In 1946, BASF launched its Lawyer Referral Service to help returning World War II veterans navigate the legal challenges of returning to civilian life. Within a year, nearly 100 vetted attorneys had joined the program, offering clients an initial consultation for just $5. Now, what began as a commitment to serving veterans has grown into an indispensable legal resource for the communities of San Francisco, Marin County and beyond. 

From those roots, the San Francisco-Marin Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) has evolved into a nationally recognized, award-winning lawyer referral service that serves the public and the legal profession. Today the staff handles approximately 50,000 calls a year from people needing guidance and access to legal services in the Bay Area.  The SF-Marin LRIS has continually adapted to meet the community’s changing legal needs, responding to landmark legislation, natural disasters, and emerging areas of law.  

• Responding to crisis: From the HIV/AIDS epidemic to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, wildfires, and COVID-19, LRIS has consistently mobilized to provide emergency legal assistance when the community has needed it most. 
• Advancing civil rights: LRIS helped establish the AIDS Legal Referral Panel in the 1980s — a partnership that expanded over decades to serve same-sex couples — and trained attorneys on ADA compliance. 
• Expanding reach and frontiers: From absorbing the Marin County Lawyer Referral Service in 2014, to operating a support line in response to the California Wildfires and partnering with the various city offices to support small businesses, the LRIS has continually answered the call to meet emerging legal needs across the Bay. 

As we mark this 80th anniversary, we are grateful to the attorneys, staff, and supporters who have made this work possible across eight decades of service. We are proud to have helped build the practices of many solo practitioners and small firms across the Bay Area, and we look forward to continuing to grow, adapt, and serve those in need of legal guidance in San Francisco and Marin for generations to come. 

Learn how you can join the San Francisco-Marin Lawyer Referral and Information Service’s referral panels by visiting our webpage or contacting lrismembership@sfbar.org.