How to Keep It Clean with the Green: Trust Accounting Do’s and Don’ts (Preview)

Trust accounting remains one of the most critical ethical responsibilities for practicing attorneys. In this course, Mark Bassingthwaighte of ALPS Insurance Agency draws on more than 27 years of risk management experience to explain why trust account compliance is far more than a bookkeeping task. He introduces the foundational rules governing IOLTA accounts, the kinds of client and third-party funds that must be safeguarded, and the essential duties lawyers carry under Rule 1.15. With a mix of practical guidance and memorable real-world stories, Mark underscores how even well-intentioned missteps can result in serious disciplinary consequences.

The course also dives into the do’s and don’ts of daily trust account management, including proper handling of retainers, avoiding commingling, preventing cash-flow-driven shortcuts, and communicating expectations clearly to clients. Mark highlights the dangers of sloppy processes, inadequate oversight of non-attorney staff, and the growing threats posed by wire fraud, phishing, deepfakes, and counterfeit checks. Attorneys will learn how to strengthen internal controls, implement double-reconciliation procedures, conduct audits, use out-of-band verification for fund transfers, and put safeguards in place that protect both the practice and the clients they serve.

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