Referral fee rules · Louisiana
Referral fees in Louisiana
Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(e) · Distinctive rule — read carefully
Louisiana rewrote Model Rule 1.5(e). Lawyers in different firms may divide a fee only if the client agrees in writing to representation by all lawyers involved and is advised in writing of the share each lawyer will receive, the total fee is reasonable, and each lawyer renders meaningful legal services for the client in the matter. The meaningful-services requirement bars pure referral fees: a lawyer who merely passes along a client cannot share the fee. Louisiana does not offer a joint-responsibility substitute for performing work.
What Louisiana requires
- • Client agrees in writing to representation by all lawyers involved
- • Client advised in writing of each lawyer's share
- • Total fee is reasonable
- • Each lawyer renders meaningful legal services in the matter
Source: read the rule text
Educational summary, not legal advice. Rules change and several turn on the facts of the matter. Confirm against the current rule text and your own jurisdiction's version before agreeing to divide a fee. Remember that both the referring and receiving lawyer's rules can apply.
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Jurisdictions with a similar rule
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