High Court Vacates Advisory Committee's Referral Fee Prohibition

The New Jersey Supreme Court vacated an advisory committee's formal opinion that certified lawyers are generally prohibited from paying referral fees to attorneys not licensed to practice in the state. New Jersey Court rules adopted in 1979 created a Board of Attorney Certification with committees in five areas of law, including work comp, civil, criminal, matrimonial and municipal. At the same time as the certification committees were created, the high court also amended disciplinary rules to allow certified attorneys to pay referral fees. The high court's Advisory Committee on Prof...