§ STANDARD VII OPERATING FEES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

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STANDARD VII. OPERATING FEES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

    (a) [FN1] For participation in or use of the Service's referral panels, a Service may require that:

        1. Each panel member pay to the Service a registration fee, “referral” fee (computed on a percentage basis or otherwise), or other like participating fee, or may require remittance to the Service of the initial consultation fee, or any two or more of such fees, as a condition to panel membership; and/or

        2. Each client-applicant pays a registration fee, initial consultation fee, or other like referral fee, or any two or more of such fees, as a condition to obtaining a referral; provided, however, that no Lawyer Referral Service may require any fee or combination thereof, which is in conflict with statutory or other legal prohibitions against the award of attorney's fees or which is unreasonable, whether those fees be required of clientapplicants, panel members or both. The primary criterion for determining whether a Service has failed to comply with this provision shall be whether the fee, or combination of fees, in question increases the client-applicant's cost for legal services beyond that which would normally be paid or decreases the quantity or quality of services which otherwise would have been received, but for the involvement of the Service.

    [FN1] This Standard does not contain a “(b)”.