Law Firm Bookkeeping Services

IOLTA compliance built in.
Trust accounting done right.

Book Your Private Consult →

Clio Certified Partner • MyCase Partner • CosmoLex Partner • QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor

25+ years of accounting and financial-management experience, with specialized expertise in law-firm bookkeeping • Serving Law Firms Nationwide • Attorney at Work Contributor

What Law Firm Bookkeeping Covers

Law firm bookkeeping is bookkeeping built around attorney trust accounting and IOLTA rules. It includes monthly three-way trust reconciliation, individual client ledger maintenance, fund-transfer tracking between trust and operating, and financial reporting that meets your state bar's documentation requirements.

Accounting Atelier provides law-firm bookkeeping services nationwide. Depending on the agreed scope, work may include three-way trust reconciliation and coordination with the firm’s existing software. Financial statements are generally delivered between the 10th and 15th of the following month, provided Accounting Atelier has received all necessary information and appropriate access on time.

Bookkeeping for Law Firms, Built Around Trust Compliance

Accounting Atelier provides law-firm bookkeeping services nationwide. Depending on the agreed scope, services may include bookkeeping, trust-accounting support, billing and accounts receivable, payroll or accounts payable support, software setup, cleanup, and reporting. Financial statements are generally delivered between the 10th and 15th of the following month, provided Accounting Atelier has received all necessary information and appropriate access on time.

Amy Coats has 25+ years of accounting and financial-management experience, with specialized expertise in law-firm bookkeeping. She is a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, and Accounting Atelier is a Clio Certified Partner, MyCase Partner, and CosmoLex Partner.

Law Firm Bookkeeping At A Glance

  • Who it's for: law firms nationwide

    Scope may include: transaction coding, bank and credit card reconciliation, trust-accounting support, individual client ledgers, financial statements, billing and accounts receivable, payroll or accounts payable support, software setup, cleanup, and reporting

    Delivery: financial statements are generally delivered between the 10th and 15th of the following month, provided Accounting Atelier has received all necessary information and appropriate access on time

    Software: Clio (Certified Partner), MyCase (Partner), CosmoLex (Partner), QuickBooks Online (ProAdvisor)

    Pricing: custom fixed-fee pricing based on the scope and complexity of the engagement after reviewing the firm's books and workflow

    Terms: month-to-month after onboarding, no long-term contract

Why Law Firms Need Specialized Bookkeeping

Standard bookkeepers reconcile bank accounts. They don't reconcile trust compliance.

If your bookkeeper has never completed a three-way trust reconciliation, your firm has a compliance gap. Standard bookkeepers reconcile bank accounts. Law firm bookkeeping requires IOLTA expertise, client ledger tracking, proper fund transfer timing, and documentation that satisfies your state bar's requirements.

Law firm bookkeeping requires IOLTA expertise - three-way reconciliation, client ledger tracking, proper fund transfer timing, and documentation that satisfies bar requirements. Most bookkeepers have never done a three-way reconciliation. They don't know the difference between earned and unearned funds. They treat your trust account like an operating account.

If your bookkeeper doesn't understand these rules, your books might look fine until the bar audits your trust account.

We provide bookkeeping services for law firms exclusively. IOLTA compliance is built into everything we do.

What's Included in Our Law Firm Bookkeeping Services

Complete Bookkeeping

  • Transaction categorization for all accounts

  • Bank and credit card reconciliation

  • Monthly P&L and balance sheet

  • Financial statements generally delivered between the 10th and 15th of the following month when required information and access are received on time

IOLTA Trust Account Management

  • Three-way trust reconciliation when included in the agreed scope and applicable to the firm’s trust accounts

  • Individual client ledger maintenance

  • Trust-to-operating transfer tracking

  • Audit-ready documentation

Financial Reporting

  • Profitability insights by practice area

  • Cash flow visibility

  • Accounts receivable aging

  • Reports formatted for your CPA

Your reports should show you where profit comes from and where it's disappearing. For more on what to track, see law firm financial metrics and our guide to law firm financial reports.

