Clio Software Reviews

“Robust Search Field and Intuitive Layout Make it a Great Law CRM

Pros

Clio's search field is deeply integrated into its contact, matter, and document universes so that you can easily find relevant data and utilize it to create tasks, send emails, or automate documents. Very user-friendly!

Cons

Hoping for more Personal Injury updates!

“Always moving forward with improvements

Pros

Clio is always moving forward, making updates and introducing new features that improve how our law firm operates. So it ultimately leads to better results for our clients and a smoother experience for them.

Cons

The pricing is too complicated. There are too many separate plans and add-ons to keep track of. I feel like it would be much better if everything was combined into simpler, more complete packages. I understand they need to make money but for a small law firm, it's becoming too expensive and confusing.

“highly dependent on it!

Pros

My law firm could not function without it. As a solo practitioner, there is just no way I could manage everything by myself. The way it syncs with my Gmail and Google Calendar and automatically adds clients to my contacts, makes everything so much simpler. Also it is really user-friendly and help is always available if I need it. The cost is absolutely worth it as I even upgraded to a higher plan for the extra features. I also like that it is innovative, using AI to assist lawyers without trying to replace us.

Cons

I'd love more customization options like being able to edit the exact wording of automated text messages which is not an option yet. That said they are always willing to listen to customer feedback and are very responsive to requests.

“A truly exceptional team

Pros

The team at Clio is truly exceptional. Their support, product development and community interaction are consistently top-notch.

Cons

They add new features often but these updates usually do not fix the problems users actually have.

“fantastic program with incredible capabilities

Pros

This software is a fantastic program with incredible capabilities. The team behind it is great and they offer so much more than just software, including a huge amount of online learning resources.

Cons

My only issue is with Clio Grow. I really wish they offered customizable reports where I could select the specific information I want to include.

“Outstanding service !

Pros

The customer service is outstanding. Using Clio Pay has significantly shortened the time it takes for us to get paid by clients. Plus having a single, secure place for all client data, documents and notes is invaluable. It really feels like they listen to user feedback and are always rolling out useful updates and improvements. I mean they seem to have a very clear and strong set of core values as a company.

Cons

We are still hoping for better integration between Clio Draft, Grow and Manage. Grow is our go-to for intake but it could use some improvements to work more smoothly with the other modules.

“Not suitable for Australian practitioners

Pros

Clio Payments worked well for me, it was the most reliable part of the system, especially for handling payments and billing in general.

Cons

It just is not suitable for Australian practitioners. It is very US centric and does not meet our requirements. Also at times the system feels clunky and awkward to use. So as per me for Australian firms, Smokeball and Leap are far better alternatives.

“User friendly and neatly organized

Pros

It is user friendly and easy to navigate. It keeps all our client files, billing information and communication neatly organized in one central place.

Cons

Some features require too many clicks to access and we sometimes experience frustrating syncing delays with third-party integrations.

“all-in-one legal tool

Pros

You could call Clio the Swiss Army knife of legal software. It really does cover all the bases and is helpful for almost every kind of legal professional.

Cons

The cost is a problem. Also if you buy an annual license and someone leaves your firm, you are stuck paying for it. To me it does not make sense.

“efficient program

Pros

The more I use Clio Manage, the more efficiently my business runs. It is easy to use, highly adaptable to my practice and the customer service is excellent. It is my go to for managing my calendar and tasks. I am also learning to use it for capturing client emails and communications which helps me avoid extra apps and improves our cybersecurity.

Cons

This company adds new features too fast for me to learn them all. I even see useful tools in other software programs but for my small practice, the extra cost of those other tools is not worth the small amount of time they would save me. So I am sticking to this one.

“The best all in one tool

Pros

Having everything in one place is the best feature. We used to juggle so many different programs but with Clio we have consolidated our file management, billing and much more into a single platform.

Cons

I only have a couple of small issues with it that I'd love to see adjusted. Such as the billing section has some areas that could be better

“Easy to use and very affordable

Pros

It is both easy to use and very affordable. I am especially impressed with how well Clio Manage and Clio Grow share data between them.

