Grow your clientele and serve the public: Join the State Bar's
referral service and save
Feb. 4, 2009 – Every year, more than 1,000 clients with identified
legal needs and the ability to pay for legal assistance are unable to
obtain a referral to an attorney through the State Bar’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service
(LRIS). In these cases, there are no LRIS panel attorneys in the
counties where callers need help.
“LRIS offers attorneys an easy way to serve the public, but
also is ideal for attorneys who lack the time to market their
services,” says LRIS Committee chair Janice Bensky of Madison.
“The State Bar prescreens LRIS referrals saving lawyers even more
time. It’s a win-win situation for both clients and
attorneys.”
Attorneys are especially needed in more rural counties; however,
attorneys statewide are encouraged to register for the service. While
the highest percentages of callers need administrative, consumer,
criminal, family, real property, torts, labor, bankruptcy, estate
planning, and business law help, LRIS seeks attorneys in all practice
areas.
How LRIS works. Lawyers who register can join two
pools of referrals – phone and Internet. Web referrals account for
more than 40 percent of the total referrals made, yet the Web
site’s existence has not decreased the number of phone calls to
the service, which remains at more than 40,000 annually.
Experienced LRIS legal assistants evaluate callers’ needs and
then either refer them to an attorney, a community or government
resource, or the Lawyer Hotline, or answer basic questions.
Participation in the Internet service is optional and included with
LRIS registration at no additional charge. Users access LRIS through LegalExplorer.com, the State Bar’s
consumer site, and receive referrals by selecting a legal practice area
and geographic location. As with LRIS’s telephone referral
service, online referrals are made on an impartial, county-by-county,
rotation basis with both types of referrals. Clients contact attorneys
directly to set up appointments.
Join now and pay $47.50 through June 30, 2009 (half off the annual
registration fee). Lawyers also can sign up for 18 months, through June
30, 2010, at $128.25 for an additional 10 percent savings. Lawyers
admitted to practice between July 1, 2005 and Dec. 31, 2007, can join
for $37.50, and lawyers admitted in 2008 can join for $22.50 (through
June 30, 2009).
To register, download a registration form or contact the State Bar at
(800) 444-9404, ext. 6131.
