Referral fee rules · Pennsylvania
Referral fees in Pennsylvania
Pa.R.P.C. 1.5(e) (204 Pa. Code § 81.4, Rule 1.5) · Pure referral fee permitted
Pennsylvania permits pure referral fees. A lawyer may divide a fee with a lawyer not in the same firm if the client is advised of and does not object to the participation of all the lawyers involved, and the total fee is not illegal or clearly excessive. There is no proportionality or joint-responsibility requirement, no written-consent requirement, and no requirement to disclose the share each lawyer receives.
What Pennsylvania requires
- • Client advised of and does not object to participation of all lawyers involved
- • Total fee not illegal or clearly excessive
- • No proportionality or joint-responsibility requirement
- • No writing or share-disclosure requirement in the rule text
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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