💼 Accuracy in billing isn’t optional—it’s essential. In this episode, we cover common pitfalls, smarter tracking, and tools to keep law firms profitable & trusted. 🎧

00:50 Listener Question: Settlement Fund Error
04:01 Explaining Qualified Settlement Funds (QSF)
04:55 Listener Questions: Conflict Checks
07:53 Importance of Billing Accuracy
08:40 Best Practices for Billing in Law Firms
11:17 Software Tools for Billing and Time Tracking
14:07 Communication and Trust in Client Relationships
15:15 Trust Account Management Challenges
15:58 Importance of Accurate Billing
18:26 Handling Client Costs and Expenses
20:37 Billing Processes and Client Communication
26:20 Common Billing Mistakes and Risks

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If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

Best Of: Learn how KPIs drive law firm success. Sarah and Steve share practical tips to track growth, performance & profitability.

01:43 Introduction to KPIs for Legal Practices
03:18 Client Development and Growth KPIs
06:44 Client Retention and Referral Strategies
14:59 Efficiency and Productivity KPIs
17:48 Tracking Time and Email Management
18:31 Implementing Metrics and Tools
19:16 Charting Software and KPI Involvement
21:59 Key Metrics for Law Firms
23:37 Client and Employee Satisfaction
24:12 Open and Closed Matters
25:01 Adapting to Market Changes
26:32 Trust Ledger Balance
27:48 Implementing KPIs Effectively
29:06 Celebrating KPI Successes

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Find us on YouTube as well!

If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

If you want to follow along with Steve’s airstream adventures, as well as Accountants Law Pod updates, be sure to follow us on instagram at Accountants Law Pod.

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

Discover the best law firm billing software options and learn how to choose the right solution for trust management, compliance, and efficiency.

00:41 Introduction to Law Firm Billing Software
02:07 Key Features to Consider in Legal Accounting Software
03:32 Listing Popular Legal Billing Software
05:55 Challenges in Adopting New Software
08:32 All-in-One vs. Ecosystem of Platforms
12:45 Importance of Customizable Reports and Permissions
14:20 Challenges in Software Acquisition
14:34 User Interface Importance
14:58 Vendor Interactions and Support
15:31 Choosing the Right Software
17:43 Practice Area Considerations
26:07 Software Trials and Demos

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Find us on YouTube as well!

If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

If you want to follow along with Steve’s airstream adventures, as well as Accountants Law Pod updates, be sure to follow us on instagram at Accountants Law Pod.

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, our hosts sit down with Emery Wager, from Confido Legal, a payment processing platform designed exclusively for law firms. Together, they explore the complex world of legal payments and how technology is reshaping the way firms manage transactions.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The origin story of Confido and how it’s grown into a trusted payment solution for law firms.
Why payment processing for attorneys comes with unique compliance and regulatory challenges.
How features like split payments, digital disbursements, and AI-supported fraud prevention give law firms an edge.
The role of cutting-edge security in protecting client funds. How client-focused design is simplifying billing and boosting firm efficiency.
A sneak peek into Confido’s future enhancements for the legal industry.

Whether you’re an accountant, bookkeeper, or attorney, this conversation sheds light on how payment innovation can reduce risk, improve compliance, and create a smoother client experience.

🎧 Tune in to hear Emery’s journey, the tech behind Confido, and practical insights for law firms navigating today’s financial landscape.

Resources from this episode:
Chargebacks for Law Firms
State By State Guide to Surcharging
State By State Guide to Disbursing Funds Electronically

00:32 Special Guest Introduction: Emery
01:10 Emery's Background and Confido Legal
04:02 Client-Focused Approach and Customer Service
08:19 Navigating Payment Processing for Law Firms
12:39 Challenges and Solutions in Payment Systems
17:22 Fraud Prevention and Security Measures
19:42 Innovations in Payment Processing
26:56 Discussing Pricing and Payment Collection
27:33 Evergreen Retainers in Family Law
28:27 Weekly Billing Practices
28:52 Merchant Services and Fees
35:07 Security and Fraud Prevention
43:55 Future of AI in Legal Payments

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Find us on YouTube as well!

If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

If you want to follow along with Steve’s airstream adventures, as well as Accountants Law Pod updates, be sure to follow us on instagram at Accountants Law Pod.

