Law Firm Bookkeeping in Oregon - Trust Accounting Done Right.
Trust accounting is the most compliance-sensitive part of running a law practice, and most bookkeepers don’t understand it. ClearMark does. We’re a CPA-led, Clio Certified bookkeeping firm in Sherwood, Oregon, serving solo and small law firms across the Portland metro and statewide.
CPA-led • Clio Certified Consultant • Smokeball Bill Learning Path Completed • QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor • Based in Oregon
Built for Solo and Small Firm Attorneys
If you’re a solo practitioner or a small law firm in Oregon, your bookkeeping needs are different from a regular small business. You have client trust accounts, matter-specific expenses, Oregon State Bar compliance obligations, and a practice management system that needs to talk to your books.
ClearMark Bookkeeping specializes in exactly this.
Built for You if:
You’re a solo attorney or boutique law firm in Portland or anywhere in Oregon
You have an IOLTA trust account and want it reconciled properly, every month
You’ve been handling your own books and know it’s not sustainable
You’re looking for a bookkeeper who understands the accounting complexity of your profession
You want an experienced CPA looking at your financials, not just a data entry person
Trust Accounting Isn’t Optional. And Most Bookkeepers Get It Wrong.
Most bookkeepers don’t know what IOLTA means — let alone how to reconcile it correctly. Trust accounting errors can trigger Oregon State Bar investigations, fee disputes, and license issues. It’s not just a bookkeeping problem. It’s a compliance risk.
At ClearMark, we specialize in law firm bookkeeping because we understand the difference between operating funds and client funds — and we treat that line as sacred. Every month, you get a proper three-way reconciliation of your trust account, client ledgers that balance, and documentation that would make a bar audit a non-event.
Using Smokeball Bill from the Oregon State Bar?
The Oregon State Bar now gives every licensee free Smokeball Bill — but the Bar is clear that the software does not ensure trust-accounting compliance. That part is still on you.
That’s where we come in. ClearMark sets up and maintains your Smokeball Bill and QuickBooks Online so your billing, trust, and financials reconcile cleanly — and so your IOLTA account actually stays compliant, not just organized. If the Bar handed you the software, let us make sure it’s keeping you out of trouble.
What We Do for Law Firms
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Monthly three-way reconciliation of your trust account - bank balance, book balance, and ledgers all tied out - to keep you compliant with Oregon State Bar requirements.
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Clean, categorized, tax-ready books every month in QuickBooks Online, so you always know where your firm stands and never scramble at year-end.
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We connect Clio or Smokeball Bill to your accounting so your billing, trust activity, and financials stay in sync instead of living in separate silos.
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A clear profit & loss, balance sheet, and three-way trust reconciliation delivered each month - the numbers you need to make confident decisions.
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Being CPA-led, we speak your accountant’s language. We hand your tax preparer clean reconciled books and coordinate directly so nothing falls through the cracks.
Getting Started is Simple -
1. Discovery Call — 30 minutes. We learn about your firm, your software, and your pain points.
2. Onboarding & Setup — We connect to your systems, build your chart of accounts, and establish your monthly workflow.
3. Ongoing Monthly Service — You get clean books, reconciled trust accounts, and a bookkeeper who understands accounting for law firms.
