LRS Membership Application and Statement

Each panel member must maintain professional liability insurance and must submit the current declarations page of the policy as proof. The minimum required is $500,000 per claim. The Mercer County Bar Association shall be listed as an additional insured on the Certificate of Insurance, for notification purposes.

If your insurance coverage lapses or is discontinued for any reason, you must notify the MCBA Lawyer Referral Service immediately. Failure to comply will mean removal from the panel.

I acknowledge that the Mercer County Bar Association, herein referred to as the Association, has no responsibility for the collection of fees from clients, nor does the Association warrant my competence with respect to any matter which is referred. I certify that I will not accept representation or continue representation in a matter for which I am not qualified or competent. I will remain primarily responsible for the file of any case referred to me by the Lawyer Referral Service. I also certify that I will not share referrals given to me by the Lawyer Referral Service unless I am unable to handle the case. In that event, I agree to return the client to the LRS program for re-referral or share the referral with only an attorney who is a member of my firm and who is also an active member of the Lawyer Referral Service. I also agree to comply with the Rules and Procedures of the Lawyer Referral Service set forth by the Association.

I agree to remit to the Mercer County Bar Association Service a referral fee of twenty percent (20%) when any fee is collected on a case referred through this program. I recognize and agree that the amount remitted to the Mercer County Bar Association Service shall be based upon the net fees received, after the payment of any filing fees or costs which were paid to third parties.

I further agree that the client shall not be billed an additional amount to cover the referral fee and that the combined fees and expenses billed to the client shall not exceed the total charges which would have been billed to the client if the Lawyer Referral Service had not been involved. I further agree that the Lawyer Referral Service shall have access to my records of referral matters in the event of a dispute concerning the referral fee.

I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Mercer County Bar Association (including without limitation, the Officers, Trustees, Lawyer Referral Service Committee, and staff of the Mercer County Bar Association, and their agents) from any and all claims, demands, actions, liability or loss, including, but not limited to, costs of defense, including a reasonable attorney's fee, which may arise from or be incurred as a result of any loss and all referrals of a client to me through the Lawyer Referral Service.

I agree to charge potential referred clients no more than $25.00 for the first half hour of consultation, which will cover the conference and advice, and not the preparation of any documents.

By signing below, I agree that the MCBA Lawyer Referral Service has a lien on any of the proceeds of any legal fee on any matter referred to e to the extent provided above.