Donating residual client balances

When a law firm has a remaining client fund that they are unable to pay to the client, the company is permitted to withdraw those funds and donate them to a charity of their choice.

Managing residual client balances can be a concern and we want to make it as straightforward as possible. Your contribution will help support our work challenging discrimination in the justice system around male violence against women and girls.

How to donate residual client balances

  • You do not need SRA approval to transfer amounts which do not exceed £500 in relation to any one client or trust matter, provided you have complied with rule 5.1 of the SRA Accounts Rules:

    • You have made reasonable attempts to establish the identity of the money’s owner.

    • You have made adequate attempts to ascertain the proper destination for the money and return it to the rightful owner, unless the reasonable costs of so doing are likely to be excessive in relation to the amount held.

    • You record the steps you have taken to return the money to the rightful owner and keep all relevant documentation for at least six years.

    • You keep a central register, which records the name of the rightful owner on whose behalf the money was held; the amount; the name of the recipient charity (and the charity number); and the date of the payment.

      You also keep a record of all receipts from the charity and confirmation of any indemnity provided against any legitimate claim subsequently made for the sum they have received.

  • You will require SRA authorisation before the money can be withdrawn from the client account.

    Additional guidance and the form to apply for the authority to withdraw funds from the client account, can be found here.

Making your donation

You need to provide a note or letter with any payment which indicates that you have complied with SRA requirements.

On receipt of your donation, we will send you a letter of indemnity which states that we will refund all or any part of the received sum when requested, in order that you might comply with your professional obligations to the entitled party.

By cheque

To make a donation by cheque, please include a cover letter with the client’s name and reference numbers. Make them payable to Centre for Women’s Justice and send by post to:

Centre for Women’s Justice
Oxford House
Derbyshire Street
Bethnal Green
E2 6HG

By bank transfer

Please email info@centreforwomensjustice.org.uk with the details of your donation so we can provide you with our account number and sort code for you to make the transfer.

Once the transfer is made, we will send you a receipt via email.

If you have any questions, please email info@centreforwomensjustice.org.uk