Each year, more than 50,000 individuals and businesses contact us seeking qualified, experienced legal representation from San Francisco and Marin County attorneys like you.
WELCOMING BAY AREA ATTORNEYS TO SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN LRIS!
Interested in Expanding Your Practice, Finding New Clientele with Promising Cases, and Serving the Bay Area community? You may now be eligible to join the San Francisco-Marin LRIS: The Bar Association of San Francisco's most robust public service program helping attorneys generate $23 million in attorney fees over the last decade of service.
To qualify, applicants must either 1) be available to meet in-person with clients confidentially in San Francisco or Marin County in an office open to the public or 2) be available virtually in an acceptable virtual office setting so long as this meets the client's needs and expectations.
- For Attorney practices outside of San Francisco or Marin, the offices must be:
- recorded with the California State Bar and
- located within one of the nine Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo.
See the LRIS rules for full details about eligibility. Please note, applicants for the Court Appointment Programs, Private Criminal referral and Juvenile private referral panels must comply with San Francisco office rules.
Follow these steps to join or renew your LRIS membership:
- Step 1: Attorney Agreement
- Step 2: Panel Applications
- Step 3: Rules and Schedules
- Step 4: Submit your Application
- Step 5: Approval
Step 1: Attorney Agreement
Download and complete the Attorney Agreement in full. Please note there is a separate agreement to join the Marin county panel.
Attorney Agreement - San Francisco Panel
Attorney Agreement - Marin Panel
Consider joining our Military Assistance Program. Check the box for “MAP” on the LRIS Attorney Agreement. Learn more about the Military Assistance Program.
Step 2: Panel Applications
Choose a panel. Select your desired practice, download the application, fill it out and follow the rest of the steps. If you are renewing your LRIS membership, please note that panel members are required to fill out an application(s) every few years. If you need to fill out an application(s) in a given membership year, we will inform you which panel applications are due at the time renewal notifications are sent for the coming membership year.
- Business
- Cannabis Business
- Criminal
- Disability Rights
- Low Fee Education
- Elder Abuse
- Family
- Immigration
- Insolvency
- Intellectual Property
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Juvenile Dependency
- Labor Relations
- Legal Malpractice
- Military Law and Veteran's Benefits
- Personal Injury
- Probate
- Real Estate
- Taxation
- Workers Compensation
Step 3: Rules and Schedules
Read the San Francisco-Marin Lawyer Referral and Information Service Rules (applicable to both private referrals and court appointment panels):
View the LRIS Forwarding Fee Schedules (applicable to private referrals only):
Step 4: Submit your Application
Submission by mail: Mail the signed agreement and applications, proof of Errors and Omissions insurance, and your check with the correct amount to:
LRIS Membership Coordinator
The Bar Association of San Francisco
201 Mission Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, California 94105
Submission by email: Submit the signed agreement and applications, and proof of Errors and Omissions insurance to LRIS Membership Coordinator, Yvonne Ng, at yng@sfbar.org. To pay by credit card, please call (415) 782-8951.
Step 5: Approval
Once we receive your check, proof of insurance, and applications, it typically takes five to ten business days to process your forms. Applications to the court appointment panels (Criminal,
Juvenile Delinquency/Dependency and sub-panels for Family) and all applications through Rule 6 of the LRIS Rules, "Substantial Equivalent Experience", take longer.
We will notify you when your application for membership has been approved. If you are renewing your membership, we will only notify you if you do not requalify.
You will then be placed in rotation to receive referrals from our service.
Frequently Asked Questions
I offer services in San Francisco and/or Marin Counties, but my main office is not in those counties, can I qualify for LRIS membership?
- To qualify, applicants must be available either 1.) meet in-person with clients confidentially in San Francisco or Marin County in an office open to the public or 2.) be available virtually in an acceptable virtual office setting so long as this meets the client’s needs and expectations.
- For non-San Francisco or Marin attorneys, offices must be a.) recorded with the California State Bar and b.) located within one of the 9 Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo.
I missed the yearly sign up, is there a partial membership option?
Yes, you can sign up anytime and we will prorate the cost, so you only pay for the months you are active.
What is the cost of membership?
Current BASF members save $75 with an annual membership to the LRIS for $125/year and $60 for each additional panel. The annual LRIS membership for non-BASF members is $200 and $75 for each additional panel.
Can the LRIS membership improve my practice?
Yes, we work as an extension of your office, and when you join the LRIS we will save you valuable time by screening potential clients for your office and offering referrals that are tailored to your experience and interest. Membership to the LRIS can also elevate your practice by expanding your marketing footprint and organic reach through the program’s promotional activities.
Do I get to choose who I consult with and what is the process?
Yes, you get to decide which clients you consult with. The LRIS staff will reach out to you personally by telephone to review potential cases with you directly. Once you accept a referral, we will coordinate an initial consultation with the prospective client.
Can I do my consultations by phone or virtually, and what are my consultation obligations?
Yes, most referrals we arrange are for a phone or virtual consultation because they save time for both clients and attorneys. Clients will expect a 30-minute consultation directly with the LRIS member. LRIS attorneys are not obligated to represent the clients.