4 minute read
NBA’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service is Revamped
In late 2019, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, then NBA president Laura Baker appointed a task force to study what is known as the “Lawyer Referral Service” to determine if the program should continue and, if so, how it could be improved. The task force consisted of Laura Baker, Mike Abelow, Dan Berexa, Wendy Longmire, and Jackie Dixon, chair. The task force has completed its work and made recommendations to the NBA Board.
The NBA’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) has been providing a service to the public and NBA members for more than 25 years. It follows the ABA model rules for the operation of public service lawyer referral programs. It also complies with Rule 44 of the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules, which addresses Regulation of Lawyer Intermediary Organizations.
The LRIS has not been doing well in recent years. Participation by attorneys on the practice area panels has declined to the point that some panels had no members.
The LRIS Task Force looked at the entire program with the goals of serving the public, serving NBA members, and increasing income to the NBA. The task force started with the basic question of whether the lawyer referral service was a worthwhile program to continue. It was determined that the program should continue because it (1) provides the public with a trusted source to find an attorney for a small fee; (2) is a service to NBA members both by giving members a source for referrals to them as well as giving members a place to refer people when the member is unable to be of assistance; and, (3) has the potential to be a significant revenue source for the NBA. Although LRIS income has varied greatly over the years, depending on the amount of fee sharing received from panel attorneys, it has never been as significant as it is to some bar associations where lawyer referral income makes up close to one-third of the association’s income.
The Task Force recommended the following changes:
Outsource the call screening. This change has been made and was necessary to provide better service and to ensure that calls were not being missed. Since this change was
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Editorial | NBA’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service is Revamped (continued from page 25)
made earlier this year, the volume of calls answered has increased.
Simplify the proceess for lawyers to serve on the LRIS
panel. The lengthy and cumbersome application to serve on the subject matter panels has been shortened. It is now much less intimidating to complete. The list of practice area panels has been updated. Check out the application by going to nashvillebar.org/LRISAttorneys
Raise the threshold for the 15% fee sharing. The threshold for fee sharing has been raised from $500 to $1,000 before lawyers have to remit 15% of their fee to the NBA.
Reduce the lawyer participation fee. The annual participation fee that lawyers paid to receive referrals has been reduced from $299 to $150. A lawyer can serve on an unlimited number of practice area panels for the annual fee of $150, with no surcharge for certain panels as in the past.
Recruit lawyers for the practice area panels. Efforts are underway to recruit additional practice area panel members. This is being done by soliciting from bar committees, directly asking specific attorneys or firms to participate, and recruiting from the NBA Leadership Forum. When you are asked to serve on a practice area panel, please say “yes!” Of course, you do not have to wait to be asked, members can sign up at any time to serve. It is a win-win. You will gain clients, participate in one to the NBA’s signature public service projects, and help the NBA’s bottom line.
Publicize the ravamped program. Efforts are being made to spread the word about LRIS. Even if you cannot serve on a practice area panel, you can still help the LRIS by directing others to the program. Tell your receptionist to direct callers to lawyer referral when the firm cannot assist. You can mention the LRIS as a possible source of an attorney when declining to represent someone. You can also remind your peers that LRIS can be a source of good quality referrals.
MIKE ABELOW is a member at Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbinson and represents claims in commercial litigation and bankruptcy. He also serves on the board of the Nashville Bar Association as president.
JACQUELINE DIXON is a member of the law firm Weatherly, McNally & Dixon PLC where she practices family law disputes and divorce, personal injury, and probate law.
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