Dear Attorney, Stop Using Zelle as a Payment Type

Zelle is fast, convenient, and wildly popular. It is also one of the most dangerous payment platforms an attorney can use for client transactions.

In this episode Steve Libhart and Sarah Prevost break down exactly why peer-to-peer payment platforms like Zelle create serious compliance exposure for law firms, from the commingling of funds when payments land in the wrong account, to the complete absence of dispute resolution when something goes wrong. They share real personal experiences with P2P payment scams, walk through the scenarios where Zelle becomes a compliance nightmare, and explain why so many state bars are actively warning attorneys away from it.

A short but important episode for every attorney and legal bookkeeper who has ever seen Zelle appear on a client invoice.

00:51 Why Zelle Is Risky
02:40 Trust Account Pitfalls
04:50 No Disputes and Hacks
09:18 Compliance and Audit Trouble
11:22 Why Firms Still Use It
14:15 Client Expectations and Agreements
20:49 Scams and Real World Fraud

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Has your firm ever had a client try to pay via Zelle? Drop it in the comments.

Accountants Law Pod is hosted by Lynda Artesani, Sarah Prevost, and Steve Libhart and directed/produced by Teaira Burge and The Proper Trust. Music by ComaStudio from Pixabay - Edited by audiovideo_uk

Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice.

The stories we share from the field are meant to educate, never to shame. We have deep respect for attorneys and the complexity of running a firm, and we recognize that many of the mistakes we discuss happen simply because no one ever explained the rules.