Practice Tools

ISBA Ethics Opinions on Referral Fees and Arrangements

  • Lawyer's participation in networking group with nonlawyer professionals : 12-03
  • Reciprocal referral agreements : 10-02
  • Mediation firm paying nonlawyers in exchange for case referrals : 01-05
  • For profit referral service : 97-05
  • Fee for referring clients to other nonlawyer professionals : 97-04
  • Disclosing client identity : 97-01
  • Participation in for profit lawyer referral service managed and advertised by nonlawyers : 94-12
  • Client referrals from nonlawyer in exchange for payments : 94-08
  • Lawyer participation in informational seminar and subsequent legal representation : 94-04
  • Reduced fees to government employee in exchange for potential referrals : 92-16
  • Corporate client recommends its law firm to corporate employees and secures reduced fees for the employees : 92-08
  • Lawyer retained by collection agency on behalf of creditor : 91-03
  • Reasonableness of referral fee : 90-18
  • Referral fee to lawyer ethical prohibited from representing the client : 90-11
  • Prosecutor’s acceptance of referral fee for violation of county ordinance : 89-02
  • Network of affiliated law firms : 840
  • Referrals from spouse : 801
  • Part-time public defender accepting referral fee for case related to police misconduct : 784

ISBA Advisory Opinions on Professional Conduct are prepared as an educational service to members of the ISBA. While the opinions express the ISBA interpretation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and other relevant materials in response to a specific hypothesized fact situation, they do not have the weight of law and should not be relied upon as a substitute for individual legal advice. For more information, call the ISBA Legal Department at (217) 525-1760 or (800) 252-8908.