It speaks highly of our fellow lawyers that they consider the ethics of accepting referral fees. Rest assured, Rule 1.5(e) of the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct permits contingent fees to be divided between two (or more) law firms as long as the client has given written consent. In addition to providing you with payment for any legal services you have already provided, a referral may also be better for your client’s case.
Referring Your Case Allows You to Keep Your Promise to Your Client
Some lawyers know that a case is not a good fit for them from the first phone call, while others may realize it only after spending a great deal of time and effort on the case. Unfortunately, the decision to refer the case out only gets harder as time goes on, potentially risking your relationship with a client who views you as a trusted advisor.
If your top concern is the best outcome for your client, it is far more ethical to refer a case that needs additional work to us than risk losing in court. Our dedication to your client and your professional reputation is reflected in our:
- Written fee agreement. Our fee agreement details the percentage of each law firm’s fees in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Tennessee. It is signed by you, your client, and a lawyer from our firm, ensuring full compliance with the ethics rules concerning fee division.
- Service to your client. Some lawyers will continue to represent a client even if they cannot afford the increasing costs of going to court. As an experienced trial lawyer, John Griffith will not hesitate to put the full force of the firm’s resources into hiring expert witnesses, creating exhibits or demonstrations for evidence, or using focus groups if it will benefit a client’s personal injury case.
- Adherence to contingency laws. Upon successful resolution of the case, we issue a percentage of the contingent fee as payment to referring lawyers. If there is no recovery, no referral fee is paid.
For a free legal consultation, call (615) 807 7900
No matter what point your personal injury or wrongful death case has reached, GriffithLaw will accept any referral that we feel will benefit our peers and their clients. Simply fill out the short contact form on this page or give us a call at (615) 823-8233 to learn more about partnering with our firm.
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