For AttorneysThe Referral Exchange
Refer the matter. Keep the fee.
Send matters you can’t take and receive matters you can — inside the only network where every participant is identity-verified against the official State Bar of California roll. The fee division is yours: 100% splits between the attorneys under CRPC 1.5.1, with the written agreement and the client’s written consent generated, e-signed, and enforced by the exchange. Free at every membership level.
How it works
1. Send or post
Refer a matter directly to up to three chosen attorneys, or post it to the member board. Recipients see a blind summary — practice, county, fee basis, your proposed share — never client details.
2. Accept with a conflict check
The accepting attorney attests a conflict check. First acceptance wins; client details unlock only then.
3. Sign the generated agreement
Both attorneys e-sign the written fee-division agreement the exchange generates — identities, exact split, and the no-fee-increase term, with a document hash recorded against every signature.
4. The client consents in writing
The client receives the written disclosure and signs online. Under CRPC 1.5.1 the division is effective only after that written consent — the exchange enforces it.
5. Track to the last dollar
Engagement, fee received, referring share paid, receipt confirmed — a closed loop in both dashboards. Payment runs directly between attorneys; the registry never holds funds.
California is a pure-referral-fee state: a referring attorney may take an agreed percentage without working the matter, provided the lawyers’ agreement is in writing, the client consents in writing after full written disclosure, and the total fee is not increased by the division. The exchange generates both documents, records a hash-evidenced e-signature for every party, and does not treat the division as effective until the client has signed. The registry itself is not a law firm and is not a lawyer referral service — it takes no share of any fee and never holds client funds.
Compared with the referral platforms
| Referral Exchange | Overture | Attorney Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free — every claimed attorney, all tiers | Free to apply (vetted membership) | Free tier or $999/mo Premium |
| Per-case fees | None | None | $49–$299 match fee per signed case (free tier) |
| Platform's share of the fee | None — 100% divides between the attorneys | ≈17.5% hourly / ≈5% PI contingency (published splits) | None |
| Who can participate | Claimed + identity-verified against the State Bar roll, active license | Application-vetted members | Open sign-up |
| CRPC 1.5.1 paperwork | Generated, e-signed, hash-evidenced; client consent enforced before the division is effective | Engagement package in-platform | Left to the attorneys |
| Client funds | Never touched — attorneys pay each other directly | Platform routes payments | Not handled |
| Scope | California — 278,688 attorneys on the roll | National | National |
Common questions
What does the Referral Exchange cost?
Nothing. Every claimed, identity-verified California attorney with an active license can send and receive referrals at every membership level, including free. No match fees, no subscription requirement, and never a percentage of any fee.
Are referral fees legal in California?
Yes. California is a pure-referral-fee state: under Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5.1, lawyers not in the same firm may divide a fee if they have a written agreement, the client consents in writing after full written disclosure, and the total fee is not increased because of the division. The exchange automates all three requirements.
Who keeps the referral fee?
The attorneys — all of it. The division you agree (defaults: one-third referring on personal-injury contingency, 25% on other contingency, 15% on hourly or flat matters, all editable) is split 100% between the referring and handling attorneys. California Attorney Registry is not a law firm, takes no share, and never holds funds.
Is this a lawyer referral service?
No. The Referral Exchange is technology for attorneys who already represent a client to bring in or hand off counsel — attorney to attorney. The registry does not refer members of the public to lawyers and is not a certified Lawyer Referral Service under Business & Professions Code § 6155.
How is this different from Overture or Attorney Share?
Overture is operated by a law firm that takes a published share of each divided fee (≈17.5% hourly, ≈5% PI contingency). Attorney Share charges flat match fees of $49–$299 per signed case or $999/month. The Referral Exchange is free at every level, takes nothing from the division, and gates participation on identity verification against the official State Bar roll.
Legal information, not legal advice. Attorneys remain responsible for their own compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
California Attorney Registry is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any company named on this page. Product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners, used here for identification and comparison only. Comparison reflects publicly available information as of July 2026; verify current details with each provider. Legal information, not legal advice.
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Claim My Profile278,688 attorneys on the roll · identity verification · CRPC 1.5.1 paperwork automated