• TIME
  • EXPENSE
  • REVIEW
  • MATTER

How to log billable time and expenses with your AI

Connect Clio once, then just talk through your notes to populate your billing records.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I turn my notes into Clio time entries?

Your AI reads your meeting notes or typed summaries and uses the create_activity tool to push those details into Clio. You get accurate time entries and expense records without manual data entry. Here is what happens next.

Where your data lands.

The outcomes of your notes.

The AI handles the data entry, leaving you to review the final results.

TIME

Billable time entries

The AI extracts durations and descriptions from your text. It creates new time entries in Clio for your matters.

EXPENSE

Expense records

Costs mentioned in your notes are converted into expense entries. This keeps your client billing up to date.

REVIEW

Human verification

The AI doesn't finalize anything without you. You check the drafted details before they are officially logged.

MATTER

Matter organization

The AI maps your notes to the correct Clio matter. This ensures every minute is billed to the right client.

The workflow

What your AI does when notes arrive.

The AI acts as a bridge between your unstructured thoughts and Clio's database.

  1. Parse notes

    Your AI scans your conversational text to find specific mentions of time spent, tasks performed, or money spent.

    create_activity

  2. Map to matter

    The agent identifies which client or matter the activity belongs to based on the context in your notes.

    create_activity

  3. Create records

    The AI uses the specific tool to write the time or expense data into your Clio account.

    create_activity

  4. Confirm entry

    The AI reports back to you that the entry was successful, allowing you to move to the next task.

    create_activity

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the Clio connection.

Starting points

These are opening lines. Replace the bracketed text with your actual matter names or specific note details.

Clio Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_HywW0QPPo5K0g8LvgyAoQsgDcmxhkbbo9qLrcm6g/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Clio capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "clio-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_HywW0QPPo5K0g8LvgyAoQsgDcmxhkbbo9qLrcm6g/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Log 0.5 hours of research for the Smith matter based on these notes: [paste notes]

  • Create a Clio expense entry for the $45 filing fee mentioned in this transcript.

  • Look at my notes from today's meeting with Johnson Corp and create the necessary time entries in Clio.

  • I just spent 2 hours drafting the contract for the Miller case. Add this to Clio.

  • Claude
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Start here

Connect Clio once, then ask.

Click the link to connect your account. Your login stays encrypted on our side. Once connected, you can use any of the prompts above.

Connect Clio to your AI

FAQ

How the task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI delete existing time entries in Clio?

    No. The AI only has the ability to create new activities. It cannot modify or delete what is already in your system.

  • 02

    Does the AI decide which matter to bill?

    The AI attempts to identify the matter from your notes, but you should always verify that it picked the correct one before proceeding.

  • 03

    Can I log expenses this way?

    Yes. If your notes include cost information, the AI can create expense records in Clio.

  • 04

    Will it automatically bill my clients?

    No. The AI only creates the time and expense entries. You still control the actual billing and invoicing process within Clio.

  • 05

    Do I need to keep Clio open?

    No. Once the connection is established, your AI client communicates with Clio in the background.

  • More questions about Clio? The Connector page answers them. See everything the Clio Connector can do

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