Cons

My main gripe is that certain information does not automatically transfer from Grow over to Manage. You would really expect a system like this to handle that on its own.

“simple but support is declining

Pros

To be honest, their customer support isn't what it used to be. Lately, when we report an issue we're clearly seeing, they sometimes deny it exists, send it to development, or even blame a third-party vendor. It's a real shame because they were once fantastic at solving problems quickly. On the plus side, the program itself is still really easy to use and set up and the invoicing is relatively straightforward too.

Cons

The pricing model, based on cost per person, combined with a constant flow of new features that carry additional charges and often lack proper integration, makes the relationship feel less like a partnership and more like a burdensome contract we're locked into. Internally, we've come to refer to it as the devil we know, which I think clearly indicates it's not a five-star solution for us.

“An essential part of my firm

Pros

Clio is an essential part of my law firms daily operations and profitability. The user friendly interface makes workflows seamless and the excellent customer support team resolves any issues quickly. So I highly recommend it and give it five stars!

Cons

While the analyzer tool is great, the assistant parts still need a lot of work to be truly helpful.

“Best platform

Pros

The built-in platform features like practice and document management, plus third-party integrations with Microsoft Outlook and QuickBooks are the best. Plus the customer support is also top-notch.

Cons

It is frustrating that Canadian firms do not have access to Clio Accounting and some other add-ons. I am really hoping they make those available to us soon.

“An excellent multifaceted CRM tool

Pros

It is an excellent, multi-faceted CRM for law practice management. Time tracking and invoicing are simple to use and the client portal enables a paperless practice. Also it is very user-friendly and continuously develops new features, including AI to keep up with technology.

Cons

The accounting tools do not include any payroll options and honestly using Clio Draft is not any simpler than just working with the standard document automation it comes with.

“Clean and extremely user friendly

Pros

I really like how clean and easy it is to use. Overall it is extremely user-friendly for people of all ages and technical skill levels.

Cons

One of the biggest letdown for me is that Clio Grow and Clio Manage do not sync up on their own. Once they finally get that integration sorted out, this platform will be great.

“surprisingly easy-to-adopt platform

Pros

The software was easy to pick up, even after we switched from a system our firm had used for over 15 years. We love several features especially Clio Payments, e-filing, the simple billing process, reporting and the new automations. Our firm also relies heavily on the task management feature and the various ways to capture time. The numerous integrations make it a very sharp tool.

Cons

We really need the option to assign a single task to more than one person which currently is not available. It is also annoying that the trust listing report does not display which attorney is in charge.

“Great for contact and case management

Pros

It is great for managing our contact database and linking contacts to multiple cases. The document sharing and calendar management are also very effective.

Cons

Keep in mind that it can be slow to process updated files sometimes. Another problem is that there is no function to find duplicate contacts and combine them into one.

“Lets me organize documents easily

Pros

I love how it lets me organize documents and easily move them between different files and folders. Uploading documents from various other programs and platforms is also quick and simple.

Cons

You cannot open a saved email and reply to it directly through Outlook which is a hassle. On top of that the launcher occasionally fails, forcing me to download a document just to make edits.

“packed with really useful tasks feature

Pros

The tasks feature is really useful for planning and keeping track of my workflow. The templates also help me get a head start on each new case quickly.

Cons

I noticed that the connection between some of the apps is broken, specifically the integration linking Clio Manage with Clio Grow.

“confusing layout

Pros

It is generally easy to use though having both Clio Grow and Clio Manage can be a bit confusing at times, I am not always clear on the distinct purpose of each one.

Cons

The layout is not the most user friendly, making it tough to locate what you need. Clients also get confused whenever they attempt to use a template.

“Terribly unstable with useless support

Pros

It showed a lot of promise when we first started using it over ten years ago. But we have mostly stayed with it out of habit.

Cons

It is terribly unstable and the help team is no use at all. A feature I used to rely on was making and monitoring notes for my cases. Then, today, three different notes from three separate phone calls which represented hours of my work just vanished without a trace. Plus contacting their tech support was a complete waste of effort, they were clueless about where my notes went or how to get them back.

