Often, this column highlights a particular case referred by the Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS), as well as the LRIS panel attorney who skillfully handled it. In many instances the attorney has achieved a significant monetary result for the LRIS client. Under the State Bar of California rules for Lawyer Referral Services, a portion of the attorney fee is forwarded to LRIS. Those forwarding fees are used to support the non-fee-generating public service aspects of the service, as well as to the other charitable programs of the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF).

The benefits of a case referred through LRIS extend far beyond the satisfied client and the attorney who received a good case. Clients in need of pro bono services, San Francisco school children, minority law students, and many others are touched by the positive ripple effect of an LRIS referral.

Referral fees received by LRIS are subject to regulations set forth by both the American Bar Association and the State Bar of California. Under the rules, revenues earned by LRIS in excess of expenses may only be used to support programs which are charitable in nature.  Historically, LRIS has made donations to the JDC’s charitable programs, and in 2006  the donation process was formalized through the creation of the LRIS Fund for Public Service.

Through this fund, LRIS has been pleased to support the pro bono legal services and charitable activities of the JDC, including the Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Program and the School-To-College program. As LRIS continues to meet its financial goals each year, distributions from the LRIS Fund for Public Service will continue to provide support for these charitable programs.

As such, the benefits of a case referred through LRIS extend far beyond the satisfied client and the attorney who received a good case. Clients in need of pro bono services, San Francisco school children, minority law students, and many others are touched by the positive ripple effect of an LRIS referral.  We encourage all attorneys to consider LRIS as your “go to” referral source for clients, friends, and family in need of legal assistance.

Year after year, attorneys refer clients to LRIS, making attorneys one of our principal sources for referrals.
If you are an attorney seeking new opportunities to meet with prospective clients, please contact us at www.sfbar.org/LRIS for membership information or call our Membership Coordinator, Yvonne Ng, at yng@sfbar.org.  If you cannot assist an inquirer who contacts your law firm, consider LRIS as the trusted source for referrals to attorneys with verified experience.  The number to call is 415-989-1616 or email inquiries can be submitted at www.sfbar.org/LRIS.