August 26, 2011
We’re excited to welcome LawPay as a Clio Connect merchant account provider!
You can already send your clients electronic invoices with Clio Connect. And now, by linking Clio Connect to your LawPay merchant account, you can easily accept credit card payments from your clients.
You can dramatically reduce your outstanding AR balances by sending your clients electronic invoices and allowing them to pay by credit card.
Learn how to make this a reality with Clio Connect and LawPay.
August 25, 2011
Taxes. One of two certainties in life, as a saying goes. And as the economy continues its roller coaster ride, everyone seems to be proposing additional taxes, or raising taxes. So this week’s training tip shows you how to apply tax to existing or future bills, in the event you need to start doing so, or you need to update any applicable taxes.
To apply taxes to existing bills, do the following:
To set or update applicable jurisdictional taxes, including tax name(s) and associated rate(s) for future bills, go to Bills –> Settings and fill out or update:
The next time you generate a bill, click the “Apply Tax” checkbox in the New Bill Settings page to add the taxes to the bill.
For more information on billing, check out the Billing and Invoicing section of our Support site.
And if you’ve got a tip to share, let us know. We’d love to hear them!
August 23, 2011
Meet Chad Burton, founding attorney of Ohio law firm Burton Law LLC. He has developed a unique law firm model using Clio, Box.net, Google Apps, LegalTypist and Cybertary.
So how does your firm operate?
We have taken the traditional firm model and blown the walls out of the firm, got rid of on site administration help. Each lawyer gets an iPad, a Clio account and a Box.net account. While we use a virtual firm model, we still meet with clients in person, but since everyone works in different parts of Ohio (and soon other states), we use Clio, Google Apps and Box.net to tie everyone together.
How does that work?
We handle litigation and transactional work, so lawyers can collaborate on documents via Box.net and Nextpoint (an ediscovery review tool),which eliminates the need for everyone to be in the same place. And Clio allows us to do everything else, like bill clients, and just easily share information. Clio is everything we need all in one.
Did you use anything before Clio?
Yes. Rocket Matter, High Rise and another 37Signals product. Nothing talked to each other. Then I heard about Clio in a conversation with another lawyer starting a solo firm in Dayton, Ohio, and starting seeing it everywhere. I threw out something on SoloSez about considering Abacus, or more traditional software. Personally, I’m all Mac, so would have had to run a parallel, which presented an unnecessary challenge.
Have you had any experience with Clio’s support team?
Yes. I have. They’ve been great. Catherine on the Clio Support Team, and Brett Burney, who is a Clio Certified Consultant, have all been great.
Help section has 95% of questions I’ve had. And I’m in Catherine’s time zone, so anything else she’s been all over. She’ll have answers back within hours. It’s been good.
Would you recommend Clio to your colleagues?
I do it all the time. Even to people outside the legal industry. Clio can be used for any kind of service-oriented business, like a business coach, that has contacts, and does invoicing and accounting.
You said before every lawyer at Burton Law gets an iPad. Why is that?
I found a laptop between me and the client makes meetings awkward. I started using an iPad last fall, and found it eliminated that awkwardness while increasing my mobility more than my iPhone. So I decided every lawyer of Burton Law gets an iPad. And an iPad, Clio and Box.net just work well together.
“I decided.” What other decisions have you made about Burton Law?
Hiring. I’ve hired people I know so far that have been referred to me or have come to me, or through conversations that have identified this could be a good fit. I want to grow the firm strategically, but not just to go grow it.
Earning potential. It’s based directly on your work, no hourly billing requirements. Lawyers can set their own fees, alternative or hourly, whatever works best for the particular client. The firm keeps x percentage of billable brought in the door for accounting/book keeping, invoicing, technology, Lexis, marketing — business stuff. The firm lawyers keep the rest.
Entrepreneurial. Burton Law lawyers can develop their practice without the constraints of a firm hierarchy getting in the way, and get to practice law without having to deal with the administration stuff that they aren’t good at or don’t want to deal with.
Administration stuff. Who handles that?