“fails on core integrations

Pros

The interface is clean and user-friendly. Also it is good for basic matter management and time recording.

Cons

Major integrations they promised when we signed up are still missing after two years. The Clio Payments system is not fully automated and needs a lot of manual work. Also it is common for support requests to get ignored for weeks. There is a real lack of responsibility from both the support and product teams and it is not a good fit for how we practice law in Australia.

“offers huge help for workflow planning

Pros

Clio Software tasks feature is a huge help for planning and monitoring workflow. We also rely on the templates to get a quick and organized start on every new case.

Cons

The system lets multiple people edit some files simultaneously which leads to confusion when two people work on the same doc because it starts creating separate versions.

“Easy to use and reliable service

Pros

The platform is easy to use with a simple website layout. Customer service is also reliable and I like that it is always working to innovate and improve its product.

Cons

I think it would be great to have a proper way to merge Clio Grow and Clio Manage. Right now the two platforms do not integrate with each other completely.

“Excellent learning resources

Pros

I really like the academy they offer for learning how to use the software properly. Their extensive help section is also great for finding solutions anytime I need assistance. Another plus is the ability to track a client's journey from start to finish and enter as much detail as I want for each client and matter.

Cons

My biggest complaint is how difficult it is to bill a flat-fee client. While you can enter the flat rate, providing a detailed breakdown of the work with descriptions is a major hassle. And though you can eventually figure it out but it takes a lot of unnecessary steps and eats up valuable time.

“Made client intake much quicker

Pros

ClioGrow has made our client intake process much quicker and simpler. Now I can easily track a potential clients progress from the first point of contact all the way to signing the engagement agreement.

Cons

There should be a feature that automatically turns the time I spend on Outlook into billable hours inside Clio Manage.

“very easy and visually appealing

Pros

It is very easy to use and has a visually appealing design.

Cons

Nothing much but it's missing basic tools like a team chat function and the task management is not good either. I also dont get why Grow, Manage and Accounting have to be in three separate screens instead of one unified view.

“makes it pretty easy to track information

Pros

The software is pretty easy to use and helps me keep track of all the important information.

Cons

You cannot move smoothly from one activity to the next in the entry window. You have to close out and click on the next one which adds extra, wasteful steps. Also after you apply a payment to an invoice, the main page still shows the original total instead of updating the outstanding amount.

“simplifies client communication and tasks

Pros

Communicating with clients is so easy, especially through text messaging. I am also a huge fan of the tasks feature.

Cons

The document management section could definitely use some upgrades. The calendar also needs more options for sorting and different ways to view your schedule.

“Simple to see all open cases

Pros

One thing I like is that it was simple to see all my open cases and keep on top of billing and invoices.

Cons

Creating my intake form for clients was a real challenge. Another issue is that once they begin filling it out, they cannot save their progress to finish later. I was also hoping for a feature to distribute newsletters.

“insightful for client links

Pros

The platform connects information in so many ways that I often discover relationships between clients and people in other cases I never knew about. In short this is incredibly helpful in a small community.

Cons

Putting time on a calendar entry should be included in the first pop-up box, just like the old version. Also it would be helpful to let anyone from my domain email the maildrop address. Plus I need to be able to e-file directly from my Clio profile even when my service email is different from my main profile email.

“A very organized evolving platform

Pros

Clio is a very organized platform that's always evolving to meet a law firms needs. Whenever we have an issue, their employees are very attentive and quick to help resolve it.

Cons

The redesigned screen for internal messages is not really my thing, it feels cluttered because it mixes everything together with the client portal and text messages.

“Easy to use with exciting updates

Pros

I love how easy it is to use and I am always excited about the new updates they release.

Cons

While the portal is a fantastic feature, it could use a few tweaks to be more user friendly. Plus getting a notification for who downloads documents and being able to click on a file to return to its conversation thread would be huge improvements.

“learning process is easy with great interface

Pros

It is easy to learn and the interface is great for client and matter management, communication, calendaring and setting tasks.

Cons

The only small hiccup is that when we create a calendar event, it automatically uses our current time zone if we are not careful. It just means you have to double-check your entries as you make them.

