | ❌ Disabled | Art. 7.6 |
| Reviewer delete | ✅ Anytime | Art. 7.5 |
| Permitted Appeal grounds | 5 (Defamation, Spam/Fake, Inappropriate Language, Factual Error, Conflict of Interest) | Art. 8.3.1 |
| Appeal Fee | Published on Platform; non-refundable | Art. 8.2 |
| Appeal decision target | 14 days | Art. 8.4.4 |
| Appeal arbiter | Moderator (SUPER_ADMIN override) | Art. 8.4.3 |
| Top Rated Badge — minimum Overall Rating | 4.5 stars | Art. 9.1.1 |
| Top Rated Badge — minimum Reviews | 10 | Art. 9.1.1 |
| Top Rated Badge persistence | 3 months from earning, then re-evaluated | Art. 9.2 |
| Top Rated Badge during 3-month period | Stays even if rating drops | Art. 9.2.2 |
| Defamation strike — first instance | Warning | Art. 13.4.1 |
| Defamation strike — second instance | Account suspension | Art. 13.4.1 |
| Public response feature | None in v1.0 | Art. 1.2.3, 11.2 |
| Private Feedback visibility | Reviewed Party + Moderators only | Art. 3.3.2 |
| Private Response | One-time only, thread closes after | Art. 11.2.1, 11.2.2(c) |
| Private Feedback retention | Indefinite | Art. 12.5.1 |
| Private Response retention | Indefinite | Art. 12.6.1 |
| Appeal records retention | Indefinite | Art. 12.7.1 |
| Removed Review (upheld Appeal) deletion | Immediate from public; audit retention | Art. 12.3 |
| Engagement types qualifying for Service Review | 3: completed consultation, Cabinet case, converted Inquiry | Art. 4.1.1 |
| Multi-Specialist matters | Lead Specialist only reviewable | Art. 4.3 |
| Off-platform verification | Not in v1.0 | Art. 4.1.2 |
| Organization reviewability | Not in v1.0 | Art. 1.2.3 |
| Reverse review (Specialist→Client) | Not in v1.0 | Art. 1.2.3 |
| Notifications | Full v1.0 system, mandatory | Art. 10 |
| Amendment grace period | None | Art. 17.3 |
END OF RULEBOOK
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