Lawyer Referral Fee Calculator
Work out a fair referral fee on any legal matter in seconds. Pre-set for Australian legal services with state regulator notes.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Referral fees are regulated in most professions. What you are allowed to pay, receive, or must disclose depends on your licence, your professional conduct rules, the type of work and the state you practise in - and in some categories referral fees are prohibited outright. The figures here are an illustration generated from the numbers you enter, not a benchmark and not a recommendation. Check your own obligations, and get your own advice, before you agree to any referral fee.
Matter value (first matter) -> referral rate -> referral fee paid to the lawyer who sent the deal.
Estimated total fees on the first matter. Most lawyer referrals use first-matter value as the base.
10% to 15% is standard - lower than other professions due to regulator rules. Disclose to the client in writing before the matter starts.
Estimates only, based on the figures you enter. General information, not legal, financial or tax advice. Referral fees are regulated in some professions - check the rules that apply to yours.
Want the full breakdown emailed to you?
We will send your result and how to put this referral in place inside Socii - the built-in agreement template and the tracking that makes sure you actually get paid.
People also ask
Are referral fees legal between Australian law firms?
Sometimes, and the rules are strict. Disclosure obligations arise under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (or your state equivalent) and the Australian Solicitors Conduct Rules, including the obligation in Rule 12.4.4 about receiving a commission or benefit. Personal injury work is treated separately and much more restrictively in several states, with prohibitions on paying or receiving for personal injury referrals and on touting. The rules turn on your jurisdiction and your area of practice, and they change. Confirm your own position with your professional body or your own adviser before agreeing any referral fee.
Can a lawyer pay a referral fee to a non-lawyer in Australia?
Sometimes. The Solicitors Conduct Rules permit fee sharing only with other lawyers, but they distinguish between (1) sharing legal fees (restricted) and (2) paying a marketing or introduction fee for a referral (more permissive). Marketing fees to estate agents, financial planners, or business advisors are common for general commercial and conveyancing work. Personal injury referrals are heavily restricted. Get advice on your specific jurisdiction.
How much do Australian lawyers charge per matter?
Wide range. Conveyancing matters are typically $1.5k to $3k flat fee. Commercial transactions are $5k to $50k+ for mid-market work. Litigation matters are billed hourly ($350 to $850 per hour for senior practitioners) with no cap, totaling $30k to $500k+ over a multi-year dispute. Family law and immigration tend to be quoted at fixed-fee stages. The referral fee typically applies to the first matter only.
What is a lawyer referral agreement?
A written agreement between a law firm and a referrer (another lawyer, accountant, financial planner, business broker, real estate agent) specifying: the referral fee percentage, what counts as a qualifying referral, the disclosure obligation to the client, payment timing, and the duration of the arrangement. The disclosure must always be made to the client in writing before the matter begins.
Do you pay GST on a lawyer referral fee?
Yes, if both parties are GST-registered (almost always for law firms). The fee carries 10% GST on top of the headline amount. The paying firm claims it back as input tax credit. Tax invoice formalities apply. Some referral arrangements with non-business sources (a personal contact who refers their own friends) sit outside GST entirely.
Related free tools
Generic Referral Fee Calculator
The full version - works for any commission structure.
Accountant Referral Fee Calculator
Pre-set for first-year-fee referrals on accounting and advisory engagements.
Real Estate Agent Referral Fee Calculator
Pre-set for AU residential and commercial sales commission rates.
How to formalise a deal introduction
Long-form guide to the introducer agreement covering all five required clauses.
Anyone can run the numbers. The deals get done inside.
Socii is the club where these deals get done - introductions made, agreements signed, fees tracked. Membership is by application. The Directory, our nomination-only inner circle, is the part you earn.
Request an InvitationEvery member reviewed. The inner circle is earned.
Built by Socii Book Pty Ltd (ACN 695 597 141), a private deals club for dealmakers. The numbers above are the same math we run inside the club.