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Tag Archives: A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account

Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds

Posted on 10/31/2016 by beverlym
Reply

Is an in-depth, one hour CLE focusing on the issues surrounding unclaimed funds in IOLTA accounts. Topics include:

  • Identifying unclaimed funds
  • Determining residence
  • Meeting timelines for assessment
  • Pursuing ethical and statutory due diligence
  • Reporting and remittance procedures
  • Avoiding unclaimed funds
  • Adopting strategies for dealing with lost checks
  • Handling ethical and legal dilemmas for failure to report or remit

Who Should Attend
Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone who handles trust funds in Oregon.

Date and Time
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location
This program is an online webinar.  View the webcast on any mobile device or desktop. Listen to audio via computer/device speakers or by telephone.

Registration Fee
$15.00 – Visit my CLE Events page to register or click here.  [Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite.  Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.]  Program materials included in the registration price.

MCLE Credits
Approved for .50 ethics credits / .50 practical skills.

If you’re unsure how to handle abandoned client funds, don’t understand the procedures involved, or worry that you may have failed to remit funds when required, attend this CLE.

Eventbrite - Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds CLE

Can’t Attend?
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds will be available to download along with the program materials following the November 16 CLE.  Price:  $15.00.  Contact me for more information.

All Rights Reserved [2016] Beverly Michaelis

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Posted in IOLTA | Tagged A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account, abandoned funds, administrator, attorney, Beverly Michaelis, bookkeeper, CLE, Continuing Legal Education, ethical, ethical due diigence, Ethical Oregon Lawyer, Ethics, IOLTA, law, lawyer, lawyer trust account, lawyer trust accounting, legal, legal assistant, Legal Secretary, office manager, Oregon law practice management, Oregon RPCs, Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct, statutory due diligence, unclaimed funds, Webinar | Leave a reply

Managing Client Funds: What You Need to Know About IOLTA

Posted on 10/11/2016 by beverlym
Reply

Don’t be afraid to ask – or learn!  Processing ACH payments (yesterday’s post) is one of many reasons it pays to be educated.  Attend Ethical Trust Accounting on October 27 and have complete confidence that all your bases are covered.

This two-hour CLE has been approved for 2.0 MCLE ethics credits.  Topics include:

  • Establishing regular, pooled, or separate IOLTA accounts
  • Paying service charges and meeting minimum balance requirements
  • Avoiding impermissible cushions
  • Safeguarding client property and protecting against theft
  • Holding unearned funds in trust until they “clear”
  • Processing third party payments
  • Using fixed fee agreements
  • Paying yourself
  • Reporting overdrafts
  • Ethical recordkeeping and reconciliation
  • Processing credit cards
  • Retaining records

Who Should Attend
Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone who handles trust funds in Oregon.

Date and Time
Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location
This program is an online webinar.  View the webcast on any mobile device or desktop. Listen to audio via computer/device speakers or by telephone.

Registration Fee and Discount for Blog Readers
Registration cost – $25.00.  Save 20% by entering the discount code Blog at checkout (your cost: $20.00)  Register now at CLE Events or click here.  [Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite – Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.]  Remember to enter the discount code “Blog” to save 20%.  Program materials included in the registration price.

About the Speaker
Over 20 years experience writing and speaking on the topic of trust accounting.

  • Author, “Lawyer Trust Accounts and Client Property,” The Ethical Oregon Lawyer, published by the Oregon State Bar (2015).
  • Author, “Lawyer Trust Accounts and Client Property,” The Ethical Oregon Lawyer, published by the Oregon State Bar (2005).
  • Principal editor, A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account, published by the Professional Liability Fund (2005-2016).
  • Co-author A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account, published by the Professional Liability Fund (2001-2016).

MCLE Credits
2.0 MCLE Ethics Credits approved.

Eventbrite - Ethical Trust Accounting for Oregon Lawyers

Can’t Attend?
The program and program materials will be available to download after the CLE.  Price:  $25.00 (Save 20% by mentioning the Discount Code “Blog.”)  Contact me for more information.

