Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) in the United States
Fee-Splitting Rules in California
By Lisa J. Borodkin, who has a private practice specializing in Internet and entertainment law in Los Angeles. And by Christina M. Gagnier, who is the managing partner of Gagnier Margossian’s digital strategy consultancy, and leads its IP and Technology law practice in San Francisco.
California’s Rule of Professional Conduct 1-320 governs fee splitting, stating that an attorney shall not “directly or indirectly share legal fees with a person who is not a lawyer,” with certain exceptions. Rule 1-320(A)(4) provides the applicable exception for website referral services: “A member may pay a prescribed registration, referral, or participation fee to a lawyer referral service established, sponsored, and operated in accordance with the State Bar of California’s Minimum Standards for a Lawyer Referral Service in California.”
So long as an online referral service charges users no fees, participating attorneys should be clear of fee-splitting trouble. Shpoonkle is currently free to all participants. LawPivot is free for lawyers to join and has offered potential clients a “free trial.” However, were either start-up to shift to a “freemium” model – a hybrid of free basic service and paid premium service – use of the site might implicate Rule 1-320(A)(4).
These creative services have tremendous potential to broaden access to legal services. However, attorneys still have a duty to follow the rules in using any such new services. A critical question is whether the California Rules of Professional Conduct or the ABA Model Rules will adapt quickly enough to specifically address the likely proliferation of such websites. Making rules hastily or one platform at a time may not be the best strategy.
Bar Online Lawyer Referral Service
The Lawyer Referral Services (LRS) of the State Bar of California offers, in the Calbar website, the possibility to display the lawyer referral services within its county. However, the State Bar is not a lawyer referral service and cannot give any recomendation in this regard.
The Florida Bar’s Online Lawyer Referral Service is a Bar Lawyer Referral Service Online, which might help the user find a lawyer when he or she needs one.
The Houston Lawyer Referral Service (HLRS) is certified by the State Bar. It provides referrals to over 200 private practice attorneys who have registered. The Houston Lawyer Referral Service is a non-profit community service project of the legal profession that was established in 1958.
It also offers a Lawyer Referral the Maine State Bar Association.It publishes “How the Lawyer Referral Service responds to your referral request, online or by phone, to find you the Right Lawyer for your specific situation, in almost every” county.
The Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas, Austin. This Lawyer Referral Service “assists people who don’t know the legal system or who may be nervous about lawyer fees.”
The Philadelphia Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service is an “interactive real-time service” that “will match you with a lawyer who practices in the area(s)”. And, adds, there “is no cost to obtain a referral to a lawyer through this site.”
Also a Lawyer Referral Service is provided by the Oregon State Bar. The Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service (“LRS”) “has a variety of programs to assist the public in finding the right lawyer.”
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