Law Student

Below is a review of Clio from 2012, followed by an old review from 2009. The 2009 Clio review has become obsolete due to substantial improvements since 2009.

2012 Clio Review

My first experience with Clio a couple years ago led me to conclude that Clio was not ready for our firm, and I suspect that many other attorneys had similar conclusions.

However, I now consider Clio to be a fantastic option for small law firms and solo attorneys.

Three attorneys and a paralegal in our firm recently tested Clio in a comprehensive way, using it for a number of months. We have been exceedingly impressed by how robust it is and yet Clio remains simple to use.

In short, I think Clio is an outstanding option for small law firms or solo attorneys. Despite my earlier recommendation against Clio, I think Clio now has exactly what small law firms need to provide case management for their practice with all the important features and an efficient, simple, time-saving user interface that eliminates the frustration I have had with most practice management software.

Flexible and Powerful

There was a time when software with a lot of features was also complex to operate. However, Clio offers feature-rich law firm software in an intuitive and simple user interface.

We put Clio to the test with a variety of fee structures including

• flat fees,
• hourly fees,
• contingency fees, and
• hybrid attorneys fees.

We also tested tracking of expenses, mileage reimbursement, and client trust accounts. Clio did it all!

Clio was highly customizable for a variety of attorneys and circumstances:

• Some attorneys like multiple timers, while others like manual time entry.
• Some attorneys like writing out a description of each time entry, while others like selecting from a list of standard descriptions.
• Some clients need an invoice separating multiple legal matters, while some clients need an invoice consolidating all time regardless of the number of matters.

Whatever we tried to throw at Clio, Clio handled it with ease. Customizing Clio was easy, and the administrative staff, tech staff, and attorneys were all happy. Any attorney around for a few years can tell you that this painless experience with practice management software is exceptional and rare.

Attorneys No Longer Need a Network or Server

Our small law firm has no network. Clio doesn’t require a network, because it is merely a website, so attorneys can access it anywhere, including from their smart phones. We no longer need a network because, thanks to Clio, all of our software is “in the cloud.” For example, we share and backup all files with Dropbox; use Google Apps for calendar, tasks, email, and contacts; and store notes in Evernote. The only software we buy to install on computers is Microsoft Word, but with Google Docs and Open Office, even Word may no longer be needed.

Clio Invoicing

I compared Clio to Freshbooks and a number of other SaaS invoicing services. Nothing came close to Clio for attorneys (admittedly, I did not compare Rocketmatter recently). Once especially nice Clio feature is the option to include account statements with every invoice. That is, Clio will generate an invoice and can also attach an overview of the client’s account showing all payments and invoices to date. Clients love this. This feature has allowed us to stop invoicing in Quickbooks. The simplicity of Clio invoicing has turned invoicing from a nightmare (during our Quickbooks days) to what it should be—a simple review of work done for clients and related expenses. We still use Quickbooks for reconciling checking accounts, but Clio tracks all client invoices, attorney time, expenses, trust account balances, and client payments.

How Clio Could Improve

Clio has made amazing improvements since my 2009 review, so it would be no surprise if the remaining issues I have are resolved soon. My current issues are these.

Feature Request 1: Reports by Email

First, it would be nice to have a feature where Clio could send a weekly email to attorneys showing their hours worked and other statistics, so attorneys and their supervisors could constantly be reminded of their progress (or lack of progress). While this report is available in Clio, a nice feature in Clio would be to schedule emailing of reports on a periodic basis.

Feature Request 2: One-Click Emailing of Invoices as PDF Attachments

Second, Clio provides no way to email invoices as attachments except for first saving the invoice as a PDF and then emailing it. Clio offers a Clio Connect service that emails clients, but clients then need to login to see their invoice, which is an unnecessary and annoying set of additional steps for clients, especially those who are tech-challenged. While this isn’t a major problem, we would love to be able to click a button (after approving all invoices) and have them mass emailed to each client with a custom-written email from us explaining that their invoice is attached.

