TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ONLINE TUTORIAL SERVICES (“TUTORING AGREEMENT”)


BETWEEN:


1. ELIGIBILITY AND FORMATION OF CONTRACT

1.1. These Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings for online tutorials, including but not limited to law and SQE preparation tutorials.

1.2. By booking a session and/or making a payment, the Student warrants that they are at least 18 years of age.

1.3. A legally binding contract is formed only when the Tutor has confirmed the Student’s booking in writing via email.


2. FEES AND PAYMENT TERMS

2.1. The fee for services is currently £45.00 per hour.

2.2. The Tutor reserves the right to increase the hourly rate at any time. Any price increase will be notified to the Student in writing.

2.3. Bookings made and paid for prior to a price increase will be honoured at the original rate; new rates apply to subsequent bookings.

2.4. Payment Timing: 

(a) For sessions booked more than 24 hours in advance, payment is required in full at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start time to secure the booking.

(b) For sessions booked within 24 hours of the scheduled start time ("Short-Notice Bookings"), payment is required immediately upon receipt of the Stripe link or invoice to confirm the slot.

(c) The Tutor reserves the right to reallocate any time slot where payment has not been received in accordance with these timeframes.

2.5. Payments are processed via Bank Transfer or a secure Stripe link.

2.6. The Tutor does not store card details; all card payments are handled securely by Stripe as the third-party processor.


3. STATUTORY RIGHT TO CANCEL (COOLING-OFF PERIOD)

3.1. The Student has a right to cancel this contract within 14 days of the booking date without giving any reason.

3.2. Express Request for Service: If the Student books a session to take place within this 14-day period, this constitutes an express request for the service to commence immediately.

3.3. Payment for Services Provided: If the Student exercises the right to cancel during the cooling-off period after the service has begun, the Student shall pay an amount in proportion to the services supplied before the cancellation was communicated.

3.4. Loss of Right to Cancel and Definition of Full Performance: 

3.4.1. The Student acknowledges and agrees that the right to cancel under the statutory cooling-off period is lost once the service has been fully performed.

3.4.2. For the purposes of this agreement, "Full Performance" of a tutorial session is defined as:

(a) The expiration of the scheduled 60-minute duration of the tutorial session, provided the Tutor was available for the duration; or

(b) The conclusion of the tutorial session at an earlier time where the Student voluntarily chooses to end the session before the 60 minutes have elapsed; or

(c) Where the Tutor has delivered the educational instruction and/or materials requested for that specific booking, and the session has concluded.

3.4.3. Once Full Performance has occurred, the Student acknowledges that they are no longer entitled to a refund under the statutory cooling-off period, notwithstanding that the 14-day window may not yet have expired.


4. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

4.1. Application: Following the expiry of the 14-day statutory cooling-off period, all cancellations and rescheduling requests are governed exclusively by this Clause 4.

4.2. Timely Cancellation and Administrative Fees: Where the Student provides more than 24 hours’ notice to cancel a session, they are eligible for a refund of the session fee, less an Administrative Processing Fee.

(a) The Administrative Processing Fee is a direct pass-through of the non-reimbursed transaction costs incurred by the Tutor (specifically fees withheld by Stripe or the Student's banking provider).

(b) This fee is only applicable where such third-party charges have actually been deducted from the transaction and are not recoverable by the Tutor.

(c) For a standard £45.00 transaction, this fee is typically approximately £1.50 per hour booked (subject to variation based on the Student's payment method or card type).

(d) No fee is charged if the Student chooses to reschedule the session instead of requesting a refund, as the original payment remains applied to the new slot.

4.3. Late Cancellations and No-Shows: Where the Student provides less than 24 hours’ notice (or the period otherwise agreed in writing), or fails to attend a scheduled session ("No-Show"):

(a) The full session fee(s) shall be retained by the Tutor as a Late Cancellation Fee.

(b) The Student acknowledges that this fee is not a penalty; it is a necessary charge to compensate the Tutor for the reserved billable hour(s) which, due to the short notice provided, cannot be reallocated to another student.

(c) No refund or complimentary reschedule shall be provided for such instances, except where Clause 4.4 applies.

4.4. Tutor Discretion: Notwithstanding Clause 4.3, the Tutor may, at their absolute discretion, offer a refund (less the Administrative Processing Fee) or a complimentary reschedule for late cancellations due to exceptional circumstances (e.g., medical emergencies), provided this is confirmed by the Tutor in writing.

4.5. Refund Processing: All refunds are credited back to the original payment method used at the time of booking, in accordance with the operating policies of the payment processor (Stripe).

(a) The Student acknowledges that Stripe typically takes 5–10 business days to process these funds and that the Tutor has no control over banking processing times.

