The Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRS) is a State Bar of California certified program (Certificate 0039). It was established in 1958 as a non-profit service of the San Mateo County Bar Association to assist the public in finding a qualified attorney. The LRS Program determines the legal area of the problem you describe and provides a referral to a private practice attorney.

We have friendly staff trained to select an attorney who handles the field of law related to your problem and who has the right experience for your case. All our lawyers are active members of the California State Bar and are licensed to practice law in California. They must meet strict LRS qualifications as required by the Rules for Lawyer Referral Service established by the SMCBA LRS Committee. In addition, all LRS attorneys carry malpractice insurance and must meet our experience requirements.

Once you have obtained your referral, you must call the attorney to schedule your appointment. Every attorney on the LRS Program has an active caseload and may not be able to immediately take your call, but the attorney will return your call in a timely manner. If you have a time sensitive case, you must keep in mind that the attorney you are referred to has up to 5 business days to respond to your call and schedule your later appointment.

The consultation is an opportunity for you to explain the general nature of your legal problem, for the attorney to explain his/her fee structure and to determine if the case is one he/she wishes to pursue. In some cases, the attorney may be able to respond to specific questions, but because the 30-minute time-frame is so limited attorneys cannot spend their time prior to, or during, the appointment reviewing documents. For your safety and the safety of the attorney, consultation will be provided by phone only.

Please keep in mind that further services beyond an initial consultation are not guaranteed. Neither you nor the attorney are under any obligation to proceed beyond the initial consultation. If you choose to hire the attorney for any services, the attorney will set his/her own fee.

If you believe your attorney has done something wrong, you can file a complaint through the State Bar of California or by calling the State Bar Attorney Complaint Hotline at 800-843-9053.

If you were dissatisfied with our service or have a complaint, please contact our office at (650) 369-4149. If your complaint is unresolved and/or you have a complaint about our certified Lawyer Referral Service, you can file a complaint against the service with the State Bar of California.