Many attorneys refer out cases to other lawyers for various reasons. Some of the most common reasons for referring a case to another personal injury attorney is lack of ability to take on the case, lack of expertise or comfort with the case, or simply feeling that the other attorney is a better fit. However, before engaging in this practice, it is important to think carefully about asking the following questions. 
Having a strong relationship with other attorneys that you can refer business to is extremely valuable. Many attorneys who develop these relationships keep them over the long run and this ends up benefitting the attorneys involved as well as all the potential clients. The following questions should always be asked before referring a case to a separate lawyer.
While referring out another case should always include a consideration of whether or not this is in the client’s best interests, as a lawyer, the referral situation should be in your best interest, too. It is a courtesy to another lawyer when you refer out business, but you need to be clear about what role, if any, you’ll play in the case.
Referring business, in some situations, will go beyond receiving a referral fee and forgetting about the case. If this is a client you’ve already represented or a personal friend, you may want to be involved in hearing about how the case is unfolding. That’s why it’s vital to be on the same page as the other lawyer from the outset. 
Here are the questions you need to ask when giving business to another lawyer:
- Do you receive a letter or email confirming your referral fee on day one?
- Do you ever receive an unrequested update regarding the status of the case?
- Are you promptly advised of significant developments in the case like settlement conferences, trial dates, and settlements?
- Do you receive your referral fee check by mail instead of by hand delivery even if referral counsel is in the same city?
- Are you paid the same day as the lawyer and client get paid?
- Are referred cases declined instead of referred back to you for other options?
- Are support staff in referred counsel’s office polite and responsive to your concerns?
Partnering with another lawyer can be extremely beneficial for everyone involved, but this is only true when both lawyers are on the same page and are clear about how their relationship with the client will work. Make sure to ask these critical questions and evaluate the answers before referring work out.