Law-firm topic library
Twelve free topic guides for people who manage or support law-firm finances. Explore trust accounting, billing, reporting, and systems.
Reading library · No account required · No video or completion certificate
These introductory resources are educational, not legal advice or a compliance program. Use the rules and qualified advisers for the jurisdiction governing your practice.
Begin by distinguishing money belonging to the firm from money held for others. IOLTA terminology and client-fund obligations need to be understood in the context of the rules that apply to the practice.
Read topic →A client ledger should let a reviewer follow the history of a matter without reconstructing it from email. Consistent identifiers and supporting documents make that history easier to understand.
Read topic →A bank statement is one view of activity. A trust-account register and individual client ledgers provide two others. Learning how those views relate helps you ask better reconciliation questions.
Read topic →Useful controls make responsibility visible. A review workflow should explain who prepares records, who examines them, and what happens when something does not look right.
Read topic →Start with the firm’s actual work: matters, billing, client funds, vendors, payroll, and reporting. A clear structure connects these activities without treating every system as the same source of truth.
Read topic →An invoice, a payment, and permission to move client funds are different questions. The responsible attorney should resolve the treatment of fees and retainers under the engagement terms and applicable rules.
Read topic →Matter-related costs are easier to review when each expense has a clear purpose, supporting document, and billing decision. Avoid relying on a short bank description as the full explanation.
Read topic →A useful receivables review connects invoice status with next actions. It should show which items need clarification, which are awaiting payment, and who owns the next conversation.
Read topic →Payment channels introduce their own timing, fees, and exception handling. Map how each channel moves information and money so unusual activity reaches the right reviewer.
Read topic →A close checklist is most useful when it records evidence and ownership, not just a list of tasks. Separate completed work from open questions that still need a decision.
Read topic →Start each report with a management question. A report on collections answers a different question from one about expenses or a matter’s activity. Definitions and source dates should be clear.
Read topic →The difficult part of a system change is often the handoff between tools. A migration plan should make identifiers, permissions, source records, and review responsibilities explicit.
Read topic →Need a shorter introduction? Read Three views of client funds.