Software Setup and Integration

For firms using Clio or MyCase, our work may include:

  • QuickBooks Online bookkeeping setup

  • Review of the current software and bookkeeping workflow

  • Cleanup planning before monthly bookkeeping begins

Accounting Atelier has completed Clio–QuickBooks integrations for dozens of firms. For practical setup and software guidance, see our Clio–QuickBooks integration guide, MyCase Accounting review, QuickBooks for law firms guide, and Clio vs MyCase comparison.

Who Our Legal Bookkeeping Services Are For

Solo Practitioners

You're practicing law and running the business. Bookkeeping keeps falling to the bottom of the list, and your trust account reconciliation is months behind.

You need a law firm bookkeeper who handles everything - IOLTA compliance included - so you can focus on clients. Books closed monthly, nothing for you to manage.

Small Firms (2-10 Attorneys)

You have staff, payroll, and enough transaction volume that complexity is increasing. Your current bookkeeper isn't sure about trust accounting, and you're not confident everything is being done correctly.

You need professional bookkeeping for lawyers that matches your firm's complexity. Full trust accounting, clean financials, and reports that help you make decisions about hiring and growth.

Firms Behind on Compliance

Your trust account hasn't been reconciled in months. You might have a bar audit coming—or you've already received notice.

You need someone to fix the mess. We offer trust account cleanup to get you current, followed by monthly legal bookkeeping services to keep you compliant. We've helped firms recover from years of backlog.

How Our Law Firm Bookkeeping Works

1. Consultation

We'll discuss your firm's situation, current state of your books, and trust accounting needs. We'll determine if we're the right fit.

2. Proposal

You'll receive a custom fixed-fee proposal based on your firm's specific requirements—accounts, transaction volume, trust complexity, and any cleanup needed.

3. Onboarding

After the agreement is signed, Accounting Atelier provides the onboarding steps and requests the information and access needed for the agreed software and workflow.

4. Monthly Service

Depending on the agreed scope, work may include bookkeeping, trust-accounting support, reporting, and ongoing support. Financial statements are generally delivered between the 10th and 15th of the following month, provided Accounting Atelier has received all necessary information and appropriate access on time.

Law firm bookkeeping services for solo attorneys & small law firms..

Why Law Firms Choose Us

Because guessing isn’t a strategy.

“Amy fixed more in 60 days than our last two bookkeepers did in two years.”
— Managing Partner, Small Litigation Firm

“I didn’t even know we were doing it wrong. Now I sleep better.”
— Solo Attorney, Estate Planning

“Finally someone who actually understands IOLTA.”
— Boutique Firm, Immigration Law

“This is the first time I’ve felt like someone was protecting me.”
— Partner, Business Law Firm

Still with a bookkeeper who “mostly gets it”?

You don’t need to switch tomorrow.
But you do need to know where the risks are hiding.

Let’s start there.

Book Your Private Consult →

What Makes Our Legal Bookkeeping Services Different

Law Firm Exclusive

Our systems are built specifically for legal accounting and IOLTA compliance. When you hire a bookkeeper for your law firm, you want one who does this every day.

IOLTA Specialists

Depending on the agreed scope, work may include the applicable three-way reconciliation, client-ledger support, and documentation for the firm’s trust-account workflow.

Certified & Integrated

Clio Certified Partner. MyCase Partner. CosmoLex Partner. QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor. We work within your existing practice-management software—not around it.

Month-to-Month

No long-term contracts after onboarding. Clients stay because the work is done right.

Your Investment

Accounting Atelier uses custom fixed-fee pricing based on the scope and complexity of the engagement, including factors such as transaction volume, trust-account activity, billing and accounts receivable, payroll or accounts payable support, software setup, cleanup needs, and reporting requirements.

Accounting Atelier uses custom fixed-fee pricing after reviewing the firm's books and workflow. See the law firm bookkeeping cost guide for current dated third-party market examples and scope distinctions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Law Firm Bookkeeping

  • Yes. Accounting Atelier provides bookkeeping services for law firms exclusively. We don't serve other industries. Our systems, workflows, and expertise are built specifically for legal accounting and IOLTA compliance.

