Financial Systems

  • First, read A Guide to Trust Accounting and Financial Recordkeeping in South Carolina thoroughly.
  • Open firm checking accounts. You should have a client trust account and a separate account for office operating expenses. If you are planning to handle real estate matters, it is a good idea to have one account for that and another for general matters. You may also need an account for payroll, if you have employees.
  • South Carolina requires you to have IOLTA trust account(s). Forms are available online at South Carolina Bar | Bar Foundation | IOLTA Program.  If you have any questions about IOLTA not answered at www.scbarfoundation.org, contact the South Carolina Bar Foundation at (803) 765-0517 for more information.
  • Click here for a list of financial institutions that participate in IOLTA, or visit the Bar Foundation website.
  • Select accounting software that will balance the account and prepare income and expense reports. For more on this, see accounting software links here and time and billing links here.
  • Check out The ABA Guide to Lawyer Trust Accounts by Jay Foonberg from the Lending Library.
  • Decide whether you want to accept credit cards as payment. In South Carolina, law firms may accept credit cards. However, if you decide to accept credit cards, be sure you comply with all ethical rules. Don't forget: have a plan in place for handling bank service charges for credit cards. South Carolina Ethics Advisory Opinions 81-01, 96-06, and 98-08 address some aspects of accepting credit cards as payment.
  • To read more about accepting credit cards, see