All Rights Reserved [2016] Beverly Michaelis

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Posted in Ethics, IOLTA | Tagged A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account, abandoned funds, Beverly Michaelis, Credit Cards, ethical, ethical recordkeeping, Ethics, fixed fees, Formal Opinion 2005-172, impermissible trust account cushions, lawyer trust account, lawyer trust accounting, Oregon law practice management, Oregon RPC 1.15, Oregon RPCs, Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct, overdrafts, pooled trust account, separate trust account, service charges on IOLTA accounts, The Ethical Oregon Lawyer, third party payments, trust account NSF, trust account reconciliation, trust account records, trust account that can net interest, unclaimed funds | Leave a reply

Do You Know How to Resolve Lawyer Trust Account Issues?

Posted on 09/19/2016 by beverlym
Reply
  • A client’s relative offers to pay for your legal services.  Do you know how to structure this third-party payment?
  • You receive a “retainer” of $5,000 to be accessed only if your client fails to pay her monthly bill – an arrangement commonly known as collecting “last month’s rent.” Are you required to handle these funds in any special way?
  • Your bookkeeper deposits a settlement payment on Friday, September 16.  On Monday, September 19 your client demands his portion of the proceeds.  Should you disburse the client’s share of the settlement?
  • At the conclusion of your initial meeting a client writes you a check for $1500 to prepare a simple estate plan.  Should you deposit the check in your IOLTA account or your business operating account?  Are you confident that you have all the information needed to make this decision?
  • For three years you’ve carried a small, uncashed client refund check on your books. You can’t find the client.  Should you write it off?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, want to brush up on lawyer trust accounting, or need ethics credits, consider attending Ethical Trust Accounting and Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds. Here are the details:

Who Should AttendAccounting

Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone who handles trust funds in Oregon.

Date and Time

Ethical Trust Accounting – Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location

Both programs are online webinars – view the webcasts on any mobile device or desktop. Listen to audio via computer/device speakers or by telephone.  A link to downloadable program materials will be sent automatically to all registered attendees.

Registration Fee and Discount for Blog Readers

Ethical Trust Accounting – $25.00.  Save 20% by entering the discount code Blog at checkout (your cost: $20.00)
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – $15.00

Program materials included in registration fee.  Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite.  Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

MCLE Credits

Ethical Trust Accounting – 2.0 MCLE Ethics Credits approved.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – 1.0 MCLE Ethics Credit pending.

Ethical Trust Accounting will cover:

  • Establishing regular, pooled, or separate IOLTA accounts
  • Paying service charges and meeting minimum balance requirements
  • Avoiding impermissible cushions
  • Safeguarding client property and protecting against theft
  • Holding unearned funds in trust until they “clear”
  • Processing third party payments
  • Using fixed fee agreements
  • Paying yourself
  • Reporting overdrafts
  • Ethical recordkeeping and reconciliation
  • Processing credit cards
  • Retaining records

Remember to enter the discount code “Blog” to save 20% when registering for Ethical Trust Accounting.

Eventbrite - Ethical Trust Accounting for Oregon Lawyers

Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds

Is an in-depth, one hour CLE focusing on the issues surrounding unclaimed funds in IOLTA accounts.  Topics include:

  • Identifying unclaimed funds
  • Determining residence
  • Meeting timelines for assessment
  • Pursuing ethical and statutory due diligence
  • Reporting and remittance procedures
  • Avoiding unclaimed funds
  • Adopting strategies for dealing with lost checks
  • Handling ethical and legal dilemmas for failure to report or remit

Eventbrite - Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds CLE

Can’t Attend These Programs?

Ethical Trust Accounting and Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds will be available to download, along with the program materials, after the live program date. Contact me for further information.

All Rights Reserved [2016] Beverly Michaelis

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Posted in Ethics, Fees, Financial Management, IOLTA | Tagged A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account, attorney, Beverly Michaelis, bookkeeper, CLE, Continuing Legal Education, Credit Cards, embezzlement, establishing an IOLTA account, Ethical Oregon Lawyer, fixed fees, impermissible cushions, IOLTA, lawyer, lawyer trust account, legal assistant, Legal Secretary, nsf, office manager, OLF, Oregon Law Foundation, Oregon law practice management, Oregon RPCs, Paralegal, pooled trust accounts, Rules of Professional Conduct, safeguarding client property, separate trust accounts, Staff, theft, third party payments, trust account overdraft, trust account reconciliation, trust accounting, unclaimed funds, Webinar | Leave a reply

Ethical Trust Accounting and Unclaimed Funds – CLE Events

Posted on 08/23/2016 by beverlym
Reply

AccountingWho Should Attend

Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone who handles trust funds in Oregon.

