What is the purpose of an attorney's trust account?

The purpose of an attorney's trust account is primarily to hold funds that belong to someone else. These accounts are established to ensure that client funds are kept separate from the attorney's personal funds and are managed according to the ethical obligations and regulations of the legal profession.

When attorneys receive money from clients, such as retainers or settlement funds, they must deposit these funds into a trust account until they are earned or disbursed. This helps protect clients' money and ensures it is used solely for its intended purpose, maintaining the integrity of the attorney-client relationship.

The other options involve situations where funds would either be mismanaged or not serve the intended protective purpose of a trust account. Personal funds (as mentioned in the first option) should never be commingled with client funds in a trust account, while managing legal aid funds (the third option) and collecting fees from clients (the fourth option) also fall outside the specific purpose of a trust account. In essence, trust accounts are designed as a safeguard for client assets, ensuring they are handled with care and transparency.