Northern Kentucky Bar Association
Lawyer Referral Application

The Northern Kentucky Bar Association maintains its Lawyer Referral Service in the public interest. To help promote quality representation, the NKBA has established experience requirements in some areas of practice that are in addition to the competency requirements of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct.

These requirements are minimums for referral within the subject area. Complex matters, requiring expertise beyond the minimum requirement, may arise within any area of practice. Rules 1.1 and 1,16 of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct require lawyers to represent their clients competently, and to withdraw if competent representation can no longer be provided. Therefore, as a condition of membership in the Lawyer Referral Service, members agree to decline representation in any matter in which they are not qualified; and, if a situation arises where competent representation can no longer be provided, to withdraw or to obtain assistance from a qualified panel member, at no additional cost to the client.

I. The panels listed below have NO experience requirements beyond those set forth in the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct. PLEASE CHECK IN WHICH PANELS YOU WILL ACCEPT REFERRALS:

DEFINITIONS OF ATTORNEY PANELS OF LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE

The following are minimum experience requirements for the following panels. PLEASE CHECK IN, WHICH PANELS YOU, WILL ACCEPT REFERRALS.

ADMIRALTY/LONGSHORE- Within the past five years, a panel member must have hired or settled three Admirality or Longshore cases

ADOPTION: - The LRIS requires no minimum of experience in the handling of domestic adoptions. However, for Foreign Adoptions, a panel member must have handled one foreign adoption through to a successful conclusion before accepting a foreign adoption referral from the LRIS

BANKRUPTCY/COLLECTION- Bankruptcy/Collections: -No additional experience is required for consumer bankruptcy and chapter 7 cases. For complex bankruptcy, consisting of Chapter 11 or business and corporate bankruptcy filings, a panel member shall have a familiarity with this area of the bankruptcy practice and have handled to completion one similar case prior to accepting a complex bankruptcy case from LRIS.

CIVIL RIGHTS: Within the last five years, a panel member must have prepared and handled to conclusion at least on matter under federal or state civil rights and statutes.

CRIMINAL LAW- Except as listed below, there is no minimum experience requirement for the handling of criminal misdemeanor cases. Before accepting felony cases and “DUI III” cases, a panel member must have completed at least two felony cases previous to accepting a referral.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS- Within the past five years, a panel member must have handled to final resolution for domestic relations matters, Domestic relations include: dissolution of marriage; legal separation; post decree proceedings involving either child custody, visitation, or revision of child support.

IMMIGRATION- Within the past five years, a panel member must have handled two immigration matters.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE- Within the past five years, a panel member must have evaluated by review of medical records two cases and either tried and/or settled one case.

PATENT LAW- A panel member must be currently registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Commission in patent cases.

PERSONAL INJURY- In the past five years, a panel member must have investigated, prepared, and tried and/or settled three injury related cases.

PRISONER LEGAL SERVICES- Attorneys should have completed at least two cases brought to a conclusion either by appeal or other remedy. Only actions pending in northern Kentucky courts are referred. Actions pending in other jurisdictions are referred to those bar associations. Actions to be filed in other jurisdictions are referred to bar associations in those locales.

REAL ESTATE- Within the past five years, a panel member must have negotiated and/or prepared three real estate contracts and/or deeds of conveyance and made one title search with preparation of title opinion or issuance of title policy and prepared closing documents including Settlement Statement and Form 1099.

WILLS & TRUSTS- Within the past five years, a panel member must have negotiated, prepared and overseen the execution of three simple wills and prepared a durable power of attorney, a testamentary or intervivos trust and advised a client regarding Medicaid and/or death tax planning.