What this platform does, and what it does not.

World Legal Services is a technology platform that connects clients with verified independent legal professionals and professional experts from across the globe. It provides a marketplace for lawyers and other professionals and service providers such as insurance companies. It facilitates payment, and the verification of the professionals providing services through it.

It is not a law firm and it is not an accounting firm, although its founder is a lawyer of over thirty years experience.

WLS is a private company founded by Advocate Raynos Gumbo, a lawyer of more than thirty years standing. It partners with various associations in the verification of lawyers and other professionals who provide services through this platform.

The ten pillars are lawyers and advocates, forensic accountants, forensic auditors, estate agents and valuers, tax consultants, private investigators, company secretaries, debt collectors, arbitrators, expert witnesses and process servers.

Six of these are open for applications and bookable today. The rest are on the roadmap, and the pillars page marks which is which rather than listing them all as available.

Post your case, get matched with three verified experts, review their profiles and quotations, and settle on one of them. Pay the agreed fees into the trust account. Funds are released to the expert only when you confirm the work has been completed to your satisfaction.

Case matching is not built yet. Today you browse the directory, see each professional's published fee, and book a slot with the one you choose.

Yes. Every member is verified directly with their association. Only verified members provide services on this platform, and every effort possible is taken to avoid fake profiles.

Yes. All money is held in licensed banks with deposit protection. Funds are released to the expert on completion of the work, following a written authority to release the funds signed by the client.

Raise a dispute or a complaint with WLS within 14 days. WLS mediates first. If the dispute is unresolved it goes to the expert's association for discipline or arbitration. Your funds are protected during this period.

WLS is a technology platform only. The expert is independently liable. Every expert carries professional indemnity insurance to cover such situations. You can also lodge a complaint through the member's association.

Fees are split three ways: 20% platform fee to WLS, 75% to the member, and 5% to the member's association.

There are no other hidden fees.

We cover cases across the world, in every country where we are represented by experts.

Apply. We verify with your association. Submit your professional indemnity cover, complete the onboarding form, and agree to our contract, which carries the terms and conditions.

Active membership in good standing with your association.

Professional indemnity insurance of at least USD 50,000.

Agreement to the WLS terms and code of conduct.

The client pays into the trust account. When you submit the work and the client approves it, you receive 75% of the fees within 72 hours. WLS retains 20% as the platform fee and 5% goes to your association.

For large deposits, payment can be staged on the completion of certain milestones. Each payment is authorised by the client.

By algorithm, based on expertise, location, ratings, response time, and finally client choice.

WLS does not guarantee a minimum number of cases, or any cases at all.

The client pays before the member is instructed. Payment is made into the trust account first, and work starts after that.

The client reports first to WLS for mediation. If the matter is not resolved, the dispute is escalated to your association for further management.

You always see the allegation and answer it before any decision is taken. The name of the person who reported it is not shown to you.

All quotations should be inclusive of tax as it applies in your jurisdiction. You are therefore responsible for paying your own tax, and your fee note must state the amount that represents tax.

We are not a bank. We use licensed banks to hold the platform's trust funds.

WLS complies with all international standards for data protection. All data is encrypted. We will never sell your data. See the privacy policy.

To assist with verification of a member's qualifications and their standing with the association, and to discipline its members in the event of a professional breach.

For these services the association receives a 5% levy on all cases done by its members. WLS provides a dashboard to monitor those members.

No. Members are independently liable, and claims can be settled through the member's professional indemnity insurance.

All arbitration disputes are settled through the WLS arbitration rules, or under UNCITRAL rules where the parties agree on them. The governing law is the law of Zimbabwe and the city of arbitration is Harare.

WLS liability is capped at the fees earned on that specific case, or USD 1,000, whichever is greater. WLS is not liable for the outcome of any case.

WLS can freeze funds and report the matter to the authorities, and will co-operate with them fully.

Report it. WLS freezes the funds, bans the expert, and releases the funds back to you. There is a drawback period for large amounts.

All trust funds are released back to their owners by the bank, within 14 days and after all association dues are paid.

Yes. You can create a team project if you have the funds. You can hire a lawyer, a forensic accountant and a private investigator at the same time, and WLS coordinates all the payments.

The expert must send a change order for you to approve. Any extra fees are paid into the trust account. No verbal changes are allowed.

No. All communications happen through WLS, so that the case can be tracked and kept under control.

You can, but you must pay for work already completed and approved by you. All unused funds are refunded to you.

No professional can guarantee the result of a court outcome. WLS guarantees verification, secure payment and dispute mediation only.

This must be declared before hiring, for objectivity.

Members must declare a conflict of interest before accepting instructions. If one is found later, WLS terminates the contract, refunds the client, and reports the matter to the association.

WLS, with the client's consent, appoints an independent expert to mediate. The cost is split 50/50 unless the parties agree otherwise.

That is not allowed. The member is banned and reported to their association.

We comply with lawful court orders, and we notify both parties.

WLS handles the situation in terms of the law. All payments are made in United States dollars.

Your contracts and your trust funds remain valid.

WLS maintains its own professional indemnity and cyber insurance. Members must also maintain their own professional indemnity cover, of at least USD 50,000.

WLS notifies affected users within 72 hours. Liability is capped at USD 5,000 or 12 months of your fees, whichever is lower.

We carry cyber insurance, and we notify you within 72 hours.

WLS freezes the case and either refunds unused trust funds to the client within 14 days, or reassigns the case to another expert.

WLS receives feedback from the association. The member's profile is suspended within 24 hours, and active cases are reassigned.

Yes. Enterprise clients can upload their own non disclosure agreements or master service agreements. WLS attaches them to the case and still holds payment in the trust account.

Yes. Enterprises and associations get a dashboard covering invoices, case status, ratings and audit logs for internal audit.

Yes. Enterprise portals allow budget caps, two person approval, and preferred expert lists.

Yes. Some verifications require it, particularly where money laundering or a sanctions breach is suspected.