“Gives our firm great flexibility

Pros

It gives us the flexibility to handle different types of cases while keeping our firm's practices consistent. Plus the high level of customization and the various integrations help us meet our clients goals. We are now using Clio Duo to track down missing details and we love getting our scheduled weekly reports automatically emailed to us.

Cons

Having a built-in tool that automatically logs all client-related work across this tool and other apps would be amazing. We currently rely on another app for this but it has its own set of restrictions.

“Incredibly easy to learn and use

Pros

This platform is incredibly easy to learn and use after all, none of us went to law school to become IT experts! But the good thing is that Clio is constantly innovating and is very open to user suggestions. Plus the customer service is second to none, with super fast responses. They are also very communicative about any issues that might affect users.

Cons

I feel like the billing system could afford to be a bit more adaptable in certain areas.

“Easy to find client information

Pros

It is easy to navigate and find client information quickly.

Cons

My main issue is that Manage and Grow do not sync up with each other on their own.

“Very user friendly platform

Pros

I find it very user-friendly, easy to learn and it brings everything together in one place.

Cons

There are still a handful of smaller features that would be really handy but just are not available or up to date yet. The resources also need to be structured in a more organized way.

“provides a helpful cloud based document center

Pros

Having cloud-based documents and a central place for all our notes is incredibly helpful.

Cons

The AI feature does not seem to understand what I am asking for. Also the mobile app is missing a lot of the functions you get on the desktop version.

“great intake and billing tools

Pros

The client intake and document management system works well and the billing tool is easily accessible and great for tracking time.

Cons

As per me the task and messaging tools could be a lot more powerful and the reporting options feel pretty restricted.

“A user friendly interface for organizing

Pros

I really like the user-friendly interface especially for organizing, finding and documenting case matters.

Cons

It is a bit of a hassle that we have to download files to view them instead of them just opening or saving automatically.

“Easy to use with quick help

Pros

It is easy to use and understand and I can quickly find help resources whenever I have a question.

Cons

I never found a way to send multiple files to our client portals in a single batch.

“pretty powerful for document tracking

Pros

This practice management system is pretty powerful overall for tracking and organizing documents.

Cons

Well the interface is not the easiest to figure out and the pricing is not really a good fit for smaller firms on a budget.

“Simple to use and packed with key information

Pros

I love how simple Clio is to use and having all the key information for a case right on the main page is a huge plus.

Cons

Overall I feel like the design and organization of the layout could be improved for better navigation.

“A major advantage for management

Pros

Managing time, billing, documents and client communication all within a single platform is a major advantage.

Cons

The cost is a major downside as it is way too pricey and the rates seem to keep increasing.

“poor support and expensive ecosystem

Pros

While Clio is always innovating, they don not hesitate to pass the cost of those new features onto the customer. I mean there is a whole suite of add-ons you have to pay for, which feels like nickel-and-diming. Imagine if Google charged a fee for every software update thats what it's like. So do not trust the advertised price because a fully functional setup with Clio Manage and Grow will be closer to $200 per month and that does not even include Drafting or the AI feature, Duo.

Cons

To me it feels like it is running the show, not the people using it. Some actions are completely permanent once you do them like not even their own developers can reverse it. This makes you incredibly cautious when entering information as one mistake can throw your entire system into disarray. Plus their support is outsourced to call centers, mostly in India, and you immediately get that impersonal I am sorry, sir, but... script. They even refuse to put in extra effort to find creative fixes for problems that many users face. Essentially it operates like a locked-in sales model. They get you to invest time and money into their closed ecosystem which becomes progressively more expensive and harder to leave because all your custom workflows won't transfer to other software. so the long-term financial commitment is massive and it' is worth noting the company is based in Canada with no U.S. offices.

“Impressive integration with other programs

Pros

I have been really impressed with how well it integrates with other programs. The billing process is so simple too and it has genuinely helped our firm grow.

Cons

The reporting function needs an upgrade so we can create more detailed and useful reports.

“makes it easy to keep track of cases

Pros

Keeping track of all my cases is so easy now.

Cons

So far everything has been smooth sailing for us, it is fantastic for helping our team stay organized and meet our deadlines.