The firm. We use LegalTypist, who handles management of matters in Clio, including invoicing, as well as transcription of documents, and Cybertary, which is a local franchise owner for book keeping and other administration assistant projects. It made sense to break up by expertise since what one doesn’t cover the other does. And it made more sense to do it that way instead of bringing someone on.
Firm does marketing. As with any law firm, each lawyer is responsible for marketing themselves and their services. People hire individuals, people hire people. We have a two pronged approach: Word of mouth and networking events.
Another way to think of it is having all the benefits of being a solo without dealing with all the things you don’t want to deal with by having a bigger firm structure behind you. We can plug a lawyer into the process, with some integration they’re off and running. Firm deals with back end stuff.
Networking events?
Yes. Networking events are good for business. It’s critical to get involved in the community, and the bar associations. It’s a time investment, sure, but if you pay dues but don’t do anything, it doesn’t get you anywhere. You have to put in the time or else it doesn’t work.
So why virtual?
A significant portion of the profession will head this way over the next several years. Lawyers, who are adverse to technology will eventually come to grips that they need to embrace it or they will be left behind. Plus, the flexibility under the model makes it easier to balance family life with running a law practice.
And finally: Mac or PC?
For the firm, Macs and PCs. Beauty of concept of using Google Apps, Clio and Box.net is that it doesn’t matter what kind of computer you’re using. It all works. So Burton Law lawyers don’t have to leave what is already comfortable for them.
August 18, 2011
Perhaps you’ve gotten a phone call recently, or an email from one of your clients, asking about this thing called Clio Connect. To help your clients better understand how Clio Connect works for them, too, we’ve added Clio Connect (Resources for The Client) to our Support site. It covers the following FAQs:
If your clients have asked other questions that you think should be included, please let us know.
And, if you’ve got a tip to share, let us know. We’d love to hear them!
August 16, 2011
We roll out updates just about every week, like bug fixes, speed enhancements and work flow improvements. And throughout the year, we roll out some big features.
Here’s a brief recap of some of our big feature releases this year:
Multiple (Batch) Document Uploading
Yes. That’s right! We’ve removed that tedious task of uploading documents one at a time. Now you can upload multiple documents or batches, in one of two ways:
Whether you keep your files neat and orderly in folders or strewn about your desktop, you can move them all into Clio at once. It is important to note, though, that “drag and drop” functionality is not supported by any version of Internet Explorer. Yet.
Firm Feed
Firm Feed offers an easy way to see the activity going on in your law firm. Firm Feed tells you who has done what in areas such as:
As your firm grows, either by employees, clients or both, Firm Feed might seem overwhelming. No need to worry, we’ve given you some controls to adjust where you see your Firm Feed:
Two-Factor Authentication
A big safety and security feature we released at the beginning of the year. There is a solid body of evidence that the password is often the weakest link. Two-factor authentication helps to strengthens that link by requiring a PIN number, in addition to the correct password, in order log into Clio. The PIN is sent to a mobile device, or other secondary authentication device you specify.
2011 is not ever yet, so there are other big feature releases to come. Stay tuned!
August 11, 2011
We started this series, if you will, back in November of 2010, and we’re pleased you’ve found it useful. Seeing as these posts get mixed in with many others, we thought we’d take this week’s post and an easy reference point. You can also do a search on our blog for #cliotraining.
So, here are #cliotraining tips to date:
Getting Started Tips
Feature Specific Tips:
Common Usage Tips:
User Tip:
Browser Maintenance and Backup
And, if you’ve got a tip to share, let us know. We’d love to hear them!
August 8, 2011
Jack Newton, co-founder and president of Clio, will be speaking tomorrow about the ethics and security of cloud computing at the 2011 Strategic Solutions for Solo & Small Firms Conference put on by the Minnesota CLE.
Security and ethics are hot technology topics this year, and cloud computing is no exception. While cloud computing has a number of benefits, like accessibility from any device with an Internet connection, lawyers in particular need to be aware of security – and privacy-related “best practices” prior to entrusting confidential client data to “the cloud.”
