MINNESOTA IOLTA PROGRAM
Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) is a unique and innovative way to increase access to justice for individuals and families living in poverty and to improve our justice system. Without taxing the public, and at no cost to lawyers or their clients, interest from lawyer trust accounts is pooled to provide civil legal aid to the poor and support improvements to the justice system. Every state, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, operates an IOLTA program.
In 1983, with the strong support of Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Supreme Court created the Minnesota IOLTA Program to provide additional financial support to civil legal service organizations. The funding was originally administered by the Minnesota Supreme Court directly through the Lawyer Trust Account Board (1983-2009) and then the Legal Services Advisory Committee (2009-2025), before moving to the State Board of Civil Legal Aid (BOCLA) effective July 1, 2025.
Attorneys are required to deposit funds received from clients either in interest bearing accounts for the benefit of the clients or in interest bearing IOLTA accounts, in accordance with Rule 1.15 of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct. The interest on IOLTA accounts is pooled and provides a funding source for grants. Banks that pay the highest rates on IOLTA accounts and do not charge fees are recognized by the Minnesota State Bar Association Bank on Justice program.
More information for banks can be found here.
More information for attorneys can be found here.
[add history of IOLTA video from ABA]
Our History
In 1983
1983-2009
2009-2025
and then the Legal Services Advisory Committee (2009-2025)
