the JOURNAL
the JOURNAL
Practical insights on law firm bookkeeping, trust bookkeeping, and running a practice with numbers you can trust.
Why Your IOLTA Reconciliation Never Matches at Month End
If your IOLTA doesn't reconcile at month end, something inside the system has stopped doing its job. A bar audit is the worst place to find out what.
Questions to Ask a Law Firm Bookkeeper Before You Hire One
Eight questions that separate a legal bookkeeper from a general one, with what a good answer and a bad answer sound like for each. Written by a law firm bookkeeper.
Best Legal Billing Software (2026): A Bookkeeper's Ranking
A law firm bookkeeper who processes invoices and reconciles trust accounts daily ranks the best legal billing software for solo and small firms in 2026. Real experience, not vendor marketing.
What Records Do You Need for a Trust Account Compliance Review?
Complete guide to trust account records required for compliance reviews. Includes state-by-state requirements, checklist, and what bar audits examine.
How to Choose a Bookkeeper for Your Law Firm (2026)
A legal bookkeeper with 25 years of experience explains what to look for, what to avoid, pricing benchmarks, and the exact questions to ask before hiring a bookkeeper for your law firm.
California IOLTA Trust Account Rules: What Attorneys Need to Know in 2026
California attorneys must comply with Rule 1.15 and CTAPP for trust accounts. Learn IOLTA requirements, compliance reviews, and recordkeeping rules.
What Happens If Your IOLTA Account Is Short? A Bookkeeper's Guide to Fixing It
A law firm bookkeeper explains what happens when your IOLTA trust account is short, how banks report overdrafts to the state bar, and the exact steps to fix it before it becomes a disciplinary issue.
Clio Accounting Review (2026): A Law Firm Bookkeeper's Honest Take
Clio launched built-in accounting in 2026. A Clio Certified Partner who works inside the platform daily reviews what it does, what it doesn't, and whether it replaces QuickBooks for law firms.
MyCase Accounting Review (2026): A Law Firm Bookkeeper's Honest Take
I am a certified MyCase partner. I work inside the platform every week reconciling trust accounts, cleaning up QuickBooks integrations, and closing the books for solo and small law firm clients. This review covers what MyCase accounting actually does well, where it falls short, and who should be using it.
Best IOLTA Trust Accounting Software for Law Firms (2026)
CosmoLex leads for firms that want trust accounting and general ledger in one system. Clio Manage paired with QuickBooks Online is the best option for firms that want deep practice management and will handle trust accounting in QuickBooks. Six platforms evaluated through one lens: IOLTA compliance.
How to Hire a Bookkeeper for Your Law Firm
Hiring a bookkeeper for your law firm? Learn what trust accounting skills to require, red flags to avoid, what it costs, and the questions to ask before you sign.
Best Accounting Software for Law Firms (2026): A Bookkeeper’s Ranking
I set up, reconcile, and troubleshoot these platforms every day for law firm clients. Here’s my honest ranking of the best accounting software for law firms in 2026.
CosmoLex Review: Does It Actually Replace QuickBooks for Law Firms?
A certified bookkeeper who works inside CosmoLex daily reviews its accounting features, trust accounting, pricing, and whether it truly replaces QuickBooks for law firms.
CosmoLex vs Clio: Which Is Better for Your Law Firm's Books?
A bookkeeper who works inside both CosmoLex and Clio compares pricing, trust accounting, QuickBooks integration, and which platform is better for small law firms.
Clio vs Smokeball: A Law Firm Bookkeeper’s Honest Comparison
Choosing between Clio and Smokeball? As a law firm bookkeeper, I’ve seen both platforms in action. Here’s what actually matters from the financial side.
Clio Pricing Breakdown: What Every Plan Actually Costs in 2026
A law firm bookkeeper breaks down Clio Manage, Grow, and Draft pricing for 2026. What each plan includes, which one your firm needs, and hidden costs to watch for.
Clio vs MyCase: A Law Firm Bookkeeper’s Honest Comparison
Choosing between Clio and MyCase? As a certified partner for both platforms, I work inside them every day doing trust accounting, IOLTA reconciliations, and monthly bookkeeping for law firms. Here’s what I’ve seen actually play out in practice - not a feature checklist pulled from a website.
Clio and QuickBooks Integration for Law Firms: Trust Accounting Configuration
How to configure the Clio QuickBooks integration for law firm trust accounting. Setup, mapping, and the IOLTA workflow the sync doesn't handle.
Attorney Trust Account Rules: State-by-State Requirements
Attorney trust account rules by state: reconciliation requirements, recordkeeping periods, and IOLTA rules for CA, TX, FL, NY, and more. Quick reference guide.
IOLTA Account Interest: Where It Goes and Why You Never See It
Where does IOLTA interest go? Your trust account earns interest, but you never see it. Learn how IOLTA programs collect and distribute these funds.