TO: All Active Attorneys
FROM: Christopher L. Manos, Executive Director, State Bar
of Montana
RE: IOLTA Compliance Certificate (Required by Rule 1.18 of
the Rules of Professional Conduct) and Pro Bono Reporting Form
Convenient Online Reporting
Completing the Pro Bono Reporting Form and the IOLTA Compliance Certificate online will take just a few minutes and provide you immediate confirmation of submission.
Mandatory Compliance
The IOLTA Compliance Certificate must be completed by all active Montana
attorneys each year in accordance with the Montana Supreme Court
Rules of Professional Conduct. Reporting is mandatory.
Each attorney or a representative should complete the Pro Bono
Reporting Form. When you press "Submit Form" at the end of the Pro
Bono Reporting Form, you will be automatically directed to the
IOLTA Compliance Certificate.
Important Guidelines
When completing your IOLTA Compliance Certificate, please follow
these guidelines:
- Every active attorney should submit a signed Compliance Certificate
providing IOLTA information or indicating someone is
providing the information on their behalf. This includes
government, in-house and corporate counsel, non-profit and
unemployed attorneys.
- If someone is providing information on behalf of a firm, only
one representative from the firm should provide actual IOLTA
account information on the Compliance Certificate. Ensure all
names of firm members reporting are included. NOTE: If you are staff reporting for an attorney or firm, respond to the first question appropriately and you will be directed to the IOLTA Compliance Certificate page.
- NOTE: Attorney State Bar Numbers are required to complete the IOLTA certification form. Please take care to ensure accuracy when entering your Bar Number as this number will be used to determine certification compliance under Rule 1.18.
Security and Electronic Reporting
This electronic reporting uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), a
cryptographic system that encrypts information during transmission
to and from the reporting site. Additional safety features are
employed. However, it is important to note that we do not ask you
to provide any information that is not readily available on a
business or personal check. We do not ask for, nor should you ever
provide, personal identifiers such as a social security or
business identification numbers.
Electronic reporting of both forms takes only a few minutes and
guarantees timely reporting. Click on "Continue" below to continue
with electronic reporting.
Forms and Deadline
Please complete the IOLTA Compliance Certificate and Pro Bono
Reporting Form by December 3, 2014.
