Dec. 1, 2021 – In an era of ever-increasing reliance on technology, it pays to offer your clients quick and convenient ways to pay fees. But if you’re a lawyer accepting credit cards, wire transfers, and ACH transactions, you must be mindful of the applicable Rules of Professional Responsibility.
“If you are processing electronic transactions through your business account and then cutting checks to your trust account, you are almost certainly violating Supreme Court Rules,” says Christopher Shattuck, State Bar of Wisconsin Law Practice Assistance Manager.
Before you do that, be sure to look into the Supreme Court Rules regarding fee agreements, trust account requirements, and processing electronic transactions, Shattuck advises.
More Helpful CLE Programs on Fee Agreements and Processing Payments
PINNACLE offers three additional CLE programs (for a combined total of 10 hours of education) on everything attorneys and their staff need to know about fee agreements and how to properly process those payments through trust or fiduciary accounts.
These OnDemand programs are:
Where to Find Out More
Law firms that accept electronic transactions have reported quicker payment turnaround times and fewer disputes regarding client bills – but it is important to follow the Supreme Court Rules.
Get answers to your questions in a quick, 50-minute CLE session: The
Ethical Requirements for Processing ACH, Wire Transfers and Credit Card Payments from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE®.
This webcast, held
Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, noon to 12:50 p.m., helps lawyers and firms navigate the specific topic of accepting electronic transactions without violating the Supreme Court Rules.
This program will let you confidently join the growing ranks of firms that are providing their clients with the options to pay with electronic transactions.
“Among other guidance, you will receive a decision flow chart that will help you and your staff quickly determine how to properly process the payments you receive from your clients into the appropriate business or varying trust account options,” Shattuck says.
Join Shattuck and State Bar of Wisconsin Ethics Counsel Aviva Meridian Kaiser to learn everything you need to know about these payment options. They discuss:
The Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules for processing ACH, wire transfers, and credit card payments;
The important differences between handling unearned and earned fees;
Payment processing options and protocols;
How to properly supervise lawyers and staff who accept payments.
“You will gain confidence in your work with trust and fiduciary accounts and know that you are complying ethically with rules and guidelines,” Shattuck says.
Reserve your spot today.
Visit the WisBar.org Marketplace to learn more and to register.
More Practical Ethics Webcasts
Interested in learning more about how ethics applies to your practice? Look for these six 1.5 CLE/EPR credits webcast sessions from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® that will ensure you understand your ethical duties in a variety of situations. Attend two (or more) to satisfy your reporting requirement. Interested in more?
Visit the WisBar.org Marketplace.
