Discovery calls

A discovery call is a 15 minute Zoom call or telephone call with a team member from SOLVi Migration to discuss your situation and your Australian Migration goals. It is a virtual meet and greet if you like. It is an opportunity for you to obtain our preliminary views about the processes and of course the costs involved to assess your case and migration options. There is no fee for this service as you will not obtain legal advice during the discovery process.

1. Online Consultations

We may offer online consultations with our lawyers and/or registered migration agents through our Online Services (Online Consultation). An Online Consultation forms part of our Online Services. By proceeding with an online consultation, agree to our General Online Terms and Conditions published on our Site and these Online Consultation Terms.

During an Online Consultation, we will:

(a) identify relevant issues relating to your migration queries;

(b) identify available options; and

(c) provide you with information relevant to your circumstances,

to assist you decide whether to formally engage us to provide migration and/or legal services to you.

2. Interpreter / Translation

If English is not your first language, we recommend that you engage a qualified interpreter or translator to assist you in your Online Consultation, your dealings with us generally, and in relation to your migration affairs.

You acknowledge that we are not able to verify the validity of any translation of a written document. We will recommend the process of obtaining written translations for your migration affairs, and you agree that we are not liable if you do not follow our recommendations.

3. Costs and Payment

By proceeding with an Online Consultation, you agree to pay our quoted fee for the Online Consultation. Such agreement is subject to these Terms and represents a costs agreement between you and us.

We may cancel your Online Consultation if payment is not received from you prior to the scheduled Online Consultation time.

4. Interest on Unpaid Costs

If all or part of the fees for an Online Consultation are unpaid seven (7) days after the date of our bill, the unpaid fees will accrue interest (which you are liable to pay), from the date of the bill until full payment is received. Interest will accrue daily, capitalised monthly, at the rate that is 6 percentage points above the cash target rate stated (most recently before the date of the bill) by the Reserve Bank of Australia (see: www.rba.gov.au/statistics/cash-rate).

5. Your rights

You have the right to negotiate a costs agreement with us. You have the right to seek (and we recommend that you do seek) independent legal advice before entering into a costs agreement with us. You acknowledge that you have been informed of your right to seek independent legal advice before entering this agreement.

If you have any queries about the aspects of the costs, please let us know (either before or during your Online Consultation).

If you wish to dispute the costs and apply for a cost assessment under Division 7 of Part 3.4 of the

Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld). Time limits apply. The time limits are:

(a) within twelve (12) months after we give you a bill or a request for payment; or

(b) if we have not given you a bill or a request for payment, within twelve (12) months after the costs were paid.

You can apply to the Supreme Court of Queensland for this costs agreement to be set aside under section 328 of the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld). Time limits apply. You will need to make such an application within six (6) years after entering into this costs agreement.

6. Lien

If you do not formally engage us and fail to pay any amount owing to us (such as our Online Consultation fees) then, in addition to any other rights we have, we will maintain a lien over your money or property in our possession or under our control (including files and documents - whether or not those files or documents relate to the work done under this agreement) until you have paid all monies owing to you by us, whether those monies are owing under this agreement or otherwise.

7. Unpaid Costs

If you do not pay, when due, the costs, interests, and any other payment due to us under this Agreement (Unpaid Costs), or any part thereof you will also be liable to pay us, and to indemnify us for, the costs of pursuing payment of the Unpaid Costs.

For the purposes of the preceding paragraph

(a) the cost of us pursuing payment of the Unpaid Costs shall be calculated at our hourly rates and other rates set out in the attached Schedule, on the indemnity basis pursuant to the

Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) and shall include all other amounts payable under this agreement, including GST and service charges; and

(b) to be clear, pursuing payment of the unpaid costs may occur, for example, by sending a statement of account or a letter of demand, by negotiations, by costs assessment, by court/tribunal proceedings (Including responding to court/tribunal proceedings commenced by you), by enforcing a judgement, by insolvency action, and by any other step taken because of your failure to pay the Unpaid Costs when they were due.

If you have provided us with the post office box address, an email address, or a mobile phone number for contacting you, then you agree that any court documents relating to a proceeding for pursuing the Unpaid Costs may be served upon you by sending the documents to that post box or email address, or by text message to that mobile number.

8. Goods and Services Tax

Unless otherwise states, all fees quoted on our Online Services are exclusive of goods and services tax (GST). Where GST is levied on our fees or other charges, we will charge you GST in addition to our fees and other charges and disbursements (if any). You must pay GST at the same time and in the same manner as you are required to pay our fees.

9. Liability for Online Consultation

To the greatest extent permitted by law, in no circumstances will our liability for any Loss arising directly or indirectly out of, or in connection with, an Online Consultation exceed the total of all monies paid by you to us immediately before the event or series events giving rise to the relevant claim (Liability Cap).

Our liability is limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. All legal practitioners employed or engaged by SOLVi are members of the scheme.

Under the scheme, our maximum aggregate liability for any losses arising in relation to these Terms is capped at $2,000,000.00. Our limitation of liability is not varied or affected by our coverage by the scheme.

If, under any applicable Professional Standards Legislation, the maximum liability of the legal practitioner and/or SOLVi for Loss arising from or connected to an Online Consultation would exceed the Liability Cap, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Liability Cap will apply in place of that amount.

If, under any applicable Professional Standards Legislation, the maximum liability of the legal practitioner and/or SOLVi for loss arising from or connected to an Online Consultation would be lower than the Liability Cap, then the Liability Cap will be reduced to the lower amount.