QUESTION
Can lawyers legally accept referral bonuses?
Asked on Feb 14th, 2013 on Immigration - Florida
More details to this question:
Can lawyers legally accept a referral bonus? We have a DNA testing service, we plan to partner up with Immigration lawyers. I was wondering if it's legal to pay the lawyer a referral bonus for each DNA testing client that came from him.
11 ANSWERS
NO, attorneys can accept referrals from other attorneys.
Answered on Feb 25th, 2013 at 2:05 AM
Ronald A. Steinberg
It would be wise to contact the Ethics people for the State Bar Association and ask them. I see nothing obviously wrong, but it does not smell clean to me. Things like this are done all the time, but we only hear about them when someone gets charged with a crime or a breach of ethics. I think it is smart to learn BEFORE you get into it, instead of after.
Answered on Feb 21st, 2013 at 11:28 PM
Commercial Contracts Attorney serving Boise, ID
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Peters Law, PLLC
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NO. Lawyers cannot accept referral bonuses. Not to say some won't take them, but they are not allowed under our ethics rules.
Answered on Feb 18th, 2013 at 11:09 PM
Personal Injury Attorney serving Charlotte, NC
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Paul Whitfield and Associates P.A.
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A lawyer cant pay you but I don't know any reason why you cant pay him. You might ask him directly. He may want to ask the Bar ethics committee to answer your question first.
Answered on Feb 18th, 2013 at 7:44 PM
James Eugene Hasser
Yes, but if the referral stem from a case the lawyer is handling, you and the lawyer need to disclose the bonus relationship to the client.
Answered on Feb 17th, 2013 at 10:06 PM
Car/Auto Accident Attorney serving Hacienda Heights, CA
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Gary Lee Platt
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Lawyers can receive referral bonuses. However, a lawyer cannot PAY a referral bonus to a non-lawyer.
Answered on Feb 17th, 2013 at 9:57 PM
Litigation Attorney serving Olean, NY
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Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP
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Typically, lawyer's cannot share fees with non-lawyers. I'm not sure what your arrangement is but, any attorney getting it a business arrangement with a non-attorney must be very careful.
Answered on Feb 17th, 2013 at 8:31 PM
I would think that it is you can phone the State bar ethics line to find out for sure. As a practical matter, if it ever got out that you were paying for DNA test all testing done by that attorney's firm would be questionable as evidence in a court of law.
Answered on Feb 17th, 2013 at 8:27 PM
Criminal Defense Attorney serving Anderson, SC
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The David F. Stoddard Law Firm
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In SC, oddly, the lawyer cannot pay for referrals to the lawyer, but I cannot think of a rule that prohibits lawyers from being paid to refer clients to venders or doctors.
Answered on Feb 17th, 2013 at 7:58 PM
It is unethical for a lawyer to split a fee with a non-lawyer.
Answered on Feb 17th, 2013 at 7:48 PM
Probate & Trust Attorney serving St. Petersburg, FL
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Rooth Law Group, P.A.
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You are going to get this one a lot. That is a question for the Florida Bar! I am pretty sure that would constitute fee splitting and is not permitted under our professional rules, but it is worth double checking.
Answered on Feb 17th, 2013 at 7:46 PM