The presentation will answer the following questions:
We’re also exhibiting so if you can’t make it to either presentation, stop by the Exhibit Hall. We’re happy to answer any questions, or just say hello!
August 4, 2011
Last week we went over the Remember Me checkbox, which turns out to be a nice precursor to this week’s post, also from Adrian Baron, partner at Podorowsky, Thompson & Baron LLC. You may know him better as the author of The Nutmeg Lawyer, an ABA Journal Top 100 blawg and all around excellent information resource.
Baron recently posted about how to incorporate QR codes into your law office management program for quick client file access on the go, or in court:
If you use Clio or a similar web based program, you will notice each client has it’s own specific url address. You can easily create a QR code pointing to this address. As we mentioned earlier, QR codes are very easy to produce. Just google “QR code generator” in google, and you will get a site that will easily create one for you for free.
Next, copy and paste the code into a mailing label. Stick it on your file. (Editor’s note: Place the sticky side towards the file. Do not lick the mailing label. Chances are it is self adhesive.)
Need info in a pinch. Simply scan the code on your file with your tablet computer, iPad or smart phone and “abracadabra”, your client info page in Clio will open on your phone. From there, you can easily access any linked documents, phone numbers, calendar events or billing records. Not only will this little trick make you more efficient, you will look really cool in front of your clients. And isn’t that what really matters?
Got a tip to share? Let us know. We’d love to hear them!
August 2, 2011
Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON – August 2, 2011 – Today at the NABE Annual Meeting in Toronto, Vancouver-based Themis Solutions Inc. announced its new Clio Bar Affinity Program which provides members of participating Bar Associations access to an ongoing discount on Clio, the leading cloud-based practice management system for small and solo law firms. The NABE Annual Meeting is being held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel from today through August 4th.
Prestigious Bar Associations such as the New York State Bar Association with 77,000 members have already signed up for the Clio Bar Affinity Program so their members can enjoy the benefits of Clio at a reduced price. Several other top Bar Associations in the U.S. have also joined the program, including the Connecticut Bar Association with over 9700 members, State Bar of Michigan with over 40,000 members and the South Carolina Bar with over 13,500 members.
According to Jack Newton, President of Themis Solutions, “We are proud to announce the Clio Bar Affinity Program. Bar Associations across North America are realizing that cloud-based technology is becoming integral to their members’ success, not only as legal professionals, but as business owners. Themis Solutions is teaming up with Bar Associations to offer Clio at a discounted monthly subscription price, which is a true win-win situation. Bar members can tap the efficiencies offered by Clio, and in turn, Clio can be discovered by small firm and solo lawyers seeking greater organization and productivity for their practices.”
Check out our Clio Bar Affinity Program section for more information.
About Clio and Themis Solutions
Clio, a comprehensive web-based practice management Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product, is specifically designed for solo practitioners and small law firms using PCs and Macs. It can be accessed from any Internet-enabled computer or mobile device. Secure and easy-to-use, Clio provides case/matter management, time tracking, billing/reporting, client contact and document management, task scheduling, trust accounting, and performance metrics for independent lawyers to benchmark their business goals. In addition, Clio includes Clio Connect, a secure portal for document sharing and collaboration with clients, and Clio Express, an offline time capture application.
Clio’s parent company, Themis Solutions Inc., is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company was founded by Jack Newton and Rian Gauvreau. Visit www.goclio.com, e-mail info@goclio.com, call 1-888-858-CLIO or follow on Twitter @goclio.
###
August 1, 2011
This week, we will be at both the National Association of Bar Executives Annual Meeting and the America Bar Associations Annual Meeting. Both are being held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
We’re rather excited, and not just because a Canadian city was chosen as the location. We have a special affinity for Bar Associations, their leaders and members as they are often helpful for solo and small firm lawyers. Many Bar Associations offer an annual Solo and Small Firm Conference every year, and we’ve had the pleasure to exhibit at many of them.
If you’re attending either NABE or the ABA Annual meeting, please drop by and say “hi.” And stay tuned for an exciting announcement tomorrow, where our affinity for Bar Associations will take another step forward.