Clio launches flexible payment system for Australian firms

Clio, a prominent provider of cloud-based legal technology, has introduced Clio Payments in Australia, a system designed to assist law firms with flexible, compliant, and efficient payment options.

With the introduction of Clio Payments, Australian law firms can offer secure and streamlined billing options tailored to the needs of clients amid rising living costs. The platform promises to assist smaller and mid-tier firms by providing a competitive edge through adaptable billing structures that align with modern legal practices.

Denise Farmer, General Manager, APAC at Clio, stated, "As part of Clio's commitment to enhancing the global legal experience, Clio Payments provides Australian law firms with a client centred billing and payments solution that aligns with the realities of modern legal practice. We're thrilled to bring this technology to Australia, where it can simplify financial processes, foster stronger client relationships, and ultimately make legal services more accessible to all Australians. With the momentum Clio Payments has seen in other markets, we anticipate it will be a transformative addition for Australian legal professionals and their clients."

Clio Payments offers law firms a comprehensive service for managing online payments while ensuring compliance with the Australian legal industry's standards. This service aims to alleviate revenue-related challenges by allowing law firms to implement flexible billing options, thus enhancing client retention and access to legal services.

The solution allows firms to accept secure online payments in line with PCI compliance, offering convenient payment methods such as click-to-pay links on invoices, websites, emails, and QR codes, or through Clio's secure client portal. Clients can benefit from customised billing approaches that consider their financial situations, including project-based pricing alongside traditional hourly billing, reflecting a shift towards AI-enhanced, client-centred billing.

Additionally, Clio Payments ensures trust account compliance by automatically deducting transaction fees and chargebacks from the firm's operating account rather than the client's account, and centralises client, billing, and financial records for smoother reconciliation.

Sara Giampa Kease from Studio Legal expressed, "I absolutely love this function (Payments) in Clio, it is by far my favourite function. Clio Payments has really made a massive difference to our accounts payable processes. Offering our clients a pay now button when they receive their invoices, means there are less obstacles to make payment and in turn less admin for us, when following up overdue accounts (and less overdue accounts in general). Previously a client would have to ask for a payment link which we would then have to retrieve from Xero and share with them, it was a convoluted process, and we are glad we can now offer this function to our clients."

Clio maintains partnerships with over 100 law societies and bar associations globally, including the Law Society of New South Wales, underlining its commitment to providing solutions to the Australian legal market. The launch of Clio Payments is part of Clio's expanding presence worldwide and aligns with its vision to make legal services more transparent, efficient, and accessible.

Jack Newton, Clio's CEO and Founder, commented, "We understand the profound impact that streamlined, flexible payment solutions can have on a law firm's financial resilience and client satisfaction. With Clio Payments, law firms are better equipped to serve clients from all backgrounds, ensuring that financial barriers don't stand in the way of accessing justice."