Written consent after consultation. Shares not required in the text.ND
North Dakota fee division
North Dakota follows the usual split: the work matches, or each lawyer takes joint responsibility in a writing. After talking it through, you consent in writing to everyone who is on the case. The total has to be reasonable. The rule does not require that writing to name each lawyer's percentage.
Last checked Sep 4, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.
- The rule
- N.D. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)
- What you sign
- After consultation, the client consents in writing to the participation of all the lawyers involved. Joint responsibility, if that is the path, is by written agreement. Put the shares in anyway.
- How the split is allowed
- Proportion to services, or each lawyer assumes joint responsibility by written agreement.
- Any cap on the referring share
- No Florida-style 25% cap. The total fee must be reasonable.
- Who is not in the fee
- A nonlawyer does not take a percentage of the recovery. Hosting, ads, and software get a flat or metered bill. That is ABA Model Rule 5.4 in substance, and every state on this desk follows it.
For the lawyer on the other end
North Dakota requires written client consent to participation after consultation. It does not copy the ABA 'including the share each lawyer will receive' clause. Write the shares if you want the file to survive a later fight.
Joint responsibility is the written-agreement path. Proportional work is the other.