Welcome to the State Bar's free, confidential practice management advice program. Practice 2.0's practice management advisors are Arizona-licensed lawyers who make it a priority to stay informed about the newest trends, technology tools, and best practical and ethical practices to help you make your practice all it can be from starting up to winding down and everything in between.  

Call our advice line, 602.340.7332 for a quick question or to schedule a 30-minute consultation by phone, virtually by Zoom or in person at the State Bar Offices. 

Email for Practice 2.0 assistance at: practice2.0@staff.azbar.org

We have numerous resources for lawyers in all areas of practice, and for new or more experienced lawyers, for lawyers new to Arizona, and for firms of all sizes with an emphasis on solo practitioners and small firms.  We continually update the resources and information we offer in response to your needs and questions. 

Call us at 602.340.7332 for free, confidential advice.

Look for our Let's Practice column in the Arizona Attorney Magazine.

Fraud Alert

⚠️ Fraud Alert: Sophisticated TOAD Scam Targeting Law Firm Trust Accounts

The State Bar has been notified of a new, highly sophisticated scam targeting law firm trust accounts. This scheme resembles the telephone‑oriented attack delivery (TOAD) scams previously reported by other jurisdictions. TOAD scams rely on social engineering—building trust with the person on the phone—to gain access to a firm’s trust account.

How the Scam Works

While details may vary, recent reports indicate the following pattern:

1. Caller ID Spoofing: A caller phones the firm using a number that appears to match the firm’s actual bank name or a legitimate bank number.

2. False Fraud Alert: The caller claims there has been suspicious or fraudulent activity on the trust account and references real clients and accurate, non‑public financial details to appear credible.

3. Urgency & Pressure: The caller insists immediate action is required to “secure” the account and prevent unauthorized transfers.

4. Fake Login Link: The caller sends a link that appears to be the bank’s online banking portal and instructs staff to log in.

5. Verification Code Interception: The firm receives verification codes that appear in the same text thread as legitimate bank messages.

6. Account Takeover: Staff provide the codes to the caller, who uses them to remove authorized users and add unauthorized users.

7. Follow‑Up Calls: The scammer may schedule additional calls to maintain credibility.

8. Unauthorized Wire Transfers: Funds are then moved out of the firm’s trust account.

 

Recommended Actions

• Do not rely on caller‑provided phone numbers or links. Initiate a separate, independent call to your bank using a known, verified number.

• Report suspected TOAD activity immediately to:

  • Your bank’s fraud department

  • The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov)

  • The State Bar of Arizona at Practice 2.0 (602) 340-7332

• Alert your staff—especially accounting personnel. Recent incidents in other states have involved direct calls to firm accounting departments, with losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

 

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Free Trust Accounting & Billing Software for All State Bar of Arizona Members

The State Bar of Arizona has partnered with the legal practice management company Smokeball to ensure you have the best resources at your fingertips. Every member of the Bar can enjoy FREE access to Smokeball’s trust accounting and billing software, Smokeball Bill.

Smokeball Bill helps law firms:

• Manage trust accounting
• Bill easily
• Streamline invoicing & get paid faster

 

Sign up for your free subscription today by visiting www.smokeball.com/arizonabill.

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Practice 2.0 is a free, confidential member benefit.

There is no charge for Practice 2.0's resources, hotlines or 30-minute consultations. They are provided free of charge as a benefit of your State Bar of Arizona membership.

Members seeking more extensive assistance may contact the Lawyer Assistance Programs Director at 602.340.7332 for information about the availability and cost of such services.

 

What kinds of topics can I call Practice 2.0 for?

• Advertising/ Marketing Questions
• Changes in Employment/Departing Lawyer
• Starting a Law Firm
• Alternative Business Structure questions
• Legal Paraprofessional questions
• Client Relations
• Changing your name/Using a trade name
• Missing clients with Money in Trust
• Questions about Fees:
  • Fee Sharing/ Fee Splits
  • Referral Fees
  • Third Party Payor
  • Charging Interest
• File Retention policies/ Document Destruction
• Running a Second Business
• Limited Scope Agreements
• Questions about your appointment as an arbitrator
• Settlement Issues
• Phishing/Scam concerns
• Questions about volunteer opportunities
• Technology updates
• Practice Management concerns
• Help using Fastcase

And many, many more things.

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