Attorneys routinely receive funds to be held in trust for future use.
Funds of a substantial amount or that are to be held for a long period of time are usually placed in an interest-bearing account for the individual client's benefit. If funds are small in amount or to be held for a short period of time, they are usually commingled in a noninterest-bearing checking account. This is done because the interest generated by these funds would not be enough to benefit the individual client. The interest from these NOW accounts is remitted quarterly to the Alabama Law Foundation, Inc., a charitable, tax-exempt entity. The foundation has also funded projects to improve the administration of justice and to provide law related education for the public.