Michigan attorneys encourage more lawyers to participate in Lawyer Referral Service

For new lawyers entering the legal profession, and even established attorneys, building a client base and can be a daunting task. Attorneys participating in the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyer Referral Service, which pairs potential clients with attorneys specializing in their needs, called it a valuable tool in building their practice and providing important service to the public.

Victoria Sloan, an Attorney at Hurwitz & Gantz in Dearborn Heights, prides herself on listening, troubleshooting, and problem-solving for clients. She said LRS “has been an invaluable tool for making those connections.”

Barry D. Adler, a work injury lawyer in Farmington Hills, shared similar sentiments, saying “The Lawyer Referral Service is an invaluable resource to help people find legal advice and representation from lawyers with expertise in specific areas of the law.”

For Louis Galinsky, partner at Meyerson Galinsky, the rewards are twofold: “I have received referrals that are financially rewarding to the firm and at the same time provide a service to the general public,” he said.

The Lawyer Referral Service addresses a critical need in the legal community by providing a streamlined avenue for individuals to find legal assistance. However, there simply aren’t enough participating attorneys to fill the public need. In the 2023 fiscal year, more than 2,600 potential clients could not be matched with a participating attorney.

The State Bar of Michigan is actively recruiting attorneys statewide in all practice areas to its Lawyer Referral Service panel.

The base registration fee for panel members is $150 annually and includes four practice areas and two judicial circuit designations. Additional judicial circuits may be purchased at $25 each or $300 for all judicial circuits in the state.

Becoming a panel member is easy and takes just three simple steps: 

1. Go to michbar.org/lrs and click “Sign up here.”
2. Complete your profile by identifying your practice areas and judicial circuits.
3. Check the online tracking system (or your email) for referrals.

For additional information, please visit the State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service at michbar.org/lrs or contact Panel Coordinator Monique Smith at (517) 346-6323 or msmith@michbar.org. 

Posted: February 20, 2024