Accountants Law Pod™

Lynda is back after a trip to California that ended with a broken shoulder and a great story, and the team is diving into two topics that the community has been asking about. First up: Dear Attorney, Your Bookkeeper Deserves a Vacation. Lynda, Sarah, and Steve talk about why every bookkeeper needs time off, how to set up coverage so nothing falls through the cracks, and why they actually added vac...

Advisory services are no longer optional for accountants and bookkeepers. They are the future of the profession. In this episode, Sarah Prevost and Steven Libhart dig into what it really means to be a trusted financial partner to your law firm clients in the age of AI. From beverage machines that diagnose themselves to bank transitions handled with a single phone call to a senior vice president, t...

If you hate numbers, this episode is exactly for you. Sarah Prevost and Steven Libhart make the case that the attorneys and firm owners who avoid their financial reports are the ones who end up in the biggest messes, and that understanding your numbers does not require loving them. The conversation covers KPIs, AI as a financial tool and its very real limitations, partner compensation planning, la...

Evergreen retainers are one of the most powerful tools a law firm can use to protect cash flow and reduce accounts receivable headaches — but only when they are set up and monitored correctly. In this episode, Sarah Prevost and Steven Libhart break down exactly what evergreen retainers are, how they work, and the nuances that attorneys, bookkeepers, and accountants need to understand before puttin...

Why do law firms still rely on side spreadsheets? In this episode, Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steven Libhart dig into the real reasons attorneys lean on manual spreadsheets for trust accounting, compensation tracking, and client costs, and what can go wrong when those spreadsheets are riddled with broken formulas, missing data, and no audit trail. The team also gets into data migrations go...

It's our three-year anniversary and we're kicking off Season 4! In this episode, Lynda, Sarah, and Steve celebrate the milestone and dive into one of the most important things every law firm and accounting practice should be doing right now: the mid-year business review. From checking payroll and 1099s to evaluating your tech stack, forecasting cash flow, and setting financial priorities for the s...

Sarah is back, and she has a story to tell! Fresh off an unexpected keynote at the Kudo Digital Accounting Conference in Kosovo, Sarah shares what it was like to present to a sold-out crowd on working with US-based accounting firms, complete with surprise keynote status, a massive curved screen, live translators, and an audience that was fully present and phone-free. Lynda and Steve dig into the c...

Here are the updated versions without em dashes: Spotify Description Trust accounting is one of the most compliance-heavy areas in legal bookkeeping, and post-tax season is exactly the right time to audit where things stand. In this episode, Lynda and Steve dig into the common traps law firms fall into with their IOLTA and trust accounts: timing issues with Clio Pay and e-checks, commingling funds...

Your paralegal is great at their job. That is exactly why they should not be doing your books. In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, Lynda and Steve make the case for why assigning bookkeeping to your paralegal is one of the costliest mistakes a law firm can make. From trust account disasters and reconciliation nightmares to payroll privacy risks and bar audit exposure, they break down the real...

The future of legal accounting is moving fast and AI is at the center of it. In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, we take an honest and sometimes hilarious look at where AI is actually delivering in legal and accounting workflows, where it is falling short, and what it means for the future of the profession. From trust accounting and docketing to bank feeds, client billing, and the very real ri...

Whether you are an attorney managing your own books or a bookkeeper supporting law firms, the same costly mistakes show up again and again. In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, we break down the most common legal accounting errors they encounter, from unbalanced trust accounts and uncollected AR to bonus checks that bypass payroll and chart of accounts setups that create more problems than they...

If you’ve ever heard of LEDES billing and thought, “How hard can it be?”… this episode might just save you from a full-blown billing meltdown. In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, we dive into the surprisingly complex (and often frustrating) world of legal electronic billing. From rejected invoices over a single misplaced comma to navigating strict code sets, budgets, and insurance requirements...

What happens when your bookkeeper or accountant quits without notice? In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, Linda, Sarah, and Steve dig into one of the most stressful situations a law firm can face: losing the person who manages the books, trust account, payroll, billing, and financial workflows with no transition plan in place. They discuss the immediate risks to law firms, including trust acco...

