Bar’s LRS seeks new members
The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service made 69,387 referrals in 2016, of which 5,860 were made online.
The LRS currently has 761 lawyers participating in the service, and LRS panel members made more than $2.1 million in fees last year. The service covers 47 counties with the remaining Florida counties’ referral services offered through their local bar associations.
The eight part-time clerks of the LRS staff answer calls from consumers Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Using a computerized referral system, the clerks log consumers’ names, telephone numbers, and brief descriptions of their legal problems. They then provide callers with the name, address, and telephone number of a panel member and advise consumers to contact the lawyer for an appointment. The public may also access a LRS participant online by visiting.
“I appreciate the staff’s hard work and their patience and professionalism with the callers,” said Karen Kelly, director of the Bar’s public service programs. “They do an exemplary job of helping those in need of legal assistance.”
There are currently four bilingual LRS clerks. These clerks answer approximately 30 calls per day from people who speak only Spanish, and refer those callers to a Spanish-speaking attorney in the caller’s area.
A LRS panel member must be a member in good standing with no probable cause complaints and practice in geographical areas not covered by a local bar referral service.
Attorneys participating in the service must carry at least $100,000 in professional liability insurance, and agree to provide a half-hour consultation for no more than $25. If they take a case, 12 percent of the fee must be remitted to The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service.
The number of referrals participating lawyers receive depends on their areas of practice and geographic locations.
Lawyers interested in becoming a member of The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service may call Nicole Murphy at 800-342-8060, ext. 5807.
