Referral fee rules · Tennessee
Referral fees in Tennessee
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 8, RPC 1.5(e) · Proportional work or joint responsibility
Tennessee tracks the ABA Model Rule structure: fee division between lawyers not in the same firm is allowed only if the division is in proportion to the services performed by each lawyer or each lawyer assumes joint responsibility, the client agrees and the agreement is confirmed in writing, and the total fee is reasonable. Unlike the Model Rule, Tennessee's rule and Comment [7] do not require disclosing to the client the share each lawyer will receive.
What Tennessee requires
- • Division proportional to services OR joint responsibility assumed by each lawyer
- • Client agrees to the arrangement
- • Agreement confirmed in writing
- • Total fee is reasonable
- • Disclosure of each lawyer's specific share is not required
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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