Informal Opinion Number: 960218
Rules: 10.1;7.2(c);5.4
Lawyer Referral and Information Services
Lawyer Referral and Information Services
QUESTION: Attorney submits information about a business which refers clients to attorneys and charges a fee for the referral. Instead of accepting cash, attorney accepts a form of credit which can be used to pay other members of the system for their services. May Attorney participate in this program? Is the credit system fee splitting? ANSWER: Unless the program becomes registered as a qualified lawyer referral service under Rule 4 dash–10.1, Attorney would violate Rule 7.2(c). Without more specific, detailed information regarding the program, it is not possible to determine whether the credit system would involve fee splitting prohibited by Rule 4 dash–5.4.
Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.
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