Lawyer Referral Service Guidelines

Under Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 7.3(c), a lawyer shall not compensate or give anything of value to a person or organization to recommend or secure the lawyer's employment by a client, or as a reward for having made a recommendation resulting in the lawyer's employment by a client; except that the lawyer may pay for public communications permitted by Rule 7.1, and except as follows:

(1) A lawyer may pay the usual and reasonable fees or dues charged by a bona fide lawyer referral service.

Click here to find the information that must be provided to the State Bar of Georgia in order for an organization to be registered as a Bona Fide Lawyer Referral Service in the State of Georgia.

Click here to see a list of lawyer referral services that have registered with the State Bar of Georgia and are currently certified as Bona Fide Lawyer Referral Services.

(2) A lawyer may pay the usual and reasonable fees or dues charged by a bar-operated non-profit lawyer referral service.

Click here to find the information that must be provided to the State Bar of Georgia in order for an organization to be registered as a Bar-Operated Non-Profit Lawyer Referral Service in the State of Georgia.

Only the Lawyer Referral and Information Service of the Atlanta Bar Association has complied with Rule 7.3(c)(2) and been certified by the State Bar of Georgia as a Bar-Operated Non-Profit Lawyer Referral Service. 

Atlanta Bar Association
Lawyer Referral and Information Service
400 International Tower
229 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia  30303-1600
Carla Brown
(404) 521-0781
Certification expires on December 31, 2006

(3) A lawyer may pay the usual and reasonable fees to a qualified legal services plan or insurer providing legal services insurance.

(4) A lawyer may pay the usual and reasonable fees charged by a lay public relations or marketing organization.

(5) A lawyer may pay for a law practice in accordance with Rule 1.17: Sale of Law Practice.