Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content

Oregon Law Practice Management

Practice Management Tips for Oregon Lawyers

Oregon Law Practice Management

Main menu

  • Home
  • Upcoming CLE
  • On Demand CLE and eBooks
  • Services
  • About
  • Contact

Tag Archives: OLF

Access to Justice

Posted on 03/04/2019 by beverlym
1

A new study released by the Access to Justice Coalition paints a sobering picture of civil legal needs among low-income Oregonians.

  • 84% of people with a legal problem did not receive legal help of any kind.
  • Only 49% of survey participants had heard of Legal Aid.
  • The average low-income household in Oregon experienced 5.4 civil legal problems over the last year.
  • Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault suffer civil legal problems at
    significantly higher rates compared to the general population.
  • Oregon’s community of people with disabilities disproportionately experiences legal problems and is disproportionately low-income.
  • 30% of all survey participants experienced at least one form of discrimination.
  • On average, participants felt that the civil legal system treated people fairly “some of the time,” and that the civil legal system could help solve problems slightly less than “some of the time.”

What Can We Do?

The Oregon Law Foundation has issued this call to arms:

Educate

Talk about the importance of access to justice. Let people know that civil legal aid is there for those who need help. Share this report. The information in this report is not widely known and it is hard to solve problems that no one is talking about. Let’s amplify the conversation.

Speak Up

Oregon has broad bipartisan support for legal aid on both the state and federal levels. As a community, let’s continue our sustained focus on a fair and accessible legal system–a system where our neighbors can know their rights and get the help they need.

Fund Legal Aid

Legal aid is a state, federal, and private partnership. Legal aid receives funding from the State of Oregon, the federal government (via the Legal Services Corporation), private foundations, Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (via the Oregon Law Foundation), and private donations (via the Campaign for Equal Justice). The single best way to increase access to justice is to create more legal aid attorney positions.

Start Helping Legal Aid Today – It’s Free!

Lawyers can help fund Legal Aid by simply moving their IOLTA accounts to a bank or credit union paying a higher rate of interest.

Moving your IOLTA account is easy

  1. Review the list of leadership banks and credit unions on the Oregon Law Foundation website.
  2. Contact your institution of choice.
  3. Set up your new IOLTA account.
  4. Follow the steps in the Professional Liability Fund checklist to close your old account. From the PLF home page, select Practice Management > Forms > Trust Accounting > Closing Your IOLTA Account.

Questions?

Refer to the contact names and telephone numbers on the Oregon Law Foundation website.

Why Bother?

Because moving your account can mean big bucks – up to 175 times more in net interest to fund access to justice. Keep in mind these same leadership institutions not only pay more, they waive service fees!

Other Ways to Help

Visit the Campaign for Equal Justice to learn about donations, endowments, and other steps you can take to help. Remember to spread the word – about the issues raised in the study and the availability of services through Legal Aid.

Consider donating today.

All Rights Reserved 2019 Beverly Michaelis

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in Career, IOLTA | Tagged Access to Justice, Access to Justice Coalition, barriers to justice, Beverly Michaelis, Campaign for Equal Justice, CEJ, IOLTA, IOLTA banking, LASO, lawyer trust account, Legal Aid, Legal Aid Services, Legal Aid Services of Oregon, legal needs study, OLF, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon Judicial Department, Oregon Law Center, Oregon Law Foundation, Oregon law practice management, Oregon State Bar, Portland State University, PSU, visionary banks | 1 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

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
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

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 8,041 other followers

Recent Posts

  • Washington Amends Lawyer Marketing Rules to Permit In-Person Solicitation
  • Legal Research Companies Casemaker and Fastcase Merge
  • 7 Steps to Take Now in Organizing Your 2020 Financial Records

Archives

Categories

Twitter

Error: Twitter did not respond. Please wait a few minutes and refresh this page.

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

For Oregon Lawyers

  • MBA
  • OADC
  • OCDLA
  • OSB
  • OTLA
  • OWLS
  • PLF

National Resources

  • ABA LAW PRACTICE DIVISION
  • ABA LEGAL TECH CENTER
  • IPHONEJD
  • LAW TECHNOLOGY TODAY
  • MASS LOMAP
  • RIDE THE LIGHTNING
  • THE MAC LAWYER

RSS Feed

RSS Feed

On Demand CLE and eBooks

Instagram

Blog at WordPress.com.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Our Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: