Overview  

The Legal Practice Council (LPC) and the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund (LPFF) apply strict scrutiny to attorney trust accounts. In the current regulatory environment, trust accounts are the lifeblood of legal practice but for accountants, managing the strict segregation, reconciliation and reporting requirements under the Legal Practice Act, 28 of 2014 is a high-stakes operational challenge. A "temporary" imbalance or an interest misallocation is no longer treated as a simple accounting error; it is a direct compliance breach. 

Failing to properly separate business and trust funds, missing the mandatory monthly trust bank reconciliations or poorly documenting client sub-accounts triggers mandatory reporting to the LPC. This exposes the law firm to regulatory sanctions and the accountant to disciplinary action, professional liability and serious reputational damage. 

Join Caryn Maitland on the 26th of May 2026 from 10h00 to 12h00 to to unpack the core mechanics and key compliance risks of attorney trust accounts, in line with the requirements of the Legal Practice Act and LPC Rules.

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Learning objectives   

Attending this webinar will equip you with the following skills:  

• Understand the legal purpose, fiduciary nature and structure of attorney trust accounts. 

• Apply the mandatory LPC rules governing the receipt, holding and payment of trust monies. 

• Execute correct accounting treatments and perform strict monthly trust bank reconciliations. 

• Identify critical tripwires, red flags and common reconciliation failures before they escalate. 

• Implement a practical framework and checklist to safely manage attorney trust transactions and interest allocations.   

Content   

The webinar will cover the following topics:  

• Foundations: Understanding Attorney Trust Accounts 

  • Purpose of attorney trust accounts 

  • Fiduciary nature of trust monies 

  • Separation of trust and business funds 

  • Role of the accountant vs the legal practitioner 

• Legal and Regulatory Framework (What the Rules Actually Require) 

  • Legal Practice Act, 28 of 2014 

  • Legal Practice Council (LPC) Rules relating to trust accounts 

  • Mandatory trust accounting records 

  • Oversight, inspections, and reporting requirements 

• Core Trust Accounting Mechanics (Beginner Level – Must Know) 

  • Receipt of trust monies 

  • Trust creditors and client sub-accounts 

  • Payments from trust accounts 

  • Interest on trust monies (section-specific treatment) 

  • Trust bank accounts and designations 

• Trust Reconciliations and Controls (Moving Towards Mastery) 

  • Monthly trust bank reconciliations 

  • Trust ledger vs bank balance vs client balances 

  • Common reconciliation failures 

  • Timing differences vs real shortages 

• Tripwires, Red Flags and Non-Negotiables (Critical Section) 

  • Using trust funds for business purposes 

  • Trust shortages and how they arise 

  • Delayed postings and “temporary” trust imbalances 

  • Interest misallocations 

  • Inadequate supporting documentation 

  • Accountant responsibilities when irregularities are identified 

• Practical Do’s and Don’ts for Accountants 

  • What an accountant may do 

  • What an accountant must do 

  • What an accountant must never do 

  • Documentation and audit trail essentials 

• Practical Examples and Mini Case Studies 

  • Typical trust transaction flows 

  • Common mistakes seen in practice 

  • How issues escalate during LPC inspections  

Obtaining your CPD certificate  

This training is compliant with the International Education Standard (IES7) issued by the International Federation of Accountants and recognised for CPD by relevant professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, IAC, IIA, SAICA and SAIPA.  

All attendees are issued with a CPD certificate available in an online profile.  

About the presenter  

Caryn Maitland CA(SA) 

Caryn Maitland is a Chartered Accountant (SA). She has been a member of IRBA as a registered auditor and accountant since 2002 and is also a registered member of SAICA. 

Caryn has lectured Auditing and Accounting at various institutions and has conducted independent workshops and seminars for professional accountants since 2006 on various topics. She has presented on the national tour for the annual Legislation Update with ProBeta Training (Pty) Ltd in 2014 and 2015, as well as on the FASSET national tour for the Tax Administration Act in 2014.  Caryn is also involved with the annual SAICA SMP Technical tour.  

Who should attend?  

The following persons will benefit from attending this webinar:  

• Practising accountants including: CA(SA), Professional Accountant (SA), AGA(SA), FCCA, BAP(SA), BA(SA) and ACCA.  

• Registered auditors.  

• Audit managers.  

• Trainee accountants. 

Price 

• R 450.00 - Online admission - Individual.  

• Group Price 1 - From R337 per person (up to 5 users)   

• Group Price 2 - From R260 per person (up to 10 users)   

• Group Price 3 - From R224 per person (over 11 users)  

Steps to register for the event:   

If you already have a profile, login and register for the webinar.  

If you don’t have a profile, create a free profile then login and register for the webinar.  

Click here to create a free profile (There is no charge to create a profile and gain access to our free Monthly Practice Management Series).  

Click here to find out about the Technical Resource Centre & CPD Subscription options.  

Additional material  

By attending this webinar you will be provided with:  

• A summarised slide presentation.  

• Reference documents and/or course material where available.  

• You can ask questions during the webinar and you will also have access to the presenter after the webinar.  

Corporate training solutions  

At the Accounting Academy, we recognize the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic environment. Beyond our standard webinar offerings, we provide tailored corporate training solutions designed to empower your team with the latest in accounting and professional skills. Whether you're looking for online sessions or face-to-face training, our programs are crafted to ensure a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.  

Drawing inspiration from modern training methodologies, our corporate solutions are interactive, adaptable, and focused on real-world applications. We prioritize hands-on learning, ensuring your team can immediately apply their newfound knowledge in practical scenarios.  

Interested in a bespoke corporate training experience? Reach out to us at corporate@accountingacademy.co.za or call 010 593 0466. Together, let's design a training program that elevates your team's capabilities and aligns with your organizational goals.    

Contact us  

Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today!  

• Online chat through our website.  

• WhatsApp: Start chatting (+27635026114)  

• Phone: 010 593 0466  

• E-mail: ticket@accountingacademy.co.za