Accountants for
solicitors & law firms.
Specialist accounting, legal bookkeeping, and SRA Accounts Rules compliance for London law firms — so your client money is protected and your practice stays compliant.
Who We Help
We are accountants for solicitors and law firms across London — practices that need an accountant who understands legal cashiering and the SRA Accounts Rules, not a generalist learning on the job. Our legal clients include:
Whether you are a sole practitioner setting up your first practice or an established partnership, we bring the same ACCA-regulated standard and genuine legal-sector expertise.
SRA Accounts Rules
If your firm holds client money, the SRA Accounts Rules govern how it must be handled — kept separate from the firm’s own money in a dedicated client account, paid in promptly, and only withdrawn for a proper purpose. Getting this wrong is one of the most serious risks a law firm faces, and it is where specialist legal bookkeeping matters most.
We keep your client account and office account reconciled, review transactions against the Accounts Rules, and flag issues before they become breaches. Where your firm is required to obtain an annual Accountant’s Report, we prepare it and deliver it to the SRA where it is qualified — giving you and your clients confidence that client money is fully protected.
For the day-to-day cashiering behind all of this, see our legal bookkeeping service.
Our Services for Law Firms
A full accounting engagement with Brathwaite for a law firm covers:
All services are fixed-fee. We agree the annual cost upfront and it doesn’t change unless the scope of your work does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle SRA Accounts Rules compliance and client money?
Yes — this is core to what we do for law firms. We reconcile and review client account and office account transactions against the SRA Accounts Rules, flag any breaches early, and keep your cashiering in order so client money is always protected and properly separated from office money. If you hold client money, getting this right is non-negotiable, and it is exactly the area where a specialist legal accountant earns their fee.
Can you prepare our SRA Accountant’s Report?
Yes. Most firms that hold client money must obtain an annual Accountant’s Report and deliver it to the SRA where it is qualified. We prepare the report, review your client account against the Accounts Rules for the period, and advise on anything that needs correcting. Some firms are exempt depending on how client money is handled — we will confirm whether the requirement applies to you.
What is the difference between client account and office account?
The client account holds money that belongs to your clients or third parties — completion funds, settlements, monies on account of costs. The office account holds the firm’s own money — your fees once billed, and running costs. The SRA Accounts Rules require the two to be kept strictly separate, with client money paid promptly into the client account and only withdrawn for a proper purpose. We keep both reconciled and make sure transfers between them are correct and documented.
Do you work with sole practitioners as well as larger firms?
Yes. We support everyone from sole practitioner solicitors and small conveyancing practices through to established partnerships and LLPs. The Accounts Rules apply regardless of size, and smaller firms often benefit most from having an accountant who genuinely understands legal cashiering rather than treating the firm like any other business.
Let's talk.
Legal accounting, done right.
Book Consultation →Or call 07349 960875 — Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm
Local accountancy, wherever you are
Based in Ilford, supporting owner-managed businesses across every London borough. Browse our local pages for area-specific service detail.