With Administrative Professionals Week behind us, fate decided it’s time to remind us that not all staff necessarily deserves appreciation. In fact, sometimes the staff can be a real thorn in a firm’s side — hindering efficiency, repelling clients, distracting the office with unending personal drama, slowly siphoning money out of your accounts.
This story looks more like the latter case.
From Commercial Appeal:
A 72-year-old Cordova woman is accused of stealing nearly $300,000 from a Memphis law firm where she worked as a bookkeeper.
A Memphis law firm! Lady, do NOT f**k with Bendini, Lambert & Locke. Do you have any idea who their clients are?
The arrest affidavit alleges that Olive Wong, over the course of four years, took $290,714 from Spicer Rudstrom PLLC (the self-described “The Litigation Firm of the South”) and deposited it into three bank accounts she controlled.
A few months ago, we covered the embezzlement allegations against a pair of former Harvard admins and I noted that these stories always involve a new accountant coming onto the scene and cracking the code. By extension, being the accountant probably sets you up pretty well.
The Law Firm’s Guide To Trust Accounting And Three-Way Reconciliation
Proper trust accounting and three-way reconciliation are essential for protecting client funds and avoiding serious compliance risks. In this guide, we break down these critical processes and show how legal-specific software can help your firm stay accurate, efficient, and audit-ready.
Wong remains in jail. No bond has been set.
I’d suggest a number north of $291K.
Bookkeeper accused of stealing nearly $300k from Memphis law firm [Commercial Appeal]
Earlier: Harvard Law Admins Accused Of Embezzlement
Joe Patrice is an editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.