Convocation approved a cap for referral fees based on a percentage of the legal fee: 15% for the first $50,000 of legal fees and 5% of all legal fees thereafter, to an absolute cap of $25,000.
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ALERT
We are hearing about more and more cases where the time limitations for filing have lapsed due to a failure by a plaintiff’s legal representative to meet deadlines. Claimants should stay informed of what is happening with their files and forms and ask the questions about filing dates and limitations. Please see some of the decisions and articles listed at the bottom of this page for details
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LSUC approves sliding cap on referral fees
The Law Society of Upper Canada has approved an absolute cap of $25,000 on referral fees. Convocation voted Thursday to implement a sliding cap, which will see referral fees be limited to 15 per cent of the first $50,000 charged in legal fees and five per cent of any fees on top of that, up to a $25,000 cap.
http://canadianlawyermag.com/l
Lawyers need signed consent to refer out cases
The Law Society of Upper Canada voted Thursday to approve several measures to bring the referral process “into the sunlight,” including a “sliding cap” on referral fees, which limits their amount, and a mandatory agreement that all parties will have to sign before a referral can take place.
Disclosure and Investigated Complaints
It is commonly difficult for prospective clients to obtain good information about lawyers and paralegals. The significant growth of brand advertising is cogent evidence of this. Potential clients assume that brand is evidence of quality when that may well not be the case. Substantial sums are paid for brand advertising because it works. Similarly, the advertising of dubious awards and reassuring photographs evidences that lack of genuine information about quality.
http://www.slaw.ca/2017/04/28/
Tighter restrictions on referral fees welcome: Marshall
TORONTO — Lawyers in Ontario should have their fees for referring clients to another lawyer capped at a maximum of $25,000, a report released on Monday recommends.
In addition, the report says lawyers should have to record referral fees paid or received in their books, and report on their referral-fee practices in their annual reports to the body that regulates the profession in the province.