Client Ledger Cleanup Hacks for Law Firms: Fixing Messy Books, Trust Issues, and IOLTA Risks Cleaning up messy law firm books can feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces - but there’s a method to the madness. In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, we break down practical, real-world strategies for tackling client ledger cleanup in law firms. We walk through how to approach even the most ch...

With QuickBooks Desktop support ending in 2026 and growing frustration around QuickBooks Online, many law firms are asking the same question: What are the best accounting software alternatives for law firms? In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, we break down the reality of switching accounting systems and what law firms need to know before making a move. From reporting limitations and payroll i...

How will artificial intelligence reshape the courtroom and the legal profession? In this episode, we speak with U.S. Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell (District of Colorado) about the rapidly evolving role of AI in courts and the broader legal industry. Judge Braswell shares insights from launching the Judicial AI Consortium, a national judges-only forum focused on responsible AI adoptio...

Small law firms often rely on spreadsheets and patchwork processes to manage their finances, but that approach rarely scales. In this episode of Accountants Law Pod, we discuss the bookkeeping strategies law firms need to support growth, improve cash flow, and prepare for long-term success. The conversation explores why spreadsheets create risk, especially for trust accounting, and why investing e...

We dive into the world of law-firm business coaches - hot takes and hard truths. From confusing reports and costly programs to chart-of-accounts chaos, we break down red flags, what good coaching really looks like, and why clean books, clear goals, solid pricing, and strong systems matter long before you scale. 02:52 Coaches and Report Requests 03:30 Rainmaker and CFO Labels 05:34 Why Firms Hire C...

Outsourced accounting helps law firms stay focused, cut costs, and stay compliant - especially with trust accounting. We cover spotting workflow red flags, fixing cash-flow confusion, planning for taxes and payroll, and using KPIs to guide smarter decisions. Strong financials fuel growth, modernization, and even exit planning. 01:08 Outsourced Accounting for Law Firms: Why It Matters 02:34 Outside...

In this episode, we break down common attorney compensation models—including “eat what you kill,” flat fee structures, and performance-based pay—exploring the pros, cons, and real-world challenges firms face when implementing or transitioning models. 03:15 Attorney Compensation Models Overview 03:44 Eat What You Kill Model 04:23 Flat Fees and Other Compensation Models 05:47 Challenges with Compens...

In this episode, we break down the pros and cons of today’s leading legal accounting tools—Clio, LeanLaw, CosmoLex, MyCase, and PracticePanther. We compare features, pricing, user experience, and explore how each integrates with QuickBooks. Do you agree with our decisions? How would you fill out your own Software Showdown bracket? We want to hear your thoughts! 02:05 Transition to Legal Accounting...

Dive into trust account pitfalls as we explore real-life fraud cases, cybersecurity risks, and how mishandled workflows lead to compliance failures. Learn practical safeguards, staff training tips, and best practices to protect your firm’s trust funds - with a fun quiz to test your knowledge. 01:31 Listener Question: Preventing Trust Account Mishaps 01:59 Cybersecurity and Trust Account Safety 05:...

In this episode we break down the accounting pitfalls law firms face - from IOLTA missteps to messy trust reconciliations. We explain why early legal-accounting support matters, how to handle credit card fees correctly, and the key practices that keep firms compliant, confident, and profitable. 00:53 Demystifying Accounting Concepts for Law Firms 01:43 Understanding Trust Accounts and IOLTA 02:52...

Start the year with smart tax planning for law firms. In this episode, we cover common bookkeeping challenges, goal-setting strategies, and how to prepare for tax season. We explore entity structure reviews, billing practices, software choices, staff retention, and staying ahead of changing tax rules. Learn how regular check-ins support compliance and financial health. 01:39 Tax Planning for Legal...

In this Best Of episode we revisit our most important insights on avoiding audits in legal and accounting practices. From bar and compliance audits to trust accounting pitfalls, they share practical strategies for clean records, strong workflows, and staying prepared—so firms can protect themselves before problems arise. 00:15 Types of Audits and Their Implications 01:10 Case Study 02:30 Common Au...