Grand Rapids Bar Association - Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS)

The LRIS, a public service component of the GRBA, has provided a valuable service to the Grand Rapids community since 1949. The GRBA realized even then that a certain segment of the population -- those whose problems might be handled in as little as a half-hour of a lawyer's time, but who were unable to pay full attorney fees for that half-hour -- was not able to gain access to the legal system.

In an attempt to bridge this gap, the GRBA established the LRIS, which connects those in need of legal assistance with either a community service organization or a referred attorney that can resolve their legal matter. The referred attorney is one who has expressed an interest in handling the particular area of law required by the client. The LRIS arranges the half-hour appointment between client and attorney. For this service, the LRIS charges a $25.00 administrative fee.

When clients meet with their referral attorney, the first half-hour of their consultation is free-of-charge. Some clients use this half-hour to ask questions of the attorney, and then have no further questions. Some clients use this half-hour to inquire more fully into the background of the attorney, or to explain the ramifications of their case.

After half-an-hour, the attorney's fees begin to accrue. These fees are not reduced and cannot be waived.