In Clio Manage, you can use Clio's matters migration template to bulk import matters, so your active and historical cases are organized and ready to work from. Matters without a description will be assigned a placeholder description on import. Matters without an assigned client will be assigned to an unknown client.
Before importing, review Get Started with Migration Templates for best practices on formatting, column headers, and file preparation.
Important: Import contacts before matters to ensure matters link to the correct contact. The Originating Attorney field will not import into Clio.
Note: Accurately linked matters are the foundation of billing, reporting, and matter management in Clio Manage. Importing matters after contacts confirms client relationships, practice area data, and responsible attorney assignments carry over correctly.
Required fields
- Status: Open, Closed, or Pending.
- Description
- Client: First name, last name, or company name.
Import matters
- Download the Matters import template (North America).
- Populate the spreadsheet with your matter information using the field reference below.
- Delete any unused row cells, then save the file in CSV format.
- On the Clio Manage Imports page (https://app.clio.com/imports), click Add and select Matters from CSV.
- Click Choose File and select your saved CSV file.
- Click Upload File.
Field reference
- status: Enter Open, Closed, or Pending. Required.
- location: Populates the Location field inside the matter.
- client_reference: Populates the Client Reference field. Can be a court file number, office file number, or other firm reference.
- description: Enter your specific case information. Required.
- open_date, close_date, pending_date: Enter dates in MM/DD/YYYY format.
- custom_number: Enter the matter number if your account uses manual numbering. Leave blank to use Clio Manage's automated matter numbering.
- note: Creates an entry in the Notes subtab of the matter using the subject "Matter import notes."
- client_first_name, client_last_name, client_company_name: Links the matter to its contact. Enter an exact match to the first, last, or company name in your Contacts import or existing contacts in Clio Manage. Required.
- responsible_attorney: Enter an exact match for an attorney user on your account.
- practice_area: Enter the general type of law for the matter.
Up Next
Once matters are imported, see Import Activities With Migration Templates to import unbilled time and expense entries. For general import instructions and error review, see Get Started with Migration Templates.