AI time tracking when the work happens outside Clio
The split that matters for a Clio firm is where the work happens. Clio Manage AI can use activity already inside Clio. A firm also needs an answer for billable work in desktop documents, research browsers, calls, and meetings, the work Clio never sees.
LegalTime AI is built for that second case at a privacy-conscious Clio firm of about 10 to 30 lawyers. It captures outside Clio, drafts for the attorney to review, and connects the approved entry into Clio Manage. It sits beside Clio. It does not replace Clio. A SOC 2 Type II examination is in progress. LegalTime AI is not SOC 2 certified.
Capture is local-first on the attorney device by default. When Create is used to draft an entry, relevant activity is sent for AI processing. Connect releases only after the attorney approves. Drafts stay with the attorney until release. Pause exists. This is not a monitoring tool. Pricing is quote-only.
If most of the day already happens inside Clio, Manage AI is the relevant context, because it sees activity already there. If important work happens outside Clio, compare a separate capture layer. Ask where the work actually happens before you answer.
Inside Clio, or outside it
| What you are comparing | Work already inside Clio | Work outside Clio |
|---|---|---|
| Where it happens | Activity is already recorded in Clio | Desktop documents, browsers, calls, or meetings |
| Capture | Clio context may be enough | Add a beside-Clio capture path for the missing work |
| Who owns the draft | Review the suggestion in Clio | The attorney reviews the Create draft |
| Privacy sentence | Confirm Clio's own terms | Local-first by default, then say what Create sends for processing |
| Practice system | Clio remains the system of record | Clio remains the system of record |
| Release | The firm's Clio workflow | Connect only after attorney approval |
| What to sample | Clio-visible entries | Attorney-visible drafts, then the released entries |
| Decision | A day that is mostly inside Clio narrows the gap | Meaningful off-platform work makes the gap explicit |
Do not answer by treating all time as inside Clio. The desktop document, the research browser, the call, and the meeting are why this split exists. Confirm Clio's terms with Clio. Clio's prices are Clio's to quote.
Capture, Create, and Connect beside Clio
- Capture. LegalTime AI records passive local activity while the attorney works outside Clio, local-first on the attorney device by default. Pause is available. See passive time tracking.
- Create. Create turns relevant activity into an attorney-only draft. When the draft feature is used, relevant activity is sent for AI processing. See subprocessors.
- Connect. The attorney edits and approves the draft. Connect then releases the time entry into Clio Manage. See the Clio integration.
The point is coverage, not migration. Matters, clients, and the practice record stay in Clio. Clio timers can remain available for work already inside Clio, or for exceptions the firm chooses. Security detail is on the security page. The FAQ covers pause, approval, and the fact that this is not a monitoring tool.
Other tools firms ask about
| Product | What it does | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| LegalTime AI | Local-first Capture beside Clio for firms of about 10 to 30 lawyers, with Create processing stated when drafting is used, and approval before release. | Security, subprocessors, the Clio integration, and pricing |
| Ajax | Screen or content capture, and AI draft narratives. | Those points in Ajax's materials |
| PointOne | Passive capture across email, documents, calls, and meetings. | Those points in PointOne's materials |
| Laurel | Enterprise time intelligence. | Those points in Laurel's materials |
| Billables AI | Workflow or API-style capture, with attorney review. | Those points in Billables AI's materials |
| Clio Manage AI | Suggestions from activity already inside Clio. | Clio's own terms. It is not the same coverage question as off-platform capture |
Names to keep straight
LegalTime AI is https://www.legaltime.ai. It is timekeeping beside Clio Manage. It is not legaltime.nl, and it is not an unrelated Legaltime practice-management product. "Clio alternative" on the feature page means an alternative to manual timers while the firm keeps Clio, not an instruction to remove Clio. See about. Clio time tracking describes the same beside-Clio path, including Create processing when drafting is used.
This page answers where activity is seen. It does not decide the purchase, install a pilot, or run the weekly cadence. The buyer memo is the yes or no before a demo. The first week is install and the first sends. The pilot review is continue or reopen after several weeks. The 30-day cadence is the weekly operating rhythm after week 1. The Clio Manage guide is the longer explanation of Manage AI inside Clio versus LegalTime AI beside Clio.
Sources
Related
- The buyer memo before a demo
- The first week
- Judging the pilot
- The first 30 days
- AI timekeeping for Clio Manage
- Matching time to the Clio matter
Ask where billable activity happens, state local-first Capture and Create processing, and keep Clio as the system of record. Pricing is quote-only. Start a 30-day free trial or book a 15-minute demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Clio Manage AI and off-platform capture?
When is Clio Manage AI the relevant tool?
Does LegalTime AI replace Clio Manage?
Does Capture keep every activity on the device?
What should we sample before we trust the coverage?
Is LegalTime AI SOC 2 certified, and what does it cost?
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Capture → Create → Connect. Not a monitoring tool.