Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program Grant Information

The Idaho Law Foundation, Inc. and the Idaho State Bar have worked successfully with the banking community to establish the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program.  This innovative program allows attorneys to place client funds traditionally held in non-interest bearing accounts into interest-bearing accounts.  Only client funds which are nominal in amount or held for too short a period of time to generate interest returnable to the client qualify for IOLTA treatment.  Interest earned is remitted directly by participating banks to the Idaho Law Foundation.

IOLTA helps fill an ever-growing need for services without taxing the public and at no cost to attorneys or their clients.  IOLTA programs currently operate in fifty states and the District of Columbia.

In Idaho, the Foundation's Board of Directors distributes these funds through the IOLTA grant process.  By Idaho Supreme Court order, IOLTA funds can only be used to provide funding for the following purposes:

  • To provide legal services to the poor;
  • To provide law-related education programs for the public;
  • To provide scholarships and student loans;
  • To improve the administration of justice; and
  • For such other programs for the benefit of the public as are specifically approved from time to time by the Supreme Court of Idaho.

Grant applications are available each year in late July.  To request an application packet, contact the Idaho Law Foundation Development Director, Carey Shoufler at (208) 334-4500.

Since the inception of the Idaho Law Foundation’s Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program in 1982, over $4,000,000 has funded programs and scholarships benefiting the public.

2010 IOLTA Grant Applications

Due to the decline in interest rates, IOLTA income has decreased dramatically in the last year. Faced with less than half of the funding given in the 2009 grant cycle, the Idaho Law Foundation Board of Directors decided to limit the organizations for which it would accept 2010 grant applications. If your organization has not received a grant packet, the IOLTA program will not be able to accept an application from you this year.

The Law Foundation regrets that it cannot accommodate more grant applications for the 2010 grant year. As interest rates increase, IOLTA income should also rise, increasing the funds available for grants in future years.

ABA Commission on IOLTA

Information on  IOLTA topics can be accessed at the American Bar Association’s Legal Services website at:  www.abanet.org/legalservices/iolta.html.