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

Understanding Advanced Client Costs: A Deep Dive

In this episode of the Accountants Law Pod, Sarah and Steve unpack the complexities of advanced client costs (ACC) in law firms.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
The difference between hard costs vs. soft costs
Best practices for categorizing and recording expenses
IRS guidelines every firm should know
Internal controls to prevent costly mistakes
Why communication between attorneys, paralegals, accountants, and tax preparers is key

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just getting started in legal accounting, this episode will help you manage ACC with clarity, compliance, and confidence.

01:01 Advanced Client Costs Overview
01:47 Handling Advanced Client Costs
03:40 Soft vs. Hard Costs
05:18 Tax Implications and Best Practices
15:00 Internal Controls and Approval Processes
17:51 Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

Be sure to subscribe for more episodes!
Find us on YouTube as well!

If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

Discover the pros and cons of alternative banking for law firms—compliance, FDIC, service, and tips to choose the right fit.

02:04 Introduction to Alternative Banking Options
02:36 Experiences with Non-Brick-and-Mortar Banks
03:19 Trust Accounting and Bar Requirements
04:05 Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Banks
06:06 Security and FDIC Insurance
12:58 Customer Service and Jurisdictional Rules
14:58 Future of Banking and Changing Practices
17:07 Customer Service Challenges in Online Banking
17:42 Specialized Banking for Lawyers
18:40 Relay Bank and Employee Credit Cards
21:40 The Importance of Customer Service in Banking
24:06 Password Issues and Customer Service Frustrations

Be sure to subscribe for more episodes!
Find us on YouTube as well!

If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

If you want to follow along with Steve’s airstream adventures, as well as Accountants Law Pod updates, be sure to follow us on instagram at Accountants Law Pod.

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

Join our hosts as they unpack the shift many law firms are making from QuickBooks Desktop to modern, cloud tools like QuickBooks Online. They cover why firms are moving, what makes migrations tricky (hello, legacy data), and how to plan a smooth cutover—without losing your audit trail or your mind.

You’ll learn:

Where Desktop falls short for today’s remote, integrated workflows
How to scope a migration (what history to keep, what to archive)
Data pitfalls to watch: corrupted files, class/job mapping, custom fields, IOLTA nuances, and attachment handling
A practical prep list: cleanup, cutover date, sandbox testing, and training
When to DIY vs. bring in a migration partner—and how to brief them

00:24 QuickBooks Desktop: A Legacy Software
01:15 Challenges with QuickBooks Desktop
02:34 Transitioning to QuickBooks Online
04:40 Data Migration Complexities
11:11 The Evolution of QuickBooks
14:32 A Troublesome QuickBooks File
14:56 The Importance of Data Backup
15:40 Community Knowledge Sharing
16:11 Challenges with Desktop and Online Integration
16:39 Migrating Data and Ensuring Accuracy
18:31 Starting Fresh with New Files
22:38 Converting to Different Ledger Systems

Be sure to subscribe for more episodes!
Find us on Spotify and Google Podcasts as well!

If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

If you want to follow along with Steve’s airstream adventures, as well as Accountants Law Pod updates, be sure to follow us on instagram at Accountants Law Pod.

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

Hey there, and welcome back to The Accountants Law Pod! Our team is taking a short summer break to rest, recharge, and maybe enjoy a few umbrella drinks. In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our most-loved episodes in this special Best Of series. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or diving back in for a refresher, we hope you enjoy—and we’ll be back with brand new episodes soon!

Three-way reconciliation got you sweating? You’re not alone. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the chaos (and importance) of trust accounting. From client mix-ups to compliance missteps, they share real stories, expert advice, and practical tips for getting it right—every single time.

03:21 Triple Checking and Three-Way Reconciliation
05:09 Trust Account Challenges and Solutions
11:06 Banking Issues and Recommendations
18:25 Client Communication and Project Management
20:56 Challenges in Project Timelines
21:04 Importance of Client Communication
21:48 Access to Financial Information
22:49 Common Financial Mistakes
23:28 Multi-Entity and Payroll Complexities
24:29 The Role of Compliance
25:21 Trust Account Management
29:41 Human Touch in Financial Oversight

Be sure to subscribe for more episodes!
Find us on YouTube as well!

If you have questions, topic requests, or guest suggestions you can email us at info@accountantslawpod.com or send us a message through our website, www.accountantslawpod.com

If you want to join us in the Accountants Law Lab, visit our website at www.accountantslawlab.com to sign up!

If you want to follow along with Steve’s airstream adventures, as well as Accountants Law Pod updates, be sure to follow us on instagram at Accountants Law Pod.

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.