How to Build a Law Firm Chart of Accounts in 2026: The Step-by-Step Guide That Keeps Trust, Operating, and Case Costs From Bleeding Into Each Other

A generic chart of accounts is where law firm bookkeeping quietly goes wrong. This step-by-step guide shows you how to structure a legal-specific chart of accounts that separates trust from operating, distinguishes hard from soft costs, and produces reports a bar examiner and a bank will both accept.