Ethics Hotline & Opinions

Ethics Docket No. 1990-06

MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, INC.

COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

ETHICS DOCKET NO. 1990-06

Reducing or Eliminating Fee When Client Refers Business to Attorney

 

You state that your client, an attorney, has referred clients of his to a particular bail bondsman, who has also referred person in need of legal services to the attorney. You ask whether or not it is permissible for the attorney to perform legal services at a nominal or at no cost for the bondsman, due to the frequency of the referrals made by the bondsman to the attorney.

We refer you to Rule 7.2(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. That Rule provides, in pertinent part, that "A lawyer shall not give anything of value to a person for recommending the lawyer's services…" We are of the opinion that providing legal services at nominal or at no costs "due to" or in consideration of referrals made or recommendations given is impermissible.

 

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