How to Pay Referral Fees at a Law Firm Without Violating Rule 1.5(e) or Your Trust Account: The 2026 Step-by-Step Workflow

Referral fees and fee splits between firms are routine in personal injury and litigation practice — and a common source of bar discipline when they are documented loosely or paid out of the wrong account. This step-by-step 2026 workflow shows how to structure, disclose, track, and pay referral fees in compliance with Model Rule 1.5(e) without ever touching trust compliance.