Attorney Referral Fee Calculator
Work out a legal referral fee split in seconds — flat fee, straight percentage, or tiered rates. Free, no signup, nothing saved.
Enter the total attorney fee, choose how the split is structured, and see exactly what the referring attorney receives, what the handling attorney keeps, and the effective referral rate. Built for solo attorneys and firms that trade referrals and need the numbers straight before the agreement is signed.
Common splits: 25%, 33.33%, 40%.
For planning purposes only. Referral fees are governed by your jurisdiction's rules of professional conduct — confirm with your firm's counsel.
Worked examples of a referral fee split
Three arrangements on the same $90,000 attorney fee, so you can see how much the structure changes the outcome.
- Total attorney fee: $90,000
- Referral rate: 33.33%
- Referring attorney: $29,997
- Handling attorney: $60,003
The most common structure in contingency work. One rate, applied to the whole fee.
- Total attorney fee: $90,000
- Flat referral amount: $5,000
- Referring attorney: $5,000
- Effective rate: 5.56%
Predictable for both firms, but the effective rate falls as the fee grows.
- First $50,000 at 25%: $12,500
- Next $40,000 at 22%: $8,800
- Referring attorney: $21,300
- Effective rate: 23.67%
Each rate applies only to the portion of the fee inside that band, so large fees taper.
The three referral fee structures, and when firms use each
Flat fee
A fixed dollar amount, agreed before the matter starts and paid regardless of what the case ultimately earns. Firms choose it for hourly or fixed-fee work, for small matters where a percentage would be trivial, and when both sides want a number that cannot move.
Straight percentage
A single rate applied to the total attorney fee. It keeps both firms aligned on the outcome and is the default in contingency practice, where the referring attorney's share rises and falls with the result.
Tiered percentages
Different rates for different bands of the fee, with each rate applying only to the portion inside its band. Firms use tiers on high-value matters so the referring share tapers as the handling firm's work grows, which keeps large fees from producing splits that neither side considers reasonable.
Attorney referral fee questions
Can attorneys pay referral fees?
In most U.S. jurisdictions a lawyer may share a fee with another lawyer, but the arrangement is governed by the rules of professional conduct where the matter is handled. Those rules commonly require that the client consents in writing, that the total fee stays reasonable, and that fees are not shared with non-lawyers. Confirm the specific requirements in your jurisdiction before agreeing to a split.
How is an attorney referral fee usually calculated?
Three structures cover nearly every arrangement: a flat dollar amount agreed up front, a straight percentage of the total attorney fee, or tiered percentages where each rate applies only to the portion of the fee inside that band. Percentage splits are the most common in contingency work.
What percentage is a typical legal referral fee?
Percentage splits commonly fall between 25% and 40% of the total attorney fee, with one third (33.33%) being a frequent reference point. The right number depends on how much work each firm performs and the responsibility each firm accepts.
Does a referral fee agreement need to be in writing?
Written documentation is standard practice and is required in many jurisdictions, typically including client consent to the division of fees and the share each lawyer will receive. A written agreement also prevents disputes later about the terms of the split.
Is the referral fee calculated before or after case costs?
That depends entirely on the agreement. Splits can be applied to the gross attorney fee or to the fee net of case costs and expenses, and the two produce very different numbers. Decide and record which basis applies before the matter starts.
General information, not legal advice. The rules of professional conduct in your jurisdiction control.
Put the split you just calculated in writing with a downloadable referral agreement.
Ethix referral management software records the fee terms, tracks each referral's status, and shows what is still outstanding — start your free trial.