McGonigle Law Supports Homeboy Industries

As part of our firm’s commitment to the community, we have supported Homeboy Industries as volunteers for events there and by providing financial support.  If inspired to do so, we would welcome you to join our firm in support of this worthy organization.  Homeboy began as a grassroots movement started by Jesuit priest Father Greg Boyle, Executive Director, in the Dolores Mission Parish, and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, a Community Based Organization (CBO).  Father Boyle began Homeboy to answer the need for employment and educational opportunities among underserved youth in Los Angeles.  Located in downtown Los Angeles, Homeboy Industries provides hope and job training for formerly gang involved and previously incarcerated people so they can redirect their lives and become contributing members of society.  Please check out their website at homeboyindustries.org.

Lawyers need to be prepared for the State Bar’s audit of Client Trust Accounts without prior notice or prior consent.

To enhance disciplinary investigations, the California State Bar Trustees are asking the legislature to enhance reporting from banks and authorizing audits of trust accounts based on risk assessments and random selection. Per Business and Professions Code 6091, the State Bar has had this statuory authority but now is seeking to further enhance its authority.  What can lawyers do in response to this ?  Always make sure that all client trust funds are properly identified by client, and that the lawyer records the receipt of client funds twice (in the client ledger and the trust account journal).   There must be a monthly reconciliation of the client ledgers, account journals and bank statement.     Reconciliation means checking the three records lawyers are required to keep-bank statements, the client ledgers and the trust account journal, against each other so that you can find and correct any mistakes.   If a lawyer does not feel that he/she has the skills to perform the reconcilitation, a bookkeeper should be hired or the use of a computerized system such as Quickbooks, Quicken or a similar program can assist with the reconciliation process.    The records must be maintained for a minimum of five years.