(b) In the event that the original payment method is no longer active, the Student remains responsible for coordinating with their financial institution to retrieve the funds once the Tutor has provided proof of the refund transaction.


5. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

5.1. Mutual Commitment: Both parties agree to interact with professionalism, honesty, and mutual respect at all times.

5.2. The Tutor’s Obligations: The Tutor agrees to:

(a) Provide competent instruction tailored to the Student's specific subject/topic of study or learning goals, within the scope of the booked session;

(b) Professional standards:

(i) Maintain professional boundaries in line with standard educational practices for adult learners;

(ii) Act with integrity and in a manner consistent with the professional conduct expected within continuing and professional education sectors in England and Wales;

(iii) Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the Student’s personal details and academic performance, except where disclosure is required by law or for safeguarding purposes.

(c) Make every reasonable effort to be punctual for all sessions and provide constructive, honest feedback;

(d) Maintain a current and relevant knowledge of the applicable subject/syllabus.

5.3. The Student’s Obligations: The Student agrees to:

(a) Arrive prepared and on time with necessary materials to maximise the value of the billable hour(s);

(b) Treat the Tutor with professional courtesy; any harassment, abusive language, or inappropriate behaviour will result in the immediate termination of the session and contract without a refund.

5.4. Academic Integrity:

(a) The Tutor’s role is to facilitate the Student’s proficiency in the subject matter; the Tutor will NOT complete graded work, write essays, or sit exams on behalf of the Student.

(b) Any request for "contract cheating" or other forms of academic dishonesty is strictly prohibited, and will be treated as a material breach of contract, resulting in the immediate termination of the session and contract without a refund.


6. NO GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY OF OUTCOMES

6.1. Educational Nature: The Student acknowledges that the tutorials are an educational aid designed to support study and do not constitute a guarantee or warranty of academic, professional, or career success.

6.2. No Outcome Warranty: The Tutor makes no guarantee, representation, or warranty regarding specific examination results, grades, or professional qualifications, including but not limited to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

6.3. Student Responsibility: Success in any assessment is dependent on a variety of factors beyond the Tutor’s control, including the Student’s independent study, preparation, and performance under examination conditions. Responsibility for academic performance and the final results of any assessment remains solely with the Student.

6.4. No Legal Advice: For the avoidance of doubt, while the subject matter may involve legal principles, the tutorials are provided for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No lawyer-client relationship is formed.


7. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

7.1. Tutorials are typically conducted via Google Meet. The Student is responsible for ensuring a stable internet connection and compatible hardware.

7.2. If a session is interrupted by a technical failure on the Tutor’s end, the session will be rescheduled at no extra cost or a full refund provided.

7.3. If a failure occurs on the Student’s end, the fee remains payable. The Tutor may offer to reschedule at their discretion if the Student notifies them promptly.


8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

8.1. The Tutor will provide the service with reasonable care and skill.

8.2. Nothing in these terms shall limit liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

8.3. Subject to clause 8.2, the Tutor’s total liability for any loss arising under this agreement is limited to the total fees paid by the Student for the session(s) in question.

8.4. The Tutor shall not be liable for indirect loss, loss of opportunity, or loss of potential future earnings.


9. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

9.1. The Tutor processes personal data in accordance with the UK GDPR and the policy at gwwoodroffe.com/privacy-policy.

9.2. Personal data is processed for the performance of this contract and for legal/tax obligations.

9.3. Google (Meet/Calendar) and Stripe (Payments) are used as third-party Data Processors.

9.4. Financial records are retained by the Tutor for 6 years; session notes are typically deleted after 2 years.


10. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

10.1. This agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

10.2. The parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim.

10.3  Acceptance: By proceeding with a booking and payment, the Student agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

11. COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION


11.1. The Tutor is committed to providing a high-quality service. If the Student is dissatisfied with any aspect of the tutorial services provided, they should raise the matter in the first instance by contacting the Tutor in writing via email.

11.2. The Student should set out the nature of their complaint clearly, providing any relevant details or dates, to allow the Tutor to investigate the matter fully.

11.3. The Tutor will acknowledge receipt of a complaint within five (5) working days and aim to provide a full written response or a proposal for resolution within fourteen (14) working days.

11.4. In accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015, if the services provided fail to conform to the contract (specifically if they are not carried out with reasonable care and skill), the Student has the right to require that the Tutor repeats the service at no extra cost. If such repeat performance is impossible, cannot be carried out within a reasonable time, or would cause the Student significant inconvenience, the Student may instead be entitled to a price reduction (which may be up to the full amount of the fee paid).

11.5. These internal complaint procedures do not affect the Student’s statutory rights under English law.

11.6. If a dispute cannot be resolved through informal discussion, both parties agree to consider the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or mediation as a constructive step before initiating any formal legal proceedings.