  • A law-firm bookkeeper’s scope may include trust-account reconciliation, client-ledger support, law-firm software coordination, and specialized reporting. Compare the provider’s specific experience and proposed scope rather than relying on the title alone.

    For a full provider-selection framework, see how to choose a bookkeeper for your law firm.

  • Many clients come to us behind on reconciliation. We offer trust account cleanup as a one-time project to get you current and compliant, followed by monthly legal bookkeeping services to maintain it. We've cleaned up backlogs spanning years.

  • Depending on the agreed scope and the firm’s trust-account activity, Accounting Atelier may provide three-way trust reconciliation support. The applicable process should reflect the firm’s trust accounts, records, jurisdiction, and agreed workflow.

  • Amy Coats is a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, and Accounting Atelier is a Clio Certified Partner, MyCase Partner, and CosmoLex Partner. The software work included in an engagement depends on the firm’s current systems and agreed scope.

  • CPAs focus on tax preparation and planning. We focus on day-to-day bookkeeping, monthly IOLTA compliance, and delivering financials that help you run your firm - not just file your taxes. We work with your CPA to confirm they have what they need.

  • Financial statements are generally delivered between the 10th and 15th of the following month, provided Accounting Atelier has received all necessary information and appropriate access on time. Timing outside that window depends on the agreed scope and the condition of the books.

  • Book a consultation. We'll discuss your needs, current state of your books, and trust accounting requirements. If we're aligned, you'll receive a custom proposal within a few business days.

  • Yes. Accounting Atelier is a Clio Certified Partner and supports law-firm bookkeeping workflows using Clio and QuickBooks Online when included in the agreed scope. Accounting Atelier is also a MyCase Partner and CosmoLex Partner.

  • Accounting Atelier uses custom fixed-fee pricing based on the scope and complexity of the engagement, including factors such as transaction volume, trust-account activity, billing and accounts receivable, payroll or accounts payable support, software setup, cleanup needs, and reporting requirements. Accounting Atelier uses custom fixed-fee pricing after reviewing the firm's books and workflow.

  • Look for a provider with law-firm bookkeeping experience relevant to the proposed scope. When client funds are involved, ask how the provider supports trust records and the applicable reconciliation process. Also compare software fit, reporting, communication, and clear engagement terms.

  • Both, but for different reasons. A bookkeeper handles day-to-day transaction coding, monthly reconciliation, trust accounting, and financial reporting. A CPA handles tax preparation, tax planning, and advisory work. Most solo and small law firms need a specialized bookkeeper for ongoing monthly work and a CPA for annual tax prep. Your bookkeeper should deliver financials in the format your CPA needs, reducing year-end scramble and CPA fees.

  • Depending on the agreed scope, Accounting Atelier’s work may include review of the firm’s current software and bookkeeping workflow, QuickBooks Online bookkeeping setup, and cleanup planning. Accounting Atelier is a Clio Certified Partner, MyCase Partner, and CosmoLex Partner, and Amy Coats is a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor.

  • Three-way trust reconciliation compares the trust bank balance, the trust liability or control-account balance, and the total of the individual client ledgers. Whether and how Accounting Atelier performs it depends on the agreed scope, the firm’s trust-account activity, and the applicable requirements—not attorney count alone.

  • Cost-effectiveness depends on the complete workload, including attorney and staff time, software setup, monthly review, correction work, reporting, and any trust-account responsibilities. Compare the firm’s internal capacity with the provider’s relevant experience and included scope rather than relying on the monthly fee alone.

  • Yes. Accounting Atelier provides law-firm bookkeeping services nationwide. Trust-account requirements vary by jurisdiction, so the agreed scope and records workflow should reflect the firm’s actual accounts and applicable responsibilities.

  • If your firm holds client funds in trust, hire a specialist. A generalist can code transactions and reconcile a bank account. Trust accounting needs three-way reconciliation, client-ledger tracking, and bar-ready documentation that most generalists have never done. We go deeper on the tradeoff in legal bookkeeper vs. general bookkeeper.