Referring Business to a firm w/ CB Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have a family member who is looking to for an attorney on a sizable real estate matter. One of the firms that I had a CB with is a great real estate firm. Would it be really awkward or helpful for me to refer the business? If it would be helpful, who would I contact? The head of the practice group? The associate I met with in the practice group? The hiring partner (who conducted my screening interview)?

I don't want them to think I'm trying to manipulate them into hiring me, but any advantage is probably good. The work is going to be done regardless of if I refer it to this firm.

[Anonymous User]

Whether this is even possible depends on what type of firm you are interviewing with. "Sizeable" can mean something very different depending on who is involved. My V-10 firm would be unlikely to touch anything that a typical family would consider sizeable, but I have no idea what type of business your family member is in or what size firm you are interviewing with.

That aside, I don't think this will help you at all in the interview process and it could hurt you. Many firms have rules on hiring from client relationships that, while frequently broken, are least likely to be ignored over a one-time real estate transaction referred by a 2L. There is also the issue of whether your family member really want to be represented by your potential future firm. Not all client-lawyer relationships end well. Finally, if the firm isn't even interested in the deal it would reflect badly on your understanding of the firm.

Your safest bet is to just crush the callback. It could reflect poorly on your character if you are not 100% sure this will work out.

[Anonymous User]

Whether this is even possible depends on what type of firm you are interviewing with. "Sizeable" can mean something very different depending on who is involved. My V-10 firm would be unlikely to touch anything that a typical family would consider sizeable, but I have no idea what type of business your family member is in or what size firm you are interviewing with.

That aside, I don't think this will help you at all in the interview process and it could hurt you. Many firms have rules on hiring from client relationships that, while frequently broken, are least likely to be ignored over a one-time real estate transaction referred by a 2L. There is also the issue of whether your family member really want to be represented by your potential future firm. Not all client-lawyer relationships end well. Finally, if the firm isn't even interested in the deal it would reflect badly on your understanding of the firm.

Your safest bet is to just crush the callback. It could reflect poorly on your character if you are not 100% sure this will work out.

Thanks for the insight. I probably won't bring it up. It is a construction contract that's worth about 10 mil, but might not be sizable to a big firm.