Date and Time

Ethical Trust Accounting – Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location

Both programs are online webinars – view the webcasts on any mobile device or desktop. Listen to audio via computer/device speakers or by telephone.  A link to downloadable program materials will be sent automatically to all registered attendees.

Registration Fee and Discount for Blog Readers

Ethical Trust Accounting – $25.00.  Save 20% by entering the discount code Blog at checkout (your cost: $20.00)
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – $15.00

Program materials included in registration fee.  Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite.  Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

MCLE Credits

Ethical Trust Accounting – 2.0 MCLE Ethics Credits pending.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – 1.0 MCLE Ethics Credit pending.

Ethical Trust Accounting will cover:

  • Establishing regular, pooled, or separate IOLTA accounts
  • Paying service charges and meeting minimum balance requirements
  • Avoiding impermissible cushions
  • Safeguarding client property and protecting against theft
  • Holding unearned funds in trust until they “clear”
  • Processing third party payments
  • Using fixed fee agreements
  • Paying yourself
  • Reporting overdrafts
  • Ethical recordkeeping and reconciliation
  • Processing credit cards
  • Retaining records

Remember to enter the discount code “Blog” to save 20% when registering for Ethical Trust Accounting.

Eventbrite - Ethical Trust Accounting for Oregon Lawyers

Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds

Is an in-depth, one hour CLE focusing on the issues surrounding unclaimed funds in IOLTA accounts.  Topics include:

  • Identifying unclaimed funds
  • Determining residence
  • Meeting timelines for assessment
  • Pursuing ethical and statutory due diligence
  • Reporting and remittance procedures
  • Avoiding unclaimed funds
  • Adopting strategies for dealing with lost checks
  • Handling ethical and legal dilemmas for failure to report or remit

Eventbrite - Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds CLE

Can’t Attend These Programs?

Ethical Trust Accounting and Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds will be available to download, along with the program materials, after the live program date. Contact me for further information.

All Rights Reserved [2016] Beverly Michaelis

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Posted in Ethics, Fees, Financial Management, IOLTA | Tagged A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account, attorney, Beverly Michaelis, bookkeeper, CLE, Continuing Legal Education, Credit Cards, embezzlement, establishing an IOLTA account, Ethical Oregon Lawyer, fixed fees, impermissible cushions, IOLTA, lawyer, lawyer trust account, legal assistant, Legal Secretary, nsf, office manager, OLF, Oregon Law Foundation, Oregon law practice management, Oregon RPCs, Paralegal, pooled trust accounts, Rules of Professional Conduct, safeguarding client property, separate trust accounts, Staff, theft, third party payments, trust account overdraft, trust account reconciliation, trust accounting, unclaimed funds, Webinar | Leave a reply

Updated Books from the PLF

Posted on 06/23/2014 by beverlym
Reply

New editions of A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account and
A Guide to Setting Up and Running Your Law Office are available now on the Professional Liability Fund Web site.

A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account is designed to help you understand and fulfill your ethical obligation to protect the funds and property of your clients, pursuant to Rule 1.15 of the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct. This book explains when to establish a trust account and what type to use. It also provides practical information about how to open and operate a trust account – including:

  • How to keep trust account records
  • How to reconcile the trust account
  • What to do about unclaimed funds
  • When to open a separate interest-bearing trust account for clients
  • What to do about trust account overdrafts
  • How to process retainers paid by credit card

A Guide to Setting Up and Running Your Law Office discusses how to open and successfully operate a law practice.  Topics include:

  • Selecting the form of entity
  • Choosing a location
  • Buying a law practice
  • Furnishing your office
  • Budgeting
  • Professional support and resource networks
  • Case and client screening
  • Fees
  • Engagement, disengagement, and nonengagement letters
  • Creating a conflicts system
  • Calendaring and file tickling
  • Time management
  • Client relations
  • Billing and collections
  • Closing files
  • Working with staff
  • Contract work
  • And more!

Download the new editions of these books today on the PLF Web site.

 

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Posted in IOLTA, Office Systems, Resources | Tagged A Guide to Setting Up and Running Your Law Office, A Guide to Setting Up and Using Your Lawyer Trust Account, Beverly Michaelis, books, Oregon law practice management, PLF | Leave a reply

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