Legal Services Consumer Panel – Referral Arrangements Consultation

Ref: 04.10

ILEX has been invited by the Legal Services Consumer Panel (The Panel) to provide evidence on referral arrangements. Referral arrangements are often characterised by payment in return for referral of business, but fees do not need to be involved. In the legal services sector, the third party may be another lawyer, but it may also involve introducers such as claims management companies, insurance companies and estate agents.

The Panel will be looking at the payment and receipt of referral fees by lawyers, as well as non-monetary arrangements that are linked to the introduction of clients.

In order to assist our submission we are inviting all ILEX practitioners to respond with as much information as possible to the following three questions:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of referral arrangements to:

a) Your firm/organisation

b) clients/consumers

2. If referral arrangements are banned, what impact would this have on:

a) Your firm/organisation

b) clients/consumers

3. If referral arrangements remain, what if any, additional safeguards would you like to see for:

a) Your firm/organisation

b) clients/consumers

Please email your three responses to Gus Ghataura, Law Reform Officer at: [email protected] by Monday 8^th February 2010 latest.

A copy of our submission will be uploaded to our website after 26^th February 2010.

Thank you for your support, we look forward to hearing from you.

Posted 15.01.10