Clio makes big promises to small firms. Don't fall for it.
October 17, 2022
Clio makes big promises to small firms. Don't fall for it.
Score 2 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Clio
We attempted to use Clio in all cases, but it is missing basic features, such as feasible calendar features, appointment notification, useable client note capabilities. We ended up returning to Google Docs for most uses, because the free software absolutely trounces the supposedly specially designed software for the legal profession. I can't get support to contact me back, and the basic features I suggest to make the software useable for a small firm are not a priority. Basic Google products: Drive, Calendar, gmail, are free and beat Clio with a stick.
- Document Merge
- Big Promises
- Simple processes become complex
- Basic calendar notification customization
- Multiple client calendar event support
- Return contact from account manager within a reasonable timeframe
- Flexibility for small practices
- Honest sales promises about the limitations of the software
- Client file basic note documents: I can either put every note in a different document (useless since I'll have to open every one to read the case history) or I can use a "note" which inexplicably opens over like 1/6th of the screen. It's like trying to do a survey through a periscope.
- Use Google Drive instead. It's free and it's so much better.
- Doc merge (use MS Word instead)
- We wasted a ton of time transitioning only to find promised features did not work
- We wasted a ton of time trying to get Clio to help us figure out how to at least hack their program to make it work for us
- We're still wasting time trying to get some kluge of Clio and other software to do all of the basic functions that should obviously be covered.
Clio made us a lot of promises they've been completely unable to deliver on. They said the calendar would notify clients of upcoming court dates and help us track tasks. They promised they'd streamline our processes. Instead, we're just stumbling around a dysfunctional interface and hoping that at some point someone decides we're important enough to respond to.
Do you think Clio delivers good value for the price?
No
Are you happy with Clio's feature set?
No
Did Clio live up to sales and marketing promises?
No
Did implementation of Clio go as expected?
No
Would you buy Clio again?
No
Evaluating Clio and Competitors
Yes - Google Drive, but we've been unable to phase out Drive since major portions of Clio simply do not perform. The core functions, the parts we were told Clio really excels at, are still on drive after a brief attempt to get those parts of Clio to work. It's not just that Clio has a terrible interface; we've researched them and talked to support about them, and the few people we can actually reach just tell us that what sales promised us is impossible, but we can submit a feature request so that can be ignored.
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Product Reputation
Clio was supposed to be great. Sales promised us the moon.
Liars.
Liars.
Stick with Google Drive. It doesn't do everything, but it does what it does well, and it's free. Clio is hella expensive for something that only does 1/5th of what it promises.
Clio Support
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
None | Slow Resolution Poor followup Less knowledgeable Not kept informed Escalation required Difficult to get immediate help Need to explain problems multiple times Support doesn't seem to care Slow Initial Response |
I am not aware of the option. But why should I have to pay for that? Support your product. Better, make it not need much support. User-centered design is not a new science.
Yes - No
Using Clio
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
None | Do not like to use Unnecessarily complex Difficult to use Requires technical support Not well integrated Inconsistent Slow to learn Cumbersome Feel nervous using Lots to learn |
- Everything
Yes - As poorly as the rest of the software