Amazing Customer Service

Customer service is a big issue for lawyers. Time is money, and waiting for technical support can be costly. Here, Clio impresses us every time we have a problem. When we call, within a few rings we are greeted by a Clio representative who is friendly and knowledgeable. Frankly, I have never had phone support like Clio’s. Clio’s online support is equally impressive, providing a thoughtful and helpful response to questions within hours of my online request. For customer service, no company can surpass Clio’s responsiveness and helpfulness.

2012 Clio Review Conclusion

While I discouraged use of Clio in the past (see the 2009 review below), I now believe Clio is an exceptional option for solo attorneys and small firms. I have not recently tested Rocketmatter or other competitors, but I have no need to because Clio does everything we need and is robust enough to grow with us. In addition, Clio’s rate of innovation and top rate customer service cannot be matched.

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for writing this review. I have no ties to Clio. However, we did receive free access to test Clio and the other SaaS practice management software in preparation for writing this review.

2009 Clio Review (outdated)

Note: The following review was written in 2009 and has since been updated with the 2012 version above. The makers of Clio have made major improvements to the software, so this 2009 review is no longer applicable.

For years, law firm software has been overly complex, frustrating, time consuming, and difficult. Today, solo attorneys and small firms have a variety of better options.

Non-law companies are offering software online, like Gmail and Zoho.  And now, even law firm software is available as an online tool, fully functioning within your web browser. Techies refer to this as Software as a Service (“SaaS”), providing software through a web browser and storing the data “in the cloud” (i.e. online).

The two big players in the online law firm software niche are Clio and Rocketmatter. This is a review of Clio, followed by a comparison to Rocketmatter and traditional law firm software. » FULL STORY

This video explains tips for law students seeking to build their law school resume. Law firms and legal job employers often look beyond grades to determine whether a law student is the right fit for a job. The video goes beyond grades to discuss practical tips and creative ideas for building a strong law student resume.

Sure, grades are important. But students with high grades still » FULL STORY

A good list of tips or advice for law students is hard to find, even on the internet. Job Profiles published this list of 100 Tips and Resources to be a Happy, Successful Lawyer. These tips and resources are a great, especially for some easy summer reading before law school starts again for the school year.

The tips excerpted below are from the tips for law school students and new lawyers. However, check out the entire list if you are interested in a number of good tips for lawyers and life as an attorney.

84. LSAC: College students and law school students who are starting to plan their legal careers need to go over the resources on this official site.
85. About Law School: The Princeton Review: Get an overview of what to expect in law school, from applications to the first year experience to picking a specialization to legal clinics.
86. There’s No Competition in Law School: A group of 3Ls shares advice for younger law students while also doling out the real-life misery and fun of being a law school vet.
87. Tips for Summer Associates: Lydia R.B. Kelley stresses the importance of knowing deadlines for summer associates.
88. JD Law Students Blog: Various law students “share their thoughts and experiences” for the benefit of other students and future law students.
89. Links for New Lawyers: Get survival tips and help choosing a firm with this guide.
90. Marketing and Networking: A Conceptual Framework: New lawyers get a crash course in networking and promoting themselves and their practice in this article.
91. Five Indispensable Tips for Law Students and New Lawyers: The Legal Underground shares tips like “learn to use legal technology” and “don’t be an asshole” to give new lawyers’ careers a boost.
92. Firm Attorneys Offer Tips for Summer Associates: The Virginia law school site posts this article that will help summer associates land a job at the firm.
93. 10 Survival Tips for New Associates: Tips like “don’t be afraid to be a new associate,” “know the rules,” and “stay in touch with friends” will help new associates adjust to their new life.

As a law student, what is the most challenging aspect of law school for you? What makes life during law school difficult?

