Your client needs a defense fund. You need a platform that won't remove it.
PayIt2 is built for attorneys and firms that take on cases other platforms won't host. Firm-organized campaigns, bilingual pages, IOLTA-compatible reporting, and zero risk of deplatforming when press coverage turns.
Built for the cases other platforms won't host
GoFundMe prohibits legal defense fundraising for anyone charged with a violent crime and routinely removes campaigns when coverage turns controversial. GiveSendGo carries a strong political identity that deters mainstream donors. Neither is built for an attorney running a multi-million-dollar retainer fund across a two-year trial arc. PayIt2 is.
| What attorneys need | GoFundMe | GiveSendGo | PayIt2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campaigns for violent-crime charges allowed | Banned | Yes | Yes, with narrow OFAC exceptions |
| Politically neutral platform | Perceived center-left | Right-wing identity | Apolitical by design |
| Firm-organized pages with law firm as organizer of record | No firm features | No firm features | Yes, firm-branded organizer accounts |
| Disclaimer templates for state bar compliance | None | None | Built-in |
| Full bilingual campaign pages (English/Spanish) | Partial | English only | Full bilingual support |
| Transaction exports for IOLTA reconciliation | Limited | Limited | Full export with donor detail |
| Platform stability through controversy | Removes campaigns reactively | Stable, political baggage | No removal based on case nature |
How Werksman Jackson & Quinn funded a $1M defense across two trials
Karen Read's case drew national attention from CNN, NPR, Fox News, Vanity Fair, and Boston Globe across more than two years, with strong opinions on both sides. Her defense team used PayIt2 to run the legal defense fund from May 2023 through acquittal and beyond.
Justice for Karen Read Legal Defense Fund
After her retrial acquittal on June 18, 2025, Karen Read had faced charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter under the influence, and leaving the scene. Her defense team, led by Alan Jackson at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, established the campaign on PayIt2 with the law firm as organizer of record.
A companion Civil Defense and Accountability Fund launched in November 2025 to support the civil proceedings that followed. The firm runs both tracks in parallel without either campaign cannibalizing the other. The platform remained live without removal, throttling, or restriction through two trials, a mistrial, multiple appeals, and a Supreme Court double-jeopardy petition.
Read the full case study →A professional platform that fits how your firm actually works
Attorney workflows differ from retail crowdfunding in ways that matter. PayIt2 is built for the differences.
Firm-branded organizer accounts
Your firm is the organizer of record, not a family member or donor. Donors see the law firm's name. Funds route through accounts your firm controls. Reconciliation is straightforward.
IOLTA and trust accounting compatibility
Export full donor and transaction detail for trust-account reconciliation. Funds transfer to the account of your choosing. No commingling, no manual receipt recreation.
State bar disclaimer templates
Every page ships with disclaimer language recommended by multiple state bar opinions on crowdfunded legal fees. Edit to match your jurisdiction's requirements.
Bilingual pages out of the box
Full English and Spanish campaign pages. Critical for immigration defense and for criminal cases in communities with mixed language preference.
Platform stability you can plan around
Campaigns are not removed because coverage turns controversial. We do not reactively enforce shifting policy against your active fundraiser. You can run multi-year cases without worrying about your cash flow going dark overnight.
Parallel campaign structure
Run criminal defense and civil proceedings as separate campaigns under one firm organizer. Or run a defense fund and a separate appeal fund. The Karen Read case uses this structure.
Frequently asked questions from attorneys
Yes, subject to jurisdiction-specific ethics rules. Formal opinions from multiple state bars (DC Bar Op. 375, New Hampshire Ethics Op. 2014-15/5, Wisconsin Formal Op. E-15-02, among others) have concluded that attorneys may accept crowdfunded fees, provided the attorney (1) places funds in an IOLTA or appropriate trust account, (2) communicates truthfully with donors about how funds will be used, (3) maintains the attorney-client relationship independently of donor pressure, and (4) complies with competence and confidentiality obligations. PayIt2 provides disclaimer language drawn from these opinions. Consult your own jurisdiction's rules for specific requirements.
Yes. Many of the highest-raising campaigns on PayIt2 are organized by law firms directly, with the firm name displayed to donors. This increases donor trust, simplifies trust-account reconciliation, and ensures funds are received into accounts the firm controls.
No. We do not remove campaigns based on the nature of the charges, the identity of the defendant, or the tenor of media coverage. We maintain narrow restrictions for campaigns supporting terrorism, OFAC-sanctioned individuals, or activity inconsistent with our payment processor's acceptable use policies. For legitimate legal defense, platform stability is a core commitment.
Contributions process through Stripe to a bank account designated by the firm. Funds transfer in 2-3 business days. You can route to an IOLTA, operating account, or any account appropriate under your jurisdiction's rules. Full transaction detail is exportable for reconciliation.
PayIt2's payment processor may issue a 1099-K to the receiving entity when annual transaction volume exceeds the IRS threshold. Donor-level detail is available in your dashboard and as an export for any reporting, audit, or reconciliation work your firm needs to perform. Contributions are generally treated as gifts rather than fee income at the donor level. Attorneys should consult tax counsel on the firm-level treatment.
PayIt2 charges a low platform fee plus standard Stripe processing. Donors can optionally cover the processing fee so 100% of their contribution reaches the fund. For firms running multi-million-dollar campaigns, we are happy to walk through the economics directly. Contact us to discuss.
Yes. We will help your firm structure the campaign, draft copy, configure disclaimers, and get a page live quickly when timing matters. For firms handling a case currently in the news, a campaign can be live within 24 hours.
Launch a firm-organized defense fund
Your firm becomes the organizer of record. Donors see your name. Funds route to accounts you control. Campaigns stay live through controversy.
Create your firm's campaign