Spotlight on Clio for Legal Aid

Clio further invests in technology for legal aid organizations in support of its mission to transform the legal experience for all

Across the United States, where the pursuit of justice is a fundamental right, a critical issue continues to persist— the accessibility of legal aid for those who cannot afford private representation. A growing number of individuals find themselves at a disadvantage due to financial constraints in the complex legal system. This underscores the crucial need for a robust legal aid infrastructure to bridge the justice gap and uphold the principle that justice should be accessible, regardless of one’s economic status.

Legal aid attorneys are dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to ensure that even the most vulnerable members of society have access to justice. Their commitment goes beyond the courtroom, as they provide counsel, representation, and a guiding hand to those who would otherwise be left defenseless. Their work extends to areas such as family law, housing disputes, immigration matters, and more, helping countless individuals in need.

At Clio, we’re committed to making work seamless for the incredible lawyers who do legal aid and nonprofit work. We began this journey several years ago, partnering with A2J Tech and the Neighborhood Legal Services Program to build a product pilot of a legal aid solution to serve lawyers in the United States. We innovated on our core practice management product, Clio Manage, to better suit the needs of their workflows and unique billing needs. This was the start of what is now Clio for Legal Aid, a set of specific features designed for legal aid attorneys on the world’s most powerful legaltech platform. Whether an entire firm is dedicated to legal aid, or there are lawyers within a firm who do legal aid work, we believe lawyers of all practice areas should have the opportunity to access the industry’s best technology to run their practice. We know in the case of legal aid, this need becomes ever more important.

Legal aid and Clio’s unwavering mission

Clio’s mission to transform the legal experience for all means that we believe—on a foundational level—that we have a responsibility to change the world around us with our words, our choices, and our actions. We envision a world in which our legal and judicial systems promote justice in the truest sense of the word—a world in which it is easy for anyone who needs legal services to access them; for lawyers to have the freedom to practice the way they want; and for underrepresented groups in our society to get the advocacy they deserve.

Clio for Legal Aid is an important part of achieving our mission. We’ve helped numerous legal aid and nonprofit firms get organized, and manage their massive case loads, so they are able to sustain their services to their communities, and even expand their capacity to help more in need.

And we’ll continue to iterate and invest in this part of our platform because communities thrive when justice is accessible to everyone. Legal aid not only assists individuals in navigating the legal system but also plays a vital role in preventing systemic injustices. By addressing the root causes of legal issues, legal aid organizations contribute to the overall well-being of communities. They empower individuals to understand their rights, fostering a sense of agency and participation in civic life. This work is our mission realized in communities across the United States.

Clio for Legal Aid

In 2024, legal aid professionals will have expanded access to the tools which they need to operate their practices with ease. Clio for Legal Aid now includes support for billing models, offers an organization dashboard, and includes an eligibility calculator to make intake easier for onboarding new clients.

Clio for Legal Aid now supports invoicing for funding and billing models

Grant funding plays a pivotal role in supporting legal aid firms across the United States. These funds serve as catalysts for essential community support, enabling legal aid organizations to expand their outreach, and enhance the quality of assistance offered. In a landscape where financial constraints often hinder the pursuit of justice, grant funding becomes a vital resource, empowering legal aid firms to bridge the justice gap and extend their impact.

Clio supports multiple funding and billing models specifically for this unique type of funding. Whether attorneys use sliding scale billing, hourly, grant funding, or a combination of all three, Clio for Legal Aid can be set up to support it all.

Funding and billing models

With Clio’s dashboard capabilities, attorneys can see how resources are being allocated across the firm

Transparency and oversight

Implementing a comprehensive dashboard to track hours dedicated to legal aid work and the utilization of specific grants adds a crucial layer of transparency and efficiency to the operations of legal aid firms. This functionality streamlines the timekeeping process for legal professionals, and provides a detailed overview of the resource allocation, enabling legal aid professionals to optimize their efforts. Our dashboard is an invaluable tool for grant management, offering a real-time glimpse into how allocated funds are utilized, which services they support, and the overall impact on the community. This transparency ensures accountability in resource utilization, and facilitates accurate reporting to grantors, fostering a relationship of trust. Utilizing Clio’s dashboard to track hours and grants not only enhances operational efficiency but also strengthens the foundation of legal aid organizations, allowing them to better serve their communities while maintaining financial accountability.

Clio’s eligibility calculator expedites the client intake process and minimizes the potential for human error in eligibility assessments

Streamlined intake process

Using Clio’s eligibility calculator for the intake of legal aid clients is a significant leap forward in efficiency and accessibility within legal aid organizations. This tool streamlines the client intake process, allowing for a swift and accurate assessment of an individual’s eligibility for legal assistance. By automating the initial screening based on certain criteria, legal aid professionals can prioritize and allocate resources more effectively, ensuring that services are directed to those who need them most urgently.

“As the global leader in legaltech, our responsibility goes beyond innovation—it extends to ensuring that the transformative power of technology reaches those who need it most. In the realm of legal aid, our commitment is crystal clear: leveraging our cutting-edge solutions to help lawyers better serve the underserved. Bridging the justice gap is our ethical imperative as innovators in this space—working towards a system where every individual, irrespective of financial standing, has equal access to the legal support they deserve. Clio will continue to work with our customers towards a future where justice is not a luxury, but a universal right, powered by the convergence of technology and compassion.” –Joshua Lenon, Lawyer-in-Residence at Clio

Looking Ahead: A Collective Responsibility

The journey towards a more just society involves acknowledging the inherent disparities in access to legal representation and taking collective action to address them. Supporting legal aid organizations through technology is just one way that we can build a legal system that truly serves all members of society.

Being the market leader for legal technology means that we have an added responsibility to set the tone for the next generation—and to help ensure that the technology shaping legal experiences is also serving the greater good. Through legal aid innovation, we’re dedicated to supporting the incredible work of our customers in this space, so they can continue to expand their reach and services into the communities they serve in the years to come.

For more information on Clio for Legal Aid, visit: clio.com/features/legal-aid-nonprofit-case-management-software