Of Interest

Lawyer referral service needs more attorneys to match with Michigan clients seeking service

 

Michigan Bar Journal

 

The State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyer Referral Service has been connecting attorneys with clients for more than 40 years — but now it’s even better equipped to help.

The Lawyer Referral Service now incorporates new technology that better screens clients so participating attorneys receive referrals best matched to their areas of expertise. Plus, the Modest Means Program has expanded to include more practice areas, creating an opportunity for more attorneys to participate.

There continues to be need for attorneys to participate in the Michigan Lawyer Referral Service. Last year, the Lawyer Referral Service responded to more than 10,000 requests for legal assistance and made more than 4,000 referrals to participating attorneys. However, more than 1,700 potential clients could not be referred because there was not a participating attorney in the geographic or practice area they needed.

The shortage of attorneys is especially great in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula and the practice areas of family, consumer, probate, and medical malpractice law.

Visit michbar.org/programs/lawyerrwferral _panel or contact Monique Smith, LRS panel coordinator, at msmith@michbar.org or (517) 346-6323 for more information.