The problem
In financial remedy matters clients send dozens of statements and payslips by email in batches, and someone has to save, rename and file each one before the disclosure can be checked. If a firm has 12 matters at the disclosure stage each month and that takes 90 minutes per matter, that's 1,080 minutes, 18 hours a month.
What the AI does
Clio Manage includes Clio for Clients, a secure client portal and mobile app with document sharing and secure messaging, on every plan. The firm sends its disclosure checklist through the portal, and clients upload documents straight onto the matter instead of emailing attachments. Staff check what has arrived against the checklist, and the solicitor reviews the disclosure itself. It also avoids sending sensitive documents to an email account a former partner may still be able to read.
A worked example
A three-person family team in Brighton (two solicitors and an assistant) has about 12 financial matters at the disclosure stage each month. It moves its matters to Clio Core and invites each client to Clio for Clients to upload their documents.
Before
90 minutes per matter saving, renaming and filing emailed documents: 18 hours a month
After
About 40 minutes per matter checking uploads against the checklist: 8 hours a month
What it's worth
About $399£300€357A$576C$564 a month of staff time, if it is worth $40£30€36A$58C$56 an hour: 50 minutes saved on each of 12 matters is 600 minutes, 10 hours. Clio Core is from $105£79€94A$152C$149 per user a month, $315£237€282A$455C$446 for three users, so this leaves about $84£63€75A$121C$118 and pays back only as part of moving your case management to Clio.
How to set it up
- Book a Clio demo, get written pricing for Core and ask where UK client data is hosted.
- Set up a financial remedy matter template with your standard disclosure checklist.
- Before inviting a client to Clio for Clients, check that the email address and phone are theirs alone.
- Have the assistant check uploads against the checklist and chase gaps; the solicitor reviews the disclosure itself.
- Keep email and post as routes for clients who can't use the portal.
What goes wrong
- If a former partner knows the client's email password or has access to their phone, a portal invitation can expose the case. Ask about this before inviting anyone, especially where there is domestic abuse.
- Uploaded documents still need checking for completeness and accuracy. The portal collects them; it doesn't verify anything.
- Clio's price is per user, and the page doesn't say whether $105£79€94A$152C$149 is the monthly or annual price or whether it includes VAT.
- Clients may upload the other party's documents or children's records. Handle these under UK GDPR and any restrictions in the proceedings.