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Learn about IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) requirements in Ohio. Attorneys must deposit certain client funds into IOLTA accounts to comply with Rule 1.15 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. This page provides an overview of IOLTA rules, exemptions, sample documents, and access to the Trust Accounting 101 course for CLE credit. Support legal aid while managing trust accounts properly. IOLTA What is IOLTA? IOLTA is an acronym for “Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts.” Lawyers must place client funds into an IOLTA pursuant to Ohio Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15. The interest earned on these accounts generates revenue for the state’s legal aid fund. Every lawyer licensed to practice in the state of Ohio who receives client funds (filing fees, unearned retainers, settlements, etc.) must establish an IOLTA. If a lawyer is associated with or employed by a law firm, the firm’s IOLTA may be used. If a lawyer does not receive and disburse client funds and neither the lawyer nor the lawyer’s firm maintains a trust account in Ohio, the lawyer is exempt from Ohio’s IOLTA provisions. An attorney may establish an IOLTA at any bank, savings & loan association, credit union, or savings bank that is authorized to transact business in the state of Ohio and currently participates in Ohio’s IOLTA program. If you have questions about an IOLTA, you may refer to the complete FAQ or review the questions below. For information about managing client files or trust accounts, please review our online brochure . IOLTA FAQS Continuing Legal Education Events Trust Accounting 101: Basic Management Skills and Best Practices Wed, Nov 12 Cincinnati Bar Association (Cost: $75) This class will focus on basic trust accounting procedures, such as terminology, types of fees that Ohio lawyers may accept, and how to account for different types of fees. This course is approved for 3.5 hours of professional conduct CLE. See Terms and Conditions. ENROLL Trust Accounting 101: Basic Management Skills and Best Practices (1) Wed, Aug 13 Moyer Judicial Center (Cost: $75) This class will focus on basic trust accounting procedures, such as terminology, types of fees that Ohio lawyers may accept, and how to account for different types of fees. This course is approved for 3.5 hours of professional conduct CLE. See Terms and Conditions. Details Trust Accounting 101 Enrollment Guide IOLTA 101 is a free, one-hour, virtual self-study CLE that reviews the basics of proper trust account management. Among other topics, the CLE covers relevant rules, required records, different types of fee arrangements, monthly reconciliation, and typical IOLTA scams. To enroll, please follow the instructions below. ODC also offers a quarterly 3.5-hour CLE regarding trust account management, which takes a more in-depth look at the above topics. To enroll in the 3.5-hour CLE, please click here . OHIOCOURTEDU LOGIN LOGIN Click the above link. This will take you to the new website for OhioCourtEDU. If you have ever completed a course in OhioCourtEDU, select “LOGIN TO ACCOUNT”. If you do not have an account, click “CREATE AN ACCOUNT”. Follow the instructions to login and access your dashboard. SEARCH Once you are in OhioCourtEDU, you can search for the course via the Catalog button or the magnifying glass/search bar at the top of the site. Search for the course titled “Trust Accounting 101.” BEGIN THE COURSE To begin the course, select the “Enroll” button, then you are able to click “Launch” to start the course. EVALUATION You must complete the mandatory course evaluation after you complete the online module to receive your completion certificate and CLE credit. At the end of the online module, click the Exit button. At the right of the screen, the course evaluation will be listed as the next course task in the menu. Select the course evaluation, answer the questions, then click Submit. CERTIFICATE After completing the course evaluation, you will want to return to the learner dashboard. Next, select the My Transcript button. Select the Certificates heading near the top of the page or scroll down to that section of the page. Locate the “Trust Accounting 101” course within the certificate list and select Download at right. Your certificate will open in a new browser tab. If you don't see a new window with your certificate, allow pop-ups. You can now save or print your certificate. We will report your CLE credit to the appropriate office. Please be advised that reporting will take place monthly, so your CLE record may not reflect your completion of this course for 30-45 days post-completion. IOLTA Overdraft Insufficient Funds Reporting Contact Information Email: IOLTA@odc.ohio.gov Mail: Office of Disciplinary Counsel 65 E. State Street, Suite 1510 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Fax: (614) 387-9709 Under Ohio Revised Code § 4705.10, depository institutions are required to notify the Office of Disciplinary Counsel “when a properly payable instrument is presented for payment from the account, and the account contains insufficient funds.” This obligation applies regardless of whether “the instrument is honored by the depository institution.” The required notice must be provided within five banking days of the date the instrument was honored or returned due to insufficient funds. ODC encourages use of the attached form to report overdraft or insufficient funds. The form can be emailed, mailed, or faxed to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel at the contact information provided. For additional information, please see the form. VIEW FORM IOLTA Sample Documents Settlement Disbursement Client Ledger Monthly Reconciliation Bank Records General Ledger Client Invoices Complete Set of IOLTA Sample Documents

