Aug. 16, 2023 – As of July 1, 2023, Wisconsin lawyers may now accept credit card and other electronic payments – but how do you make sure you’re doing them according to the new trust account rules?

All About the New Rule

The Supreme Court amended the lawyer trust account rule, SCR 20:1.15, effective July 1, 2023 – and these amendments affect lawyers’ ability to accept credit card payments. The newly effective trust account rule did away with the general prohibition on electronic transactions that existed under the prior rule in effect through June 30, 2023.

Lawyers may now accept credit card payments and other electronic payments to all trust accounts and they may make electronic payments from their trust accounts – provided that lawyers:

• comply with reasonable account security requirements;

• keep complete records of their transactions; and

• otherwise comply with SCR 20:1.15.

Learn More About New Trust Account Rules

To learn more about the new provisions relating to electronic banking, as well as general trust account requirements, attend the annual “Trust Account Management” program from the Office of Lawyer Regulation, presented as a live webcast Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This seminar is approved for 4.0 EPR credits, and is free of charge to State Bar members and their staff.

Topics include:

• Trust Account Basics

• Handling Legal Fees and Costs

• Record Keeping

• The Role of Trust Accounts in Increasing Access to Justice

• Electronic Banking

• Q&A

Presenters include Travis Stieren, OLR Trust Account Program administrator; Timothy Pierce, State Bar ethics counsel; and Tehmina Islam, IOLTA program manager, ​Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation.

For agenda and registration materials, visit wicourts.gov.