Is it that you have no time, you have little money, the competition in law school is stressful, relationships are difficult during law school, attorney job hunting is competitive, or the constant criticism in law school becomes too much to bear? Here is a list. Which one has been your biggest challenge? » FULL STORY

Student loan consolidation has always been confusing for me. So I sat down with my law school student loan coordinator recently to find out the benefits of consolidating student loans, the disadvantages, and other things to know before consolidating student loans. This is what I learned. » FULL STORY

The holidays are almost here! Many of you are already done with finals. It’s time to relax, sit back, and enjoy the break. You’ve worked hard; you earned it.

Brain-Free Reading

As you kick into relaxation mode, here are some news stories that don’t require any thinking. While you were preparing for finals and in finals, some law students and law schools were making the news. » FULL STORY

A while back, I asked why some law students decided to start a blog.* Two law students posted excellent answers to the question.

Part-time Law Mom wrote her answer here. She explained:

I had spent months combing law student blogs trying to find blogs by part-time law student mothers with kids. The only great blog I found existed through the author’s first year before she ended it. I decided that I would start a blog in order to both chronicle this adventure and also to help other mothers who might be considering law school in addition to a full-time job.

The Frugal Law Student wrote his answer here. He explained his reasons for starting a blog:

After a few years of being an avid blog reader, I decided to start my own. Because I was big fan of personal finance blogs and law school blogs, I thought I would marry the two and create a blog dedicated to helping law students mitigate their crippling law school debt. I figured it would be a good way to keep track and hold me accountable for how I managed my finances in during law school

My reason for starting a blog was similar. I wanted to read a blog by other law students and couldn’t find any. In particular, I wanted a blog with tips for doing better in law school.

Learning Law School Success from Others

As a 1L, I was constantly finding ways to improve my performance. I wished I could have learned these law school tips from the beginning rather than through the “school of hard knocks.”

Law School Tips

Since that time, I have happily encountered many law student blogs. Some of those blogs had law school tips, but none of them focused exclusively on law school tips. If you search the archives here, you will find many of the law school tips I found along with some of my own.

Publicize Your Law Student Blog Here

If you want your law student blog featured here, stay tuned. My next plan with Law Student .TV is to find a way to promote the blogs of other law students.

You can already promote your law school blog posts at School Blog Vote using its law school student section, but I’m working on another option that could further promote law students’ blogs. Come back soon for more details.

In the meantime, you could add some more interesting blog posts to your law school blog, so that when visitors arrive in a few weeks, they have more interesting material to read.

*NOTE: I promised to link to the blogs of whoever answered. My delay is inexcusable, but it relates to having a baby and taking the bar exam. I am finally making good on that promise. Thanks to the authors of these great law school blogs for their patience.

Here is some great news for law students and law school graduates entering public interest law jobs (government, non-profit, etc.).

This includes public defenders, city prosecutors, federal government lawyers, attorneys at non-profit and charity organizations, and a variety of similarly situated law school graduates.

In short, this new law will provide law school loan repayment assistance to students taking public interest jobs.

The following was provided by Philip G. Schrag of the Georgetown University Law Center:

This morning, President Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (H.R. 2669), which includes two provisions that will make it much easier for law students who graduate with high educational debt to have long-term public service careers. The bill includes a section creating an income-based repayment (IBR) plan that enables graduates to make much smaller monthly payments when their incomes are low: the IBR formula caps repayment at 15% of (AGI minus 150% of the federal poverty level). Interest not paid » FULL STORY

When Law Student posted How Much are New Lawyers’ Salaries?, the author of the Build A Solo Practice blog pointed out that the chart failed to present salary statistics for solo practitioners (attorneys practicing on their own rather than part of a multi-lawyer firm).

She then linked to this informative post explaining how much solo attorneys earn: What Do Solos REALLY Earn?

After Law Student posted How Much are New Lawyers’ Salaries?, the author of the Build A Solo Practice blog responded with this observation:

What would be an interesting statistic is the ratio of salary to debt service for law school.

She then presents information regarding the ratio of salary to debt here: Increasing law school debt compared to Lawyer Salaries.

