PROVIDENCE — An accounting firm is working up an estimate of how much it would cost to conduct a forensic audit of the finances of the Education Partnership, the business-backed advocacy group that went into receivership last month, a lawyer told a judge yesterday.

So Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein continued a hearing on the appointment of the forensic accountant until Thursday.

Alan M. Shine, the temporary receiver, has proposed hiring the Providence accounting firm Sullivan & Co. to review the Education Partnership’s finances.

The review would include “organizing and inventorying” the Education Partnership’s records, auditing the scholarship funds and “all other funds and programs” and “investigation of possible claims the receiver may have against third parties,” according to a June 27 letter to Shine from Sullivan & Co.

Sullivan proposes charging $125 to $275 an hour for its services, which must be authorized by the judge. Shine said on Friday that the accountants had just received records from the Education Partnership and needed a few more days to assess the scope of their assignment.

Shine’s law partner, Diane Finkle, reviewed that progress in court yesterday morning, and Silverstein continued the matter until 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Silverstein also asked about “the present status of the matter.”

Finkle said notices have been sent to creditors. Among those owed money are 49 Feinstein scholarship recipients, 36 of whom were supposed to receive $2,000 each after completing college, she said.

Finkle said an auction is being planned for mid-August to sell the Education Partnership’s furniture and fixtures. She said the auction is expected to gross $10,500.

Also, Finkle told the judge that attempts are being made to collect money from a grant, which has not yet been appropriated, for a leadership program run by the Education Partnership.

mstanton@projo.com