Free tool for law firms
Law Firm Bookkeeping Health Check
Bookkeeping for law firms carries obligations most businesses never face: client funds held in trust, client-by-client ledgers and regular reconciliations. Answer 9 multiple-choice questions and get an instant score, a category breakdown and practical next steps. No signup, and nothing is sent anywhere.
What the health check scores
- Trust and IOLTA accounting. Whether client funds are tracked, reconciled and documented.
- Separation of funds. Keeping client, operating and personal money apart.
- Monthly close and reporting. Timely books and reports someone actually reviews.
- Ownership and expertise. Who keeps the books and how familiar they are with law firms.
- Software and processes. Whether your tools connect billing, trust and the books.
How it works
- Answer 9 questions about how your firm keeps its books. Firms that do not hold client funds skip the trust questions.
- Each answer earns 0, 1 or 2 points. Your score is the share of possible points across the questions that apply to you.
- See your score, which areas look solid, your priority issues and a next step for each one.
Your answers stay in this browser tab. Sam’s List does not store them or share them with any firm.
This health check is educational and based only on your answers. It is not legal, accounting or tax advice, and it is not a compliance audit. Trust-account rules are set by each state bar or supreme court and vary by jurisdiction, so confirm the rules that apply to your firm.
Law firm bookkeeping questions
What is a three-way reconciliation for a law firm?
It compares three records for the same date: the trust bank statement, the firm’s trust account ledger and the total of every individual client ledger. All three should agree. Many state bars expect it monthly for IOLTA accounts, but the exact requirement depends on your jurisdiction.
My firm doesn’t hold client funds. Is this still useful?
Yes. If you answer that the firm never holds client funds, the trust questions are skipped and marked not applicable, and you are scored only on separation of funds, monthly close, reporting, ownership and software.
How is the score calculated?
Each question that applies to you earns 0, 1 or 2 points. Your score is the points earned divided by the points possible. “Not sure” earns 0 points and is shown as something to confirm. 80 or above is a solid foundation, 55 to 79 means some gaps, and below 55 needs attention.
Does a high score mean my firm is compliant?
No. The health check reflects only your answers. It is not an audit and does not replace your state bar’s trust-accounting guidance or advice from a licensed professional.
Are my answers shared with anyone?
No. Answers are scored in your browser and are not stored by Sam’s List or sent to any bookkeeper. If you choose to visit a bookkeeper’s profile afterwards, nothing from the health check goes with you.