Overview
The Referral Network lets you send leads that don't fit your firm (wrong practice area, wrong location, conflict of interest) to partner firms you trust, directly from your Lexidesk dashboard. You choose who's in your network, you control what gets sent, and you can see at a glance whether the receiving firm accepted or passed on each case.
No more texting a client someone else's number and hoping they follow through. You send the referral, the partner firm gets notified, and you can track the outcome.
Why this matters
If you're like most firms, you're already referring leads informally. Maybe you email a client the other firm's phone number, or text a colleague about a case. The problem is:
The client often never calls the other firm
You have no idea whether the other firm took the case
If you're paying for those leads (LSA, Google Ads), that spend is wasted
The Referral Network keeps the handoff inside Lexidesk so nothing falls through the cracks, and you always know what happened.
How to add referral partners
You can add partner firms one at a time or upload a list.
One at a time: Click Add Partner, enter the firm's name, email and description.
Bulk upload: Click Import CSV and upload a spreadsheet with your partners' details
At the time of referral, you can simply start typing an email. If the parent isn’t added, we’ll prompt you to do so. This way, you can refer without interrupting your workflow and gradually add partners.
Tip: Add a short description for each partner (their practice areas, the states or counties they cover). This information will power AI-suggested referral destinations in a future update.
Partners who aren't on Lexidesk yet
You can add firms that don't use Lexidesk. When you send them a referral, they'll be prompted to create a free referral-only account at no cost to them. They don't need a paid Lexidesk subscription to receive and accept your referrals.
How to send a referral
Step 1. Open the conversation
Go to any conversation in your Lexidesk dashboard. This could be a phone call the AI handled, a web chat, or any lead in your inbox.
Step 2. Click Refer
Click the Refer button on the conversation.
Step 3. Choose your partner(s)
Select one or more referral partners from your network. If you're not sure which firm is the best fit, you can send the referral to multiple partners at the same time.
Step 4. Add a note (optional)
You can write a short note explaining why the case isn't right for your firm, or why it might be a good fit for theirs. This context helps the receiving firm decide faster.
Step 5. Send
Click Refer. The partner firm receives an email with the case name and a summary of the conversation, but no client contact details yet. Contact information is only shared after the receiving firm accepts. This protects client confidentiality and makes sure the receiving firm is genuinely interested before getting the client's info.
Full Interactive walkthrough
Use the demo below to see the full referral flow in action, from sending a referral to accepting one on the other side.
What happens when you receive a referral
If your firm is already on Lexidesk
You'll get an email notification. Log in to your dashboard, review the case summary and the conversation transcript, then click Accept or Reject.
If you accept, you'll see the client's full contact details and can proceed with intake
If you reject, you can add a note explaining why (wrong jurisdiction, conflict, etc.)
If your firm isn't on Lexidesk yet
You'll receive an email with a link to create a free referral account. Once you sign up, you can review and respond to the referral. There's no cost and no obligation to use Lexidesk for anything else.
How to track your referrals
Your dashboard shows every referral you've sent and received, colour-coded so you can see the status at a glance:
Blue: Sent and waiting for a response
Green: Accepted by the receiving firm
Red: Rejected (with a note from the receiving firm explaining why)
There's also a network view that shows your firm in the centre with lines to each partner firm, along with the volume of referrals sent and received between you. This is especially useful if you want to see which partners are actually taking the cases you send them.
FAQs
Can I send a referral to a firm that doesn't use Lexidesk?
Yes. When you add a partner who isn't on Lexidesk, they'll be prompted to create a free referral-only account when they receive their first referral. There's no cost to them.
Does the other firm see my client's phone number and email right away?
No. The receiving firm only sees a case summary and the conversation transcript until they click Accept. Client contact details are shared only after acceptance.
Can I send one case to multiple firms at the same time?
Yes. When you click Refer, you can select more than one partner. This is useful when you're unsure which firm is the best fit.
What if the other firm hasn't responded and I think they missed the email?
You can copy the referral link from your dashboard and send it to them via WhatsApp, text, or any other channel in case the original email was missed.
Does Lexidesk handle referral fees between firms?
No. The Referral Network doesn't track or enforce referral fee arrangements. Any fee agreements remain between you and your partner firms.
Is the Referral Network included in my plan?
The Referral Network is included in any Leixdesk plan at no extra charge.
Will referrals ever be sent automatically?
Not today. Right now every referral is manual, so you stay in control of what gets sent and to whom. The roadmap includes AI-suggested referral destinations based on the partner descriptions you add, and optionally fully automated referrals. We'll announce that when it's ready.
Still stuck?
Email [email protected] with your firm name and a description of what you're trying to do. Include a screenshot if something looks off.