Wonder how much you can earn when you graduate from law school? NALP surveyed law school graduates from 1992 to 2006 and published what the average attorney was paid.

The numbers are interesting. In 2006, the average starting salary for an attorney at a small firm (2-10 attorneys) was $50,000. The average starting salary for an attorney at a large firm (over 500 attorneys) was $135,000.

It is worth noting that the survey covers a large geographic area, so some adjustment is necessary for your local region. If you are in a small city, rural area, or city overpopulated by law schools, the average salary for your area may be less than the survey average. If you are starting in New York, or some other top paid city, the average salary for your area may be more than the survey average.

I suppose the results could be further criticized for being unscientific in one way or another. However, as a general guide to new associate salaries, the survey results are enlightening.

To see the survey results, visit NALP’s What Do New Lawyers Earn?

11-23-07 Update: This article has been updated. Please read Many Law Graduates Disappointed: Few Jobs, Low Salaries, High Stress. For help finding the law job that is right for you, visit our law jobs section.

A note from a reader:

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UPDATE: The website referenced here, SchoolBlogVote.com, no longer exists.

If you have a blog and you are a law student, medical student, seminary student, or MBA student, maybe you posted your blog posts on Digg.com in hopes of getting thousands of visitors to your blog, getting filthy rich, and retiring to Silicon Valley.

Unfortunately, Digg caters to geek topics, and despite the fact that most graduate schools have plenty of geeks, it’s really tough to get a popular post on Digg.

As a side note, the only post from TopLawStudent that made it big on Digg was this one, and Digg sent over 7,000 visits in two hours, which crashed our law school blog for the rest of the day.

A possible solution has arrived: School Blog Vote is a new site where students can post their own blogs and vote on other students’ blogs.

Benefits

The benefit of School Blog Vote to student readers is—students can find great websites, blogs, and blog posts of interest to students.

The benefit of School Blog Vote to student bloggers is—more people will find their blog. And that means increased visitor traffic, something every student blogger desires.

Categories for Various Post-Graduate Students

School Blog Vote is categorized into sections for law students, medical school students, MBA students, seminary students, and undergraduate students. This is nice because seminary students probably have little interest in res ipsa loquitur. Of course, seminary students can always check out the law student section for juicy gossip, such as the law student who got naked for Playboy (news story).

Anonymous Voting

One nice feature of School Blog Vote is that the site allows voting without having to create an account first. Once you’ve voted, you can’t vote again (and artificially drive up the votes). This appears to be tied to your IP address, so in theory, students could login to mulitiple computers and vote multiple times. But seriously, how many students have that much free time? Okay, maybe some do, but I presume the administrators at School Blog Vote have a way of taking care of that. Anyway, I like that you don’t have to login to vote.

However, you do have to login to post to the site, which I suppose is necessary to prevent spam (no, I don’t want to read about “Buy Viagra Online” or “XXX Paris Hilton photos”).

Criticism

School Blog Vote is a great idea. It is also a new idea. The problem with new ideas on the web are 1) they may not have much traffic for a while and 2) they may never have much traffic.

Still, I think it’s a great idea for a few reasons. I have a hard time finding other law students’ blogs, and I presume that medical students, MBA students, seminary students, and undergrads might have the same problem. It’s even more difficult to find good blogs. At School Blog Vote, the good posts rise to the top based on reader’s votes.

Also, a site like this gives students an incentive to start a blog, since students can see the best of what other students are writing.

Finally, School Blog Vote rewards students who blog by driving traffic to their blogs, which often generates income through Adsense, Chitika, or other blog advertising programs.

See For Yourself

So if you you support the idea of encouraging students to blog, or if you are a blogger who wants more visitors, check out School Blog Vote.

Any recent law school graduate searching for a job knows that the legal job market is over-saturated with job candidates. This means you need a competitive edge to get hired.