BACK TO LIST Geauga County Bar Association Address P.O. Box 750 Chardon, OH 44024 Phone Number (440) 286-7160 Website http://www.geaugabar.org/

BACK TO LIST Parma Bar Association Address 8025 Corporate Circle, North Royalton, OH 44133, USA Phone Number (614) 884-4300 Website https://parmabarassociation.org/

BACK TO LIST Columbus Bar Association Address 230 West Street suite 100, Columbus, OH 43215, USA Phone Number (614) 221-4112 Website https://www.cbalaw.org/

Learn how to file a grievance against an Ohio attorney or judicial officer with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or other authorized bodies. Understand the grievance process, what it can and cannot do, and access forms and resources to submit a complaint involving potential ethical misconduct under Ohio’s professional and judicial conduct rules. Grievances What is a Grievance? A grievance is a complaint that a person files against an attorney or a judicial officer. Grievances against Ohio attorneys may be submitted to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or a certified grievance committee of a local bar association. Grievances against Ohio judicial officers may be filed with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or the Ohio State Bar Association. If any of those entities determines that substantial credible evidence of professional misconduct exists, they may choose to file a formal complaint. The complaint then moves to a probable cause panel of the Board of Professional Conduct, which determines if there is probable cause. If the panel determines that there is probable cause, the formal complaint becomes public and is filed with the Board of Professional Conduct. Hearings are then conducted by the board and if it finds a violation, a recommendation is made to the Supreme Court of Ohio. The Supreme Court of Ohio makes the final decision as to findings of misconduct and issues an appropriate sanction. The disciplinary process will NOT serve to: Provide legal advice or representation. Force your attorney or the guardian ad litem to withdraw from your case. Force your attorney to take a particular course of action in your case. Refund the fees you have paid to an attorney. Remove a judicial officer from presiding over your case. Intervene in your legal proceeding in any way. Overturn a judicial officer’s decisions. The Grievance Process VIEW PROCESS CHART Next Steps Should I file a grievance? Allegations that an attorney has violated the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct or that a judge or magistrate has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct are serious. Grievances should not be made lightly or used to gain an advantage in your dealings with an attorney or judicial officer. Also, filing a grievance should not take the place of communicating with the attorney to attempt to resolve differences. RULES OF CONDUCT How do I file a grievance? Click here to complete and submit a grievance against an attorney or judicial officer online using our electronic grievance form. You may also download the grievance form. If mailing the form, be sure to sign it. Unsigned grievance forms will be returned. FILE A GRIEVANCE Where do I file a grievance? If your grievance is against an attorney, you may file it with ODC or with the certified grievance committee where the attorney resides or works. If your grievance is against a judicial officer, you may file it with ODC or the Ohio State Bar Association. VIEW FAQS

BACK TO LIST Columbiana County Bar Association Address 32 North Park Avenue #1, Lisbon, OH 44432, USA Phone Number (330) 420-3662 Website https://www.columbianacountylawlibrary.org/

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BACK TO LIST Miami County Bar Association Address 201 West Main Street, Troy, OH 45373, USA Phone Number (937) 440-5900 Website https://miamicountyohio.gov/

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BACK TO LIST Cleveland Bar Association Address 1375 East 9th Street floor 2, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA Phone Number (216) 696-3525 Website https://www.clemetrobar.org/

BACK TO LIST Toledo Bar Association Address 311 N Superior St, Toledo, OH 43604, USA Phone Number (419) 242-9363 Website https://www.toledobar.org/

BACK TO LIST Norman S. Minor Bar Association Address 1375 East 9th Street floor 2, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA Phone Number (216) 200-7102 Website https://nsmba.org/