UK referral fees
I am a lawyer working in Australia but am also admitted to practise in England and Wales. I follow your site with interest and was appalled to note (Oct. 7) that referral fees could be paid by or to solicitors in England and Wales.
It was with great relief then, that I learnt that a motion was presented to the Law Society of England & Wales (the regulatory body) which voted overwhelmingly (3 to 1) in favour of returning to the old position of referral fees not being allowed.
Although the motion has to be ratified by the Council it gave me a bit of a fuzzy feeling to know that there are lawyers out there who not only have principles themselves but who will stand up for them. -- Sean Stocks, Perth, Western Australia
While the vote of the membership is not binding, the Law Society has pledged to re-examine the issue by this Spring. -- W.O.