Bar Association Files Complaint with Fair Trade Commission Against LawTalk Operator 'Law&Company'

'Rotok' advertisement installed on the streets of Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Korean Bar Association (KBA) and the Seoul Bar Association have filed a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission against Law&Company, the operator of the legal service platform, Lotok.

On the 24th, the KBA and others stated, "Law&Company violated the Electronic Commerce Act and the Act on Labeling and Advertising by engaging in false, exaggerated, and deceptive advertising targeting consumers."

The KBA first claimed that Lotok's "Premium Lawyer" service is an illegal business practice that deceives consumers. The KBA explained, "Lotok exposes only lawyers who have paid a certain amount of money as 'Premium Lawyers' at the top of the site," adding, "They did not properly inform consumers of this and graded lawyers based on whether they paid an economic fee."

The KBA also argued that although Lotok advertised on its homepage that consumers could meet about 3,900 lawyers, the actual number of lawyers displayed was less than half. They added, "We will strictly respond to such cases in the future."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice announced on the same day that the service of the legal service platform "Lotok" does not violate the Attorney-at-Law Act and stated that it will form and operate a "Legal Tech Task Force (TF)."