In Clio Manage, matter permissions control which firm users can access a matter, and matter rates set billing rates for the work on a specific matter. Limiting access keeps confidential client information with the people who work on the matter. Matter rates apply the right rate to each time entry without manual changes.
Note: Matter permissions and matter rates are set in Clio Manage only. Clio Grow has no matter permission or rate settings.
Set matter permissions
All firm users can set permissions when they create or edit a matter. When you select specific users or groups, access is limited to those users and groups. Changing permissions in Clio Manage on a matter converted from Clio Grow locks the matter in Clio Grow, which keeps the two products from holding conflicting information. Learn how matter syncing works in Convert Matters.
Important: A user without access to a matter can still open the matter's bills if they have billing or accounts permissions. A user with reports permissions can still access matter details in reports.
- Go to Matters.
- Find the matter and click Edit.
- You can also search for the matter in the search bar at the top of the page and click Edit matter.
- Scroll down to the Matter permissions section.
- Under Firm users with access, select an option:
- All Manage Users: All users with a Clio Manage license have access to the matter.
- Anyone in the firm: All users in the firm have access to the matter.
- Specific users or groups: Up to 20 firm users or groups have access to the matter. Select them under Add users or groups. To remove a user or group, click the remove icon (minus sign) next to it. Learn how to create a group.
- Click Save matter.
View and update matter permissions in bulk
Firm administrators can filter the matters table to list the matters they are restricted from, and can update matter permissions in bulk. Use these actions to audit permissions across matters and to keep matter details limited to the right users.
Note: Only administrators can perform these actions.
- Go to Matters.
- Click Filters.
- Under Admin view, select an option:
- Matters I have full access to: The matters table lists only the matters you have full access to.
- Matters I am restricted from: The matters table lists only the matters you are restricted from.
- Click Apply filters.
Important: Bulk permission edits replace the existing permissions. Only the users you select have access to the matters and receive their notifications. Users previously added to a matter lose access unless you select them again.
- Go to Matters.
- Select the checkbox next to each matter you want to update. You can select up to 200 matters. The new permissions apply to every selected matter.
- Click Edit.
- Select Update matter permissions.
- Under Choose which firm users will have access going forward, select an option:
- All Manage Users: All users with a Clio Manage license have access to the matters.
- Anyone in the firm: All users in the firm have access to the matters.
- Specific users or groups: Up to 20 firm users or groups have access to the matters. Select them under Add users or groups. To remove a user or group, click the remove icon (minus sign) next to it.
- Optional: Under Choose who will receive matter notifications going forward, select the firm users who receive notifications for matter events. Learn more about user notifications.
- Click Update permissions.
Block users from accessing matters in bulk
Administrators can block specific users from accessing a matter, for example to screen a firm member who has a conflict of interest. Block users on one matter in the Block users section when you edit a matter, or on several matters at once with the steps below. You can unblock users at any time.
Note: A block overrides group permissions. A blocked user loses access to the matter even when a group they belong to has access.
Tip: Users with access to a matter can find its blocked users in the Timeline and Details sections of the matter's Dashboard, and in the Firm Feed tab on Today.
- Go to Matters.
- Select the checkbox next to each matter you want to block users from.
- At the top of the table, click Edit.
- Select Block users.
- Under Select users, select each user to block.
- To keep an existing block on a selected matter, select that user again.
- Click Block users.
Add matter rates
When you create a time entry in Clio Manage, the client or matter rate applies by default. If neither rate is set, the user rate or activity description rate applies. A matter rate applies to the matter's time entries unless you enter a custom rate.
A matter can hold more than one matter rate. For example, a matter rate for yourself applies to your time entries on that matter. A matter rate for another user or group applies when one of those users creates a time entry on the matter.
Tip: Learn more about activity rates and rate hierarchy and how to create user groups.
- Go to Matters.
- Find the matter and click Edit.
- You can also search for the matter in the search bar at the top of the page and click Edit matter.
- Go to the Billing preference section.
- Under Billing method, select Hourly.
- Under Custom billing rates, click Add a custom billing rate.
- Select the users or groups.
- Enter the rate for those users or groups.
- Click Save matter.
Up next
- Rates and Rate Hierarchies: Learn how matter rates fit among user, client, and activity category rates.
- Create and Manage User Groups: Set up groups to grant matter access to several users at once.