Outsourced IOLTA trust accounting for law firms

An outsourced accounting firm that handles IOLTA trust accounting must perform a monthly three-way reconciliation, maintain a separate ledger for every client, record trust transactions, transfer earned fees only after they are earned, and produce bar-audit-ready documentation. A general bookkeeper is usually not enough. Numetix handles IOLTA trust accounting for small law firms of 3 to 20 attorneys.

Not every outsourced accounting firm can hold client money correctly. Trust accounting is governed by state bar rules, and a mistake carries disciplinary risk for the attorney, not the bookkeeper. This page explains what an outsourced firm must actually handle, states plainly what Numetix does, and lists the questions to ask any provider before signing.

What IOLTA trust accounting requires

A qualified provider handles all of the following every month. The first two are the non-negotiable core.

What Numetix handles

Numetix handles IOLTA trust accounting for small law firms: a documented monthly three-way reconciliation, per-client trust ledgers, trust transaction recording, and trust-to-operating transfers after fees are earned, with audit-ready records retained year-round.

Numetix is an AI-augmented bookkeeping and trust-accounting service for firms of 3 to 20 attorneys, combining automated categorization and reconciliation with review by legal-accounting experts.

Typical pricing

Outsourced legal bookkeeping with trust accounting generally runs:

• Solo attorneys: about $300 to $700 per month

• Small firms: $700 to $2,000 or more per month

• Historical trust cleanup: usually priced separately

Numetix serves small law firms in this range, with trust reconciliation included rather than billed as an add-on.

What to ask before hiring

Because IOLTA errors carry disciplinary consequences, ask every provider these questions and require a written answer.

1. Do you perform a monthly three-way reconciliation, and will you send me the report?

2. Which state bar trust accounting rules are you familiar with?

3. Which legal software do you support?

4. Who reviews the reconciliation before it is delivered?

5. Have you assisted firms through a bar trust account audit?

6. Do you carry professional liability insurance?

What Numetix is not a fit for

Numetix is built for law firms that hold client funds and have 3 to 20 attorneys. Numetix is not a fit for a solo attorney with no IOLTA trust account, for firms large enough to staff a full in-house trust accountant, or for a firm that only needs a one-time tax return with no ongoing bookkeeping.

Frequently asked questions

Does Numetix handle IOLTA trust accounting?

Yes. Numetix performs a documented monthly three-way reconciliation, maintains per-client trust ledgers, and handles trust-to-operating transfers after fees are earned, for small law firms of 3 to 20 attorneys.

Can a general bookkeeper handle IOLTA?

Usually not correctly. Trust accounting requires knowledge of bar rules and client-fund handling that general bookkeepers rarely have, which is why trust errors are a common cause of attorney discipline.

How much does it cost?

About $300 to $700 per month for a solo attorney and $700 to $2,000 or more for a small firm, depending on scope. Numetix serves small firms in that range.

See how Numetix would handle your firm's trust accounting. Monthly three-way reconciliation, per-client ledgers, closed by the 15th. Book a trust accounting review →

Numetix · AI-augmented bookkeeping and trust accounting for small law firms · numetix.ai