Trust & IOLTA Accounting
for Law Firms
Stay compliant. Stay accurate. Stay protected.
We handle your trust accounting with precision so you can focus on practicing law.
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100% compliant with state bar requirements
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Clean, audit-ready trust records
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Real-time reconciliation & reporting
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Seamless integration with Clio & other legal software
What is Trust / IOLTA Accounting
Trust (IOLTA) accounting is the process of managing client funds that your law firm holds on behalf of others.
These funds, such as retainers, settlements, or advances, must be kept separate from your firm’s operating accounts and handled in strict compliance with state bar regulations.
Unlike standard bookkeeping, trust accounting requires precise tracking of every dollar by client matter. Law firms must maintain individual client ledgers, ensure funds are never commingled, and perform regular three-way reconciliations to confirm that bank balances, trust records, and client balances all match exactly.
Because there is zero tolerance for errors, proper trust accounting isn’t just good practice, it’s essential to protecting your clients, your firm, and your license.
Why It Matters
Mistakes in trust accounting can cost more than money.
When trust accounting is not performed properly, you run the risk of:
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Bar audits & disciplinary risk
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Commingling violations
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Misapplied client funds
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Time-consuming manual tracking
Even small errors can trigger major consequences.
SWAATT's Guarantee
Daily / Ongoing Support
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Transaction categorization (trust vs operating)
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Client ledger maintenance
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Deposit and disbursement tracking
Monthly Compliance
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Three-way trust reconciliation
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Bank + book + client ledger balancing
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Error detection and correction
Accurate Reporting
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Client trust balances provided accurately & timely
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Matter-level reporting
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Audit-ready documentation
Cleanup / Catch-Up
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Fix prior trust discrepancies
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Rebuild inaccurate records
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Prepare for audits
Our Processes
We start with a thorough review of your current trust accounting setup to identify risks, gaps, and compliance issues. If needed, we clean up and reconcile prior activity to bring your records fully up to date.
From there, we implement a streamlined system aligned with best practices and your firm’s workflow.
Our team then handles ongoing trust management, performing monthly three-way reconciliations, maintaining accurate client ledgers, and delivering clear, audit-ready reports.
The result is a consistent, reliable process that keeps your firm compliant and always prepared.
Who We Serve
We work with law firms that need accurate, compliant, and scalable trust accounting.
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Solo Attorneys
Stay compliant without the burden of managing trust accounting yourself. -
Small to Mid-Size Firms
Streamline your processes and ensure consistent, audit-ready records as you grow. -
Scaling Firms
Build a strong financial foundation that can support increased volume and complexity. -
Firms Preparing for Audit
Get your trust accounts clean, reconciled, and ready for bar review. -
Firms Transitioning from DIY or In-House Bookkeeping
Replace inconsistent processes with a reliable, professional system.
Your trust accounting shouldn’t be a bother.
Let us handle compliance, so you can focus on your clients.
