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What is the BCBA Lawyer Referral Program?

The Baltimore County Bar Association's Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) is a non-profit public service project of the Baltimore County Bar Association. The goal of LRIS is to match qualified lawyers to clients with specific needs, and also to provide the client with a free consultation. LRIS maintains a panel of attorneys with experience in specific areas of the law (listed below).

Our referral attorneys are screened annually, must be in good standing with the State Bar of  Maryland, and must carry professional liability insurance.* Attorneys are referred based on the legal issue and client preferences including geographic, language, and board certification.

How Do I Use the Lawyer Referral Program?

In an effort to help us serve you more efficiently, we have gone to a virtual intake portal. Please complete this online LAWYER REQUEST FORM to move forward with the program to receive your free consultation. There is more information on the online portal and the LRIS program before filling out a lawyer request form. PLEASE CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO MOVE FORWARD, OR NAVIGATE TO THE HIRE AN ATTORNEY WITH LAWYER REFERRAL PANEL ABOVE.

For those without access to internet services, you may call on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am.- 12:00 pm to speak with a BCBA representative to make a referral. 

If you submit an online form you will receive an email with further instructions, as well as contact information for a lawyer. If you speak with a representative over the phone you will take down the information of the attorney over the phone. Please note, that it is your responsibility to contact the lawyer. They will not reach out to you unless you have attempted to contact them. If further legal service is required, fee arrangements will be made between you and your lawyer.

How much does LRIS cost?

The Lawyer Referral Service is a FREE public service. Please note, we provide referrals to attorneys for hire, meaning they will detail their attorney fees after the consultation.

If you are looking for pro-bono or reduced fees you may look at the resource guide we have provided by clicking here or by going to the Other Legal Resources Panel above.

In addition, you may apply for our reduced fee programs that are listed here, as well as in the Reduced Fees Resources Panel above.

These guides will provide you with contact information and qualifications for free or reduced-fee services. Demographic and/or income qualifications may apply.

How much do lawyers charge in fees?

Fees must be discussed directly with the lawyer. The Lawyer Referral Service does not calculate or provide fee information. Fees are dependent on the type and complexity of your case. Please note, attorneys will need to discuss your legal issue, in an initial consultation, before determining fees and the correct fee structure. Common fee structures include:

• CONTINGENCY FEES Lawyers that bill on contingency collect fees and expenses from money agreed to by settlement won from case judgment. Lawyers who charge on contingency do not require any payment upfront or by retainer. Personal injury, medical malpractice and certain types of labor cases are frequently cases billed on the contingency fee structure.

• HOURLY RATE FEES Lawyers that bill at an hourly rate charge clients a set amount per hour they spend working on the case. This fee does not include expenses and court costs. When billing at an hourly rate, attorneys generally require a deposit, or retainer payment, upfront before they begin working on your case. Hourly billing is the most common fee structure for attorneys.

• FLAT FEES Lawyers that bill on a flat fee basis charge clients a set fee that is not dependent on how many hours they work on your case. This fee may or may not include expenses and court costs. Lawyers who charge a flat fee generally require the full payment upfront, before they begin working on your case. Flat fees are generally used for case matters that do not require going to court, but more attorneys are using the flat fee structure for simple and routine litigation cases.

How long does it take to schedule a consultation?

Once provided with an attorney referral contact information, you are responsible for contacting the attorney directly to schedule a first-time consultation. Each attorney has their own scheduling requirements. Please consult with your referred attorney or firm staff for more information.

How do I explain my issue?

We suggest using the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN to explain your issue in 1-3 sentences.

EXAMPLES:

• My mother was hit by an 18-wheeler on Jan 24 and has been in the hospital for 3 days.

• I am opening a restaurant with my best friend and we need to set up the business.

• My husband filed for divorce. We have 3 children and own a home and business together.

• My wife and I want to write our wills or set up a trust. We have children from prior marriages and 2 children together. We need advice on how to set these up.

Areas of Law the LRIS Program Can Represent You In 

• Administrative
• Admiralty/Maritime
• Animal
• Bankruptcy (Chapter 7, 11, 12 or 13, Corporate)
• Business
• Civil Litigation
• Civil Rights
• Collections
• Consumer
• Contract (Commercial, Consumer, Structured Settlements)
• Criminal
• Education (Disciplinary Hearing, Special Education)
• Elder
• Employment
• Entertainment
• Estates
• Family
• Guardianship (Adults, Minors)
• Immigration
• Insurance 
• Intellectual Property (Copyright, Patent, Trademark)
• Mediation (Civil, Domestic)
• Military
• Real Estate
• Social Security/Disability
• Taxation
• Tort/Toxic Tort
• Unemployment
• Veterans Administration
• Workers’ Compensation (Federal, State)