What level of Clio expertise do I need for setting up trust accounting and ensuring IOLTA compliance?
You need an advanced user who understands both Clio's trust accounting features and your jurisdiction's IOLTA requirements. This involves configuring three-way reconciliation, setting up proper chart of accounts, and ensuring all transactions are properly categorized. Basic Clio users typically can't handle the compliance nuances.
How can I tell if someone actually knows Clio well versus just listing it on their resume?
Ask them to explain specific workflows like how they'd handle a personal injury case with contingency billing, or how they'd set up document automation for a family law practice. Real expertise shows in their understanding of legal-specific features like conflicts checking, trust accounting, and matter-based billing structures.
Can Clio replace all our existing software, or do we still need separate accounting and document management systems?
Clio handles most practice management needs including basic accounting, but many firms still integrate with QuickBooks for advanced accounting features and maintain separate document management for large file storage. Clio works best as the central hub that connects with specialized tools rather than replacing everything completely.
How well does Clio integrate with our existing tools like Office 365, QuickBooks, and our current email system?
Clio has robust integrations with major platforms like Office 365, Google Workspace, QuickBooks, and most email systems. The integrations sync contacts, calendars, documents, and financial data bidirectionally. However, setting up these integrations properly requires understanding both systems and often needs ongoing maintenance.
How long does it typically take to implement Clio for a 10-attorney firm with existing case data?
A full implementation with data migration typically takes 6-12 weeks, including 2-3 weeks for data cleanup and migration, 2-4 weeks for configuration and testing, and 4-6 weeks for staff training and workflow refinement. Rush implementations are possible but usually result in ongoing issues that take longer to resolve.
After our Clio setup is complete, what kind of ongoing support or maintenance will we need?
Expect to need periodic support for software updates, new feature rollouts, staff training as you hire, and workflow adjustments as your practice evolves. Most firms benefit from quarterly check-ins to optimize configurations and monthly support for user questions. The level of ongoing support depends on how complex your initial setup is and how tech-savvy your staff becomes.