First, I suggest ordering what I believe is the absolute best law job hunt book available, Guerrilla Tactics For Getting The Legal Job Of Your Dreams: Regardless of Your Grades, Your School, or Your Work Experience!

Second, visit our new Law Jobs page with links to many websites that will help the hunt for your law job.

Want to wear some law school apparel? It’s not easy to find clothes with a law school theme. But find these shirts and countless others at Cafe Press:

Often, law school apparel is not the most stylish (but as we all know, that isn’t a problem for most law students). But these clothes are funny and interesting, and are sure to amuse family and friends, and maybe make a law school professor smirk when she sees them.

» FULL STORY

Here are some good bar exam tips. Good luck to law students taking the bar exam this week!

Tips for bar exam success:

• Legal Andrew: Bar Exam Home Stretch – Tips for Success
• Auto Admit: Kaplan PMBR’s Top 10 Exam Tips
• Audacity: Bar Exam Post
• New York Lawyer: NY Bar Exam Test-Taking Tips from Barbri Bar Review

The Volokh Conspiracy published tips from a number of readers on topics of interest to law school students:

• Tips for Law Students Who Are Writing Articles on Legal History?
• Tips for Law Students Who Are Doing Empirical Research?
• Reducing False Positives in Lexis/Westlaw Searches
• How Research Librarians Can Help Law Review Article Writing

See also Law School Legal Research Tips and How to Improve Legal Writing in Law School.

Law students often wonder if they should keep their law school textbooks and study aids. They think they might be useful for the bar exam or a helpful reference once practicing law. Law students may also feel bad that they are getting rid of textbooks with so many helpful notes in the margins. This article explains why law students should not keep their old books. » FULL STORY

Gregory W. Bowman, a professor at Mississippi College School of Law, wrote an excellent post with encouragement and advice for 3L job hunting on his much loved blog, the Law Career Blog. For jobless law students, I also suggest the best law job-hunt book.

Here at Law Student, I’ve sorted through countless career websites to find the best for your job search. To learn more about legal job types and jobs available now, visit the law jobs section.

After my first law school semester, a friend tried to convince me to leave Microsoft Word and instead take notes with Microsoft OneNote 2003 (Old Version). I refused. Finally, I decided to give OneNote a try as a 2L. I had no idea it would be this good.

OneNote has every feature that a student would use in Microsoft Word plus so much more!

Record Your Professor Synchronized to Your Notes. One of the coolest features is how it can record your professor while you take notes. Then later when you click on a note, you can play the audio of your professor talking exactly when you typed that note. So on take-home exams, you can just scan your notes for key concepts on your exam and re-listen to your professor discuss those concepts.

Search Your Audio Recordings. The new version, OneNote 2007, includes a feature to scan your audio recording for » FULL STORY

UPDATE: Real Lawyers Have Blogs says that one law school graduate landed a job with a large firm by blogging.

NOTE: If you are a law student or attorney with a blog, please see the offer to promote your blog at the end of this post.**

As blogging becomes more popular, it is inevitable that law students will increasingly become bloggers. Still, this may be a little surprising considering the immense time pressures that law students face. However, maybe it is exactly that pressure that entices law students to have a blog. That is, maybe writing to a blog is a release of tension, much like journaling used to be.

Marketing
Blogs can also be a form of marketing. For example, Andrew Flusche started his blog, » FULL STORY

Law students, like lawyers, have busy lives and a shortage of free time. That’s why this little tip to save time online is so helpful.

You may have wondered what RSS or this symbol means. It means the website you are reading has an RSS feed, which can be read by Google Reader or another RSS reader. But what is RSS? Watch this short and entertaining video explaining how an RSS reader will save you a lot of time on the web. » FULL STORY

Marketing skills are important to law students and new lawyers. This article will review one online advertising option for lawyers providing legal services: TopLawyersofAmerica.com.

Top Lawyers of America.com is a website designed for lawyers to advertise themselves or their law firm. This website features a wide variety of categories that potential customers can search to find an attorney to » FULL STORY