Quick – think of stodgy, old-fashioned companies or departments who are reluctant to adopt technology. Without naming names, it’s evident that startups are increasingly trying to capitalize on traditionally offline markets by providing management tools. Think TribeHR for human resources, Wave Accounting for accounting (the name says it all), and Zendesk for customer service. Today Vancouver-based startup Clio announced it has raised $6 million in Series B funding for its suite of online tools for law firms, arguably the stodgiest of them all. The round was led by Munich-based Acton Capital Partners with participation from existing investors.
The company’s cloud-based practice management system is designed for solo practitioners and small law firms, and costs each attorney $49 per month, with support staff paying an additional $25 per month. Features include document management, billing and time tracking, and calendar and task management features. All with “bank-grade” 256-bit SSL encryption combined with enterprise-class security, something lawyers and bank vaults need.
Launched in March 2008 by Jack Newton and Rian Gauvreau, the company now has thousands of global customers, with about as many testimonials on their site to convince any doubting lawyers. Though based in New York and Vancouver, 95% of the company’s sales are global, so they’ll use the funding to expand internationally.
Law firms can sign up for a free 30-day trial at GoClio.com. Lawyer jokes not included.