Attorney Referral Service Can Help You Find Clients
by Borden Webb

In the January-February issue of this publication, I reminded readers of the Sacramento County Bar Association's Attorney Referral Service (ARS), and how it could be of help to new members of the bar, or those venturing into private practice. This article will provide you with a bit more information about ARS.

ARS is certified by both the State Bar and American Bar Association to operate an attorney referral service. The SCBA has adopted bylaws and rules of operation for the service. The ARS Committee has five members. Vince O'Brien serves as chair. He is joined by ex officio member Stuart Home, who is the SCBA's Second Vice President; Emory King; Jim McFetridge; and Borden Webb. The ARS Committee meets quarterly to oversee budget, advertising and other items. SCBA Executive Director Carol Prosser serves as the ARS Committee's executive. She keeps the minutes, prepares the budget, makes recommendations and supervises the ARS staff person.

The SCBA maintains a dedicated telephone line for calls to ARS: (916) 444-2333. The ARS Committee urges - no, it demands - that anyone making a referral to the ARS to provide this telephone number to the person being referred. Providing this phone number to potential clients ensures that they reach the ARS for referrals.

A staff person receives calls at the ARS number from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Weekend callers have to wait until Monday morning for a response. The staff person screens each caller, completes the intake form and refers the caller to the appropriate person on the panel. The caller is entitled to one half-hour of consultation for $30.00. The fee is collected by staff before the referral is made. After that first half-hour, fee arrangements are between the attorney and the client, except that ARS receives a percentage of all fees collected by the attorney.

The fee arrangement between ARS and the panel attorneys works as follows. For personal injury, malpractice and product liability matters, where the fee is likely to be a percentage of the recovery, ARS receives 25 percent. For family law and criminal matters, ARS receives 20 percent. ARS receives 10 percent of the fee in all other matters. Both panel members and ARS have in the past found these percentages to be reasonable and reflective of the value given by each. In an upcoming article, I will give you a testimonial from a panel member of the value of referrals from ARS.

How do you become a panel member? Sign up! Call Daisy Guzman at 448-1087, extension 202. She will send you the forms. There is an annual fee for ARS members. For non-SCBA members, the fee is $185.00. SCBA members pay $146. One case referral ought to pay this fee annually.
What other requirements exist? Members must be members in good standing of the State Bar (which means completing the mandatory CLE hours) and carry the required errors and omissions coverage. They must specify their areas of emphasis, grant the one half-our consultation to the client at the specified charge, and abide by all ARS rules. Each member must also agree to donate 12 hours of time annually to pro bono services, with a choice among VLSP, non-compensated court appointment or any other service approved by the ARS Committee.

Join ARS! Get those referrals and build your practice! If you don't want to join, send your declined contacts to ARS. Give the contact the ARS number - 444-2333. ARS needs referrals, and through its process, can assure the contact of the best possible representation.