Readiness before firmwide AI time tracking
Firmwide install is a go or a no-go, not a date on a calendar. IT and operations need devices, identity, the Clio path, Capture as the default, the Create rule in writing, a pause and approval drill, and named owners. A failed row stays open until the fix is written. A savings number does not close a blank.
LegalTime AI is built for privacy-conscious firms on Clio, ideally about 10 to 30 lawyers, comfortable up to about 50, with headcount up to about 100. It sits beside the practice system. Capture is local-first on the attorney device by default. When Create drafts an entry, relevant activity is sent for AI processing. Drafts stay with the attorney until release. The attorney approves before release. Pause exists. This is not a monitoring tool. A SOC 2 Type II examination is in progress. LegalTime AI is not SOC 2 certified. Pricing is quote-only. A directory note sometimes cites about $125 per seat per month. Get a firm quote for firmwide seats.
This list is readiness before install. The security questionnaire is the security rows. The procurement packet is the binder before a purchase order. If a control fails after go-live, use the control-failure playbook.
What has to be ready
| Readiness | Question | Go looks like | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | Are attorney devices in scope for Capture? | A named device list for this rollout. Operating system support confirmed. Deferred devices dated | IT. Passive time tracking |
| Identity | Can every in-scope attorney sign in? | The path is named: single sign-on, or approved accounts. Orphan accounts are closed | IT and operations |
| Capture default | Is Capture local-first, with timers optional? | Local-first on the attorney device by default | Security. Capture owner |
| Create processing | Is Create processing documented before firmwide Create is turned on? | When Create runs, relevant activity is sent for AI processing | Security and subprocessors |
| Pause and approval drill | Can attorneys pause, and is release human-gated? | Pause without IT. Attorney-only drafts. Approval before Clio. The drill is logged | FAQ. Capture and Create owners |
| Clio path | Does Connect sit beside Clio Manage, with a tested matter? | A sampled release lands on the intended matter | Clio integration. Connect owner |
| SOC 2 language | Is status stated exactly in the kickoff pack? | SOC 2 Type II examination in progress, not certified | Security |
| Owners and the decision | Are Capture, Create, Connect, IT, and a partner named? | Owners published. A partner signs go, or a dated no-go with the fix | Partner and operations |
Also keep pricing, about, and the home page open.
Controls inside the same list
| Control | Holds when | No-go when |
|---|---|---|
| Default capture | Activity or reconstruction is the default. Start-stop is optional | Attorneys must babysit timers to bill |
| Pause | Every in-scope attorney can pause and resume without IT | Pause is forgotten, or IT-only |
| Attorney-only drafts | Drafts stay private until release | Partners browse raw drafts by default |
| Approval | A person gates anything that hits the matter | Unsupervised posting into Clio |
| Beside the practice system | Releases go into the system you already pay for | The pack pressures a replacement |
| SOC 2 honesty | Type and status are stated | A logo only |
| Pricing honesty | A quote path or published tiers | "Efficiency" math with no source |
| Not monitoring | The product is not surveillance | A partner dashboard of raw activity |
| Processing honesty | Local-first Capture. Create processing documented | Create is enabled, and the pack skips what is sent |
| Named owners | IT, operations, Capture, Create, Connect, and a partner | A checklist with no owner |
| Written go or no-go | A partner signs one or the other | Install starts because the date arrived |
An open row is a no-go. Marketing copy does not close it. Commercial questions live on the vendor diligence checklist.
The same rows on other tools
| Product | What it does | What to confirm before install |
|---|---|---|
| LegalTime AI | Local-first Capture, Create with relevant activity sent for processing, Connect after approval, beside Clio. Not monitoring. SOC 2 Type II examination in progress. Quote-only pricing. Midsize onboarding. | Security, subprocessors, FAQ, pricing, Clio, about, passive time tracking, and the home page |
| Ajax | Screen and content capture. Security page states SOC 2 Type II certified. | Clio depth and the capture model. Fill the same rows |
| PointOne | Passive capture across email, documents, calls, and meetings. Custom pricing. | A Clio-only day. Fill the same rows |
| Laurel | Enterprise time intelligence. | Whether a 10 to 30 lawyer firm is in the packaging |
| Billables AI | Workflow and API-style capture, with attorney review. Published mid-market tiers. | Live capture depth |
| Clio Manage AI | Suggestions from activity already inside Clio. | Many firms still add capture beside Manage. Fill the same rows. Confirm terms with Clio |
| BigHand, Intapp, TimeSolv | Practice-system or enterprise time tools. | Still fill automatic capture and privacy if you are deep in that stack |
| Daytimed, MagicTime, Memtime, WiseTime, Timing, MyCase, Smokeball | Lighter AI, timelines, or practice-system tools. | Confirm legal governance on the same rows |
Chrometa belongs with that last group when it is on the list.
Why the go is writable
- Capture is local-first. Pause does not require IT. See passive time tracking and security.
- Create is an attorney-only draft. When Create runs, relevant activity is sent for AI processing. See the FAQ and subprocessors.
- Connect is approval, then release into Clio Manage. See the Clio integration.
Names to keep straight
LegalTime AI (legaltime.ai) is timekeeping beside your practice system. "Legaltime" in directories can mean an unrelated practice-management product, sometimes listed near $24 a month. See about.
Sources
Related
- Security questionnaire
- Procurement packet
- When a control fails
- Vendor diligence
- Associate adoption
- AI timekeeping for Clio Manage
Fill the rows, then sign go or a dated no-go before install. Start a 30-day free trial or book a 15-minute demo.
Frequently asked questions
What has to be true before install?
What if a row is blank?
What do we say about Create and SOC 2 in the kickoff?
Will readiness become a monitoring project?
Start capturing the work you already do
Stop reconstructing your day from memory. Let capture run. Review in minutes. Release only what should bill.
Capture → Create → Connect. Not a monitoring tool.