How do I apply for entry level accountant position at a Law firm?
Asked by cuz
I was recommended to get a job at a specific law firm. the person who recommended me works as a receptionist for a law firm and knows of another law firm that might work out for me(but she doesn't want to give reference to me). It seemed she didn't know if they need any accountants now. I know nothing of the essential for working as an accountant at a law firm, such as what kind of things do accountants keep books on at in law firm industry? How do I express my interest in laws and want to work as an accountant there? I know nothing about laws and I just don't know how to prepare for an interview there. Also, what is the best way to ask if there's job opening when I call?

Best Answer:
Law firms that hire employees to just to accounting jobs are the very large to some mid-sized firms. Even some of them use outside services for accounting. So that limits your search to less than 25% of all law firms. Unique income accounting in a law firm involves making sure that the income is attributed to the proper client, sending out bills to clients, allocating billable hours (by the attorneys) to the correct client, and making sure that client expenses are not only billed but attributed to the proper accounts for taxes. Bill payments are just like any company. There are several popular accounting packages for law firms that allow the lawyers to record their billable hours via exporting. Many of the mid-sized to small law firms assign the accounting duties to the Office Manager. In the smaller law firms we rarely speak about accounting (until tax time) but concentrate on keeping track of billable hours, charging the client for these hours, making sure we get paid, and recording the correct court expenses to the proper client. The American Bar Association has info on the business of law at www.abanet.org. You might also do an Internet search on 'accounting packages for lawyers/law firms' to familiarize yourself with the software available out there. Good luck.