Productivity & Project Management · Clio Manage (US) + Claude
Clio Manage (US) MCP with Claude: Run Legal Matters, Time and Billing Through Natural Language
The short answer
Claude works with Clio Manage (US) through the Model Context Protocol, an open standard that lets Claude securely read and act within the tool using permissions you control. Once connected by OAuth sign-in, Claude can list matters, create clients, log time entries and generate invoices from natural language requests, while your team reviews consequential actions.
What is Clio Manage (US)?
Clio Manage (US) is legal practice management software for United States-region accounts on app.clio.com. It centralises clients, matters, calendars, tasks, time entries and billing in one place. Law firms and in-house legal teams use it to run their caseload efficiently, keep records organised and get work billed accurately and on time.
How Claude connects to Clio Manage (US) through MCP
The Model Context Protocol, or MCP, is an open standard that acts like a universal adapter between Claude and other software. It lets Claude use a tool such as Clio Manage (US) securely, both reading information and taking actions, with access limited to what your firm allows. Your firm signs in with OAuth, the same secure method used across many business apps, so Claude never needs your password.
Once connected, Claude can typically look up matters by client or practice area, create new client records, log time entries against the right matter and generate invoices from the details you describe. A fee earner could simply ask for the week's unbilled time on a matter, and Claude would pull the entries together for review.
Permissions and approvals keep people in charge. Access is set to the least privilege needed, so Claude only sees and changes the areas you allow. Consequential actions such as sending an invoice or creating a new client can require a named person to approve first, and every action is recorded in audit logs your team can review.
What you can automate
Intake of new clients and matters
When an enquiry arrives, Claude can check whether the person already exists in Clio Manage (US), create a client record if not, and open a matter with the correct practice area and responsible lawyer. Staff review the details before anything is finalised, which saves time on repetitive data entry during busy intake periods.
Daily time capture
Lawyers often forget to log time until the end of the week. Claude can prompt for a short summary of each day's work, convert it into time entries against the right matters and present them for confirmation. Fee earners keep control of the final figures, and the firm captures more billable time with less effort.
Invoice preparation
Billing staff can ask Claude to gather unbilled time and expenses for a client or matter and draft an invoice for review. The team checks the lines, adds any adjustments and approves issue. This shortens the billing cycle and reduces the number of errors that come from manual collation.
Matter status summaries
Before a client call or internal review, a partner can ask Claude for a short summary of open matters, upcoming tasks and recent time activity. Claude pulls this from Clio Manage (US) so the partner walks into the meeting with an accurate picture, without opening several screens.
Calendar and task follow-up
Claude can list upcoming deadlines and open tasks by matter, and help create follow-up tasks after a meeting or a filing. Responsible staff receive a clear list each morning, which helps reduce missed dates and keeps matters moving forward.
An end-to-end workflow: New client enquiry to first invoice
TriggerA new enquiry arrives by e-mail to the intake mailbox.
Claude reads the enquiry and checks Clio Manage (US) for an existing client with the same details.
If no client exists, Claude drafts a new client record and a matter in the correct practice area, and asks an intake coordinator to approve it.
Once approved, the matter is opened and the responsible lawyer is assigned a first task in Clio Manage (US).
Claude logs time entries from the lawyer's end-of-day summary against the matter, for confirmation.
At month end, Claude gathers unbilled time and expenses for the client and drafts an invoice for the billing team to review.
Billing staff approve and issue the invoice, and the record is logged in the audit trail.
OutcomeIntake is faster and more consistent, time is captured more completely, and invoices go out sooner with fewer manual errors. Typical results vary by firm and workload.
How we set it up
Free automation audit
We review how your firm handles intake, time capture, matters and billing, and identify the workflows worth automating with Claude and Clio Manage (US). The audit is free and carries no obligation.
Connect with OAuth sign-in
We connect Claude to Clio Manage (US) through its MCP server or a secure managed connector, using OAuth sign-in so no shared passwords are stored. Access is set to the least privilege each workflow needs.
Design the end-to-end workflow
We map how Clio Manage (US) works with your other systems, such as Microsoft 365 for e-mail and calendars, and decide which actions Claude can take alone and which need a named approver.
Test and launch
We test each workflow against real past matters and time records, then launch with monitoring and audit logs turned on so you can see every action taken.
Train your team
We train fee earners, intake staff and billing teams on how to work with Claude, review its suggestions and approve consequential actions, so adoption is confident from day one.
Who benefits
- Managing partner
- Gets a clear view of matters, time and billing across the firm without chasing updates.
- Fee earners and lawyers
- Spend less time on admin and capture more billable time with simple daily summaries.
- Billing and finance teams
- Prepare invoices faster, with fewer errors and a clear approval trail.
- Practice and operations managers
- Standardise intake and matter opening, and track workload more reliably.
Security and control
- Least-privilege access, so Claude only reaches the parts of Clio Manage (US) your firm approves.
- OAuth sign-in, so no shared passwords are stored in the workflow.
- Human approval for consequential actions such as issuing invoices or creating new clients.
- Audit logs of every action Claude takes, available for review by your team.
- Monitoring after launch, with clear steps to pause or change a workflow at any time.
For teams in the US, UK, India and the Middle East
Organisations in the United States can host the Claude workflow in the United States to align with their data handling policies. Firms in the United Kingdom and India can choose hosting in the UK or India, with India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 considered in design. Organisations in the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, can review how their local data protection laws apply and select a hosting region accordingly. The hosting region is chosen to meet your requirements, and we do not guarantee compliance on your behalf.
Learn more about Claude and MCP
Anthropic's AI model and assistant.
Secure links between Claude and business tools.
How engineers build and change software with Claude.
Hosted agents that run multi-step work.
The open standard Claude uses to connect to tools.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Clio Manage (US) MCP server do?
The MCP server is a secure bridge that lets Claude use Clio Manage (US) on your behalf. It typically allows Claude to read matters, clients and time entries, and to take approved actions such as creating records or drafting invoices. It works only within the permissions your firm grants.
Is connecting Claude to Clio Manage (US) secure?
Security depends on how the connection is set up. We use OAuth sign-in, least-privilege access, human approval for consequential actions and audit logs. Your firm stays in control of what Claude can see and change, and you can revoke access at any time.
What can Claude do with Clio Manage (US)?
Typically, Claude can list matters, create client records, log time entries and generate invoices from natural language instructions. The exact actions depend on the workflow we design with you and the access your firm approves.
How long does setup take?
Setup time varies with the number of workflows and the systems involved. A focused first workflow is often ready in a few weeks after the free audit, including testing and team training. We confirm a realistic timeline once we have reviewed your firm's needs.
Which plan or permissions do I need?
Generally, you need an active Clio Manage (US) account with the access rights to authorise the connection and the actions you want automated. Your administrator usually grants these during the OAuth sign-in. We confirm the exact requirements during the free audit.