Accounting for law firms

Trust accounting for law firms

Monthly reconciliations. Clear client ledgers. A repeatable process for the funds entrusted to your firm.

A clearer monthly close

When bank activity, matter balances and accounting records live in different places, small discrepancies can linger. Mako Financial helps organize the work, investigate differences and prepare records for your firm’s review.

Reconcile the account

Compare the bank, trust-account journal and individual ledgers. Document outstanding items and investigate mismatches.

Keep the detail

Review receipts and disbursements against client or matter records. Identify missing support and allocation questions.

Review what’s unresolved

Receive a reconciliation package with supporting schedules and questions that need the responsible attorney’s decision.

Three-way reconciliation

Three records.
One explained balance.

A bank reconciliation alone does not explain how much belongs to each client. Three-way reconciliation compares:

Adjusted bank balance
The statement balance adjusted for outstanding checks, deposits in transit and other supported reconciling items.
Trust-account journal
The record of receipts, disbursements and the running balance for the whole account.
Individual ledger totals
The combined client or other-person ledger balances, plus any permitted bank-charges ledger balance. Each ledger must also be reviewed for unexplained activity.

Built for recurring work

This service fits firms that need consistent record collection, reconciliation and follow-up each month. We agree on the accounts covered, software access, reporting schedule and who reviews outstanding questions.

Your firm supplies complete records and timely explanations. The responsible attorney retains oversight and decisions about the handling of entrusted funds.

Older periods need attention?

Recurring support works best from a reliable starting point. Missing statements, unexplained balances or unreconciled prior months may need a separate cleanup scope before regular monthly work begins.

Explore trust-accounting cleanup

California firms

Recordkeeping with the rules in view

California Rule 1.15’s recordkeeping standards require monthly balancing of individual ledgers, the account journal, and bank statements and cancelled checks. Records must be preserved for at least five years after final appropriate distribution.

We help organize accounting records and review questions; engaging an accounting provider does not transfer the attorney’s responsibilities. The scope must reflect your firm’s circumstances, and no service guarantees compliance or a particular review outcome.

Read California Rule 1.15 and recordkeeping standards (PDF)

Common questions

Before we begin

What records would we need?

Typically bank statements, the trust-account journal, individual client or matter ledgers, prior reconciliations and support for receipts and disbursements. We agree a specific request list after scoping. Do not send these records through the public inquiry form.

Can you work with our existing software?

We start by reviewing how your accounting and practice-management systems hold transactions and matter balances, including QuickBooks and Clio where used. We confirm access, available reports and responsibilities before agreeing the engagement.

Do you decide when funds can be transferred?

The responsible attorney makes decisions about entitlement to funds and authorizes transfers. We can identify accounting questions and gather supporting records; accounting support is not a substitute for the attorney’s legal judgment.

Can firms outside California inquire?

Yes. We discuss your jurisdiction, accounts and service needs first. State requirements differ; the California information on this page should not be treated as another state’s rules.

Before your consultation

A monthly review starts with connected records

Identify the trust bank accounts, client or matter ledgers, and the person responsible for reviewing exceptions. A statement alone does not explain which client owns each balance.

Agree how deposits, disbursements and supporting records reach the accounting team. Separate unresolved differences from ordinary timing items so the responsible attorney can review a clear set of questions.

Let’s scope the work.

Start with your business contact details. We’ll discuss the accounts, records and support your firm needs.

Request a consultation

(801) 709-0755

Please keep account numbers, passwords and client records out of your inquiry.