The Ethics of Referrals

Fee sharing is one of the most misunderstood aspects of law business. Many of these misconceptions can be traced back to law school, where professors often focused exclusively on the ABA Model Rule 1.5, without giving due attention to its caveats. When done correctly, fee sharing is not only ethical–it leads to much better outcomes for clients.

This program will survey the various regulatory frameworks utilized by states concerning referral fees with the goal of providing lawyers with working understanding of how to employ this tool to benefit their clients and grow their practice. This program will also discuss lawyer referral service regulations and referrals from non-lawyers.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the ABA Model Rule approach to fee splitting
• Explain the different regulatory frameworks used by states concerning referral fees
• Identify common missteps when it comes to referring matters across state lines
• Gain a practical understanding on how to use referrals to grow your practice
• Learn how non-lawyer ownership in law firms affects fee splitting across state lines