Check that the lawyer's own money is not mixed into a client trust account
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- From the ledger kept in the practice's own name, list each amount, whether the file describes it as the lawyer's own money, and whether it is identified as an amount for bank service charges. Do not move the money.
- What the lawyer must review
- Model Rule 1.15(a) requires client and third-person property to be held separate from the lawyer's own property. Rule 1.15(b) allows the lawyer's own funds in a client trust account only to pay bank service charges, and only in the amount necessary for that purpose. Comment 2 says commingling is normally impermissible, and that accurate records must show which part of the funds is the lawyer's. The lawyer decides whether the amount may stay in the account.
- Written for / version
- United States versionUS
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Potential support includes identifying points for review. Confirm the tool’s capability and permitted scope. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- Confirm the output against the client’s instructions and the complete relevant source material, including omissions or contradictions.
- Resolve exceptions and record the responsible lawyer’s approval of the exact output and intended use.