Lawyer referral services: how bar-run referrals work and what they cost

What a lawyer referral service does#

A referral service is a matchmaker with rules. You call or fill in an online form, and a staff member asks what happened, where and when. If the problem needs a lawyer, the service refers you to one from its panel who handles that type of case, such as car accident injury claims. The ABA describes these services as screening inquiries to decide whether a problem is a legal one, and making unbiased referrals to lawyers with relevant experience.

The referral itself is not legal advice, and the service does not handle your case. What you get is a name and a first meeting. After that, you and the lawyer decide whether to work together, the same as if you had found the lawyer yourself.

Services with "information" in their name may also point callers to other help when a lawyer is not the answer, such as a government agency or a legal aid office.

The standards behind bar-run services#

Lawyer referral services are regulated, but the details depend on your state. The ABA's model standards are a common starting point. It adopted its Model Rules Governing Lawyer Referral and Information Services in August 2022, and it lets programs that meet its standards say so. According to the ABA, approved programs:

• set objective experience requirements for the lawyers on their panels;
• require and verify that every panel lawyer carries malpractice insurance;
• offer a way for clients to give feedback and resolve complaints;
• do not cap the number of lawyers who may join, as long as they meet the panel requirements.

That last point matters. An open panel means lawyers get onto the list by meeting the requirements, not by paying the most. The ABA is also clear about a limit: it does not review the qualifications of the individual lawyers. Approval covers how the program runs, not each lawyer on it.

States add their own rules. Texas, for example, does not let a referral service operate without a state certificate, and the State Bar's own service says it is certified. The ABA's ethics rules let lawyers pay the usual charges of a not-for-profit or "qualified" referral service, and the comment to Minnesota's version of that rule explains that a qualified service is one approved by an appropriate regulatory authority.

What it costs#

Bar-run services often set a low price for the first consultation. Two states as examples:

Prices in other states vary. Ask when you call, and ask whether the price is different for injury cases.

If you hire the lawyer, the referral service does not set the lawyer's fee. Car accident lawyers usually work on a contingency feeContingency fee. A lawyer's fee paid as a share of what you recover. If there is no recovery, there is usually no fee. Glossary. Our guides to contingency fees and fee agreements explain how those fees work and what a written agreement should say.

The service may also be paid by the lawyer. Under ABA Model Rule 7.2(b), a lawyer may not pay anyone for recommending them, except the usual charges of a legal service plan or a not-for-profit or qualified lawyer referral service. You may want to ask the service how it is funded and whether its charges affect what you pay.

Referral services versus lead websites and ads#

Search for "car accident lawyer" and you will find many websites offering a free match. Some are bar-run or state-certified referral services. Others are marketing businesses that pass your contact details to lawyers or are paid by the lawyers they list.

The ethics rules draw the line here. A lawyer may pay the reasonable costs of advertising, but under Rule 7.2(b) may not pay anyone for recommending them, apart from the exceptions such as a not-for-profit or qualified referral service. The comment to Minnesota's version of the rule, for example, says a lawyer may pay for client leads as long as the lead generator does not recommend the lawyer.

Some marketing sites are useful, and advertising is legal. The point is to know which kind of site you are on. If a site will not say who runs it, how lawyers are chosen or whether lawyers pay to appear, treat it as advertising. Pressure to sign quickly is a warning sign; see red flags.

How to use a lawyer referral service#

1. Find the official service for your state or city. Use your state bar's website or your state page, which lists the bar's referral service.
2. Have the basics ready. Note the date and place of the crash, the injuries, the insurers involved and any letters you have received. Mention any deadline you know about.
3. Ask how the service works. Ask what the first consultation costs, how long it lasts and how panel lawyers are screened.
4. Go to the consultation prepared. Bring the police report, medical bills and insurance letters. Our list of questions to ask a lawyer can guide the meeting.
5. Check the lawyer's license. A referral is not a guarantee. Look the lawyer up as described in how to check a lawyer's license.
6. Decide on your own schedule. You do not have to hire the lawyer you are referred to. If the fit is wrong, you can ask the service for another name or look elsewhere.

Finding your state's service#

Many state bars run a referral service, and some city and county bars run their own. In Texas, the State Bar's service ((800) 252-9690) sends callers in several large counties, including Dallas, Harris and Travis, to their local certified services. The Texas guide has the details.

Each state page in our state directory lists the state bar's referral service. The ABA's Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral and Information Service also keeps a directory of lawyer referral services, linked from the ABA's resources for the public.