In Clio Manage, you can bulk import matter custom fields into existing matters, using the migration template, so firm-specific matter information is captured and consistent across your database. If you are importing custom fields into a large number of matters, export your matter list first and copy the matter display numbers into column A for accuracy.
Before importing, review Get Started with Migration Templates for best practices on formatting, column headers, and file preparation.
Important: Do not create custom fields set as Default or Required in Clio Manage before importing. Imports will fail if these settings are active. Confirm all matters and custom fields exist in Clio Manage and remove any existing custom field selections from matters before importing. After the import is complete, you can set custom fields as Default or Required.
Note: Custom fields that include special characters (?, :, /, etc.) will not import into Clio. Remove any special characters before continuing, including colons if used in matter names.
Required fields
- Matter: Exact match to the matter display number.
- Custom field column headers: Must exactly match custom field names in Clio Manage.
Import matter custom fields
- Create the relevant custom fields in Clio Manage before importing.
- Download the Matter custom fields import template (North America).
- Populate the spreadsheet with your matter custom fields 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.
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Under Import, select Notes from CSV.
Note: Select Notes from CSV even though you are importing custom fields. This is how Clio processes custom field data. The Successes count will remain at 0 after the import — this is expected behavior. Your custom field data will still be added.
- Click Choose File and select your saved CSV file.
- Click Upload File.
Field reference
- matter: Enter an exact match to a matter display number in Clio. The matter display number is the full matter name, not including the matter description after the colon. Required.
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Custom field column headers: Edit column headers to exactly match the name of each custom field created in step 1, then populate each column with its respective data. Required.
- Dates: MM/DD/YYYY format.
- Checkboxes: True (checked) or False (unchecked).
- Picklists: Pre-enter all possible options in Clio before importing.
Up Next
To import custom fields linked to contacts, see Import Contact Custom Fields With Migration Templates. For general import instructions and error review, see Get Started with Migration Templates.