clio

Clio

Access the Clio Manage API with managed OAuth authentication. Manage matters, contacts, activities, tasks, documents, calendar entries, time entries, and billing for legal practice management.

Quick Start

# List matters
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/clio/api/v4/matters?fields=id,display_number,description,status')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Base URL

https://api.maton.ai/clio/{native-api-path}

The gateway proxies requests to app.clio.com and automatically injects your OAuth token. Only the endpoints documented in this skill are supported — always use specific endpoint paths from the API Reference section below rather than constructing arbitrary paths.

Authentication

All requests require the Maton API key in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY

Environment Variable: Set your API key as MATON_API_KEY:

export MATON_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

Getting Your API Key

1. Sign in or create an account at maton.ai
2. Go to maton.ai/settings
3. Copy your API key

Connection Management

Manage your Clio OAuth connections at https://api.maton.ai.

List Connections

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections?app=clio&status=ACTIVE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Create Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'app': 'clio'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Get Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Response:

{
  "connection": {
    "connection_id": "{connection_id}",
    "status": "ACTIVE",
    "creation_time": "2025-12-08T07:20:53.488460Z",
    "last_updated_time": "2026-01-31T20:03:32.593153Z",
    "url": "https://connect.maton.ai/?session_token=...",
    "app": "clio",
    "metadata": {}
  }
}

Open the returned url in a browser to complete OAuth authorization.

Delete Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}', method='DELETE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Specifying Connection

If you have multiple Clio connections, specify which one to use with the Maton-Connection header:

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/clio/api/v4/matters')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Maton-Connection', '{connection_id}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

If you have multiple connections, always include this header to ensure requests go to the intended account.

Security & Permissions

• Access is scoped to matters, contacts, activities, tasks, documents, and billing within the connected Clio account. This data is sensitive legal/business information — only install if you trust this integration. Use the narrowest OAuth scopes and Clio account access available, and revoke unused connections promptly.
• Default to read-only operations. Always start by listing or retrieving resources to confirm identifiers before proposing any changes.
• All write operations require explicit user approval with specific identifiers. Before executing any create, update, or delete call:
  1. Retrieve and display the target resource (matter name/ID, contact name, document title) so the user can verify.
  2. Clearly describe the intended effect (e.g., "This will delete matter 'Smith v. Jones' (ID: 12345) and its associated data").
  3. Wait for explicit user confirmation before proceeding.
• High-impact operations require extra caution. Deleting matters, modifying billing records, or changing contact information can affect legal case data. These actions must include a summary of consequences and require confirmation.

API Reference

Field Selection

By default, Clio returns minimal fields (id, etag). Use the fields parameter to request specific fields:

GET /clio/api/v4/matters?fields=id,display_number,description,status

For nested resources, use curly bracket syntax:

GET /clio/api/v4/activities?fields=id,type,matter{id,description}

Matters

List Matters

GET /clio/api/v4/matters?fields=id,display_number,description,status,client_reference

Get Matter

GET /clio/api/v4/matters/{id}?fields=id,display_number,description,status,open_date,close_date

Create Matter

POST /clio/api/v4/matters
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "description": "New Legal Matter",
    "status": "open",
    "client": {"id": 12345}
  }
}

Update Matter

PATCH /clio/api/v4/matters/{id}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "description": "Updated Matter Description",
    "status": "closed"
  }
}

Delete Matter

DELETE /clio/api/v4/matters/{id}

Contacts

List Contacts

GET /clio/api/v4/contacts?fields=id,name,type,primary_email_address,primary_phone_number

Get Contact

GET /clio/api/v4/contacts/{id}?fields=id,name,type,first_name,last_name,company

Create Contact (Person)

POST /clio/api/v4/contacts
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "type": "Person",
    "first_name": "John",
    "last_name": "Doe",
    "email_addresses": [
      {"name": "Work", "address": "john@example.com", "default_email": true}
    ]
  }
}

Create Contact (Company)

POST /clio/api/v4/contacts
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "type": "Company",
    "name": "Acme Corporation"
  }
}

Update Contact

PATCH /clio/api/v4/contacts/{id}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "first_name": "Jane"
  }
}

Delete Contact

DELETE /clio/api/v4/contacts/{id}

Activities

List Activities

GET /clio/api/v4/activities?fields=id,type,date,quantity,matter{id,description}

Get Activity

GET /clio/api/v4/activities/{id}?fields=id,type,date,quantity,note

Create Activity

POST /clio/api/v4/activities
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "type": "TimeEntry",
    "date": "2026-02-11",
    "quantity": 3600,
    "matter": {"id": 12345},
    "note": "Legal research"
  }
}

Update Activity

PATCH /clio/api/v4/activities/{id}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "note": "Updated note"
  }
}

Delete Activity

DELETE /clio/api/v4/activities/{id}

Tasks

List Tasks

GET /clio/api/v4/tasks?fields=id,name,status,due_at,priority,matter{id,description}

Get Task

GET /clio/api/v4/tasks/{id}?fields=id,name,description,status,due_at,priority

Create Task

Requires assignee with both id and type ("User" or "Contact"):

POST /clio/api/v4/tasks
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "name": "Review contract",
    "due_at": "2026-02-15T17:00:00Z",
    "priority": "Normal",
    "assignee": {"id": 12345, "type": "User"},
    "matter": {"id": 67890}
  }
}

Update Task

PATCH /clio/api/v4/tasks/{id}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "status": "complete"
  }
}

Delete Task

DELETE /clio/api/v4/tasks/{id}

Calendar Entries

List Calendar Entries

GET /clio/api/v4/calendar_entries?fields=id,summary,start_at,end_at,matter{id,description}

Get Calendar Entry

GET /clio/api/v4/calendar_entries/{id}?fields=id,summary,description,start_at,end_at,location

Create Calendar Entry

Requires calendar_owner with id and type:

POST /clio/api/v4/calendar_entries
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "summary": "Client Meeting",
    "start_at": "2026-02-15T10:00:00Z",
    "end_at": "2026-02-15T11:00:00Z",
    "calendar_owner": {"id": 12345, "type": "User"}
  }
}

Note: Associating a matter with a calendar entry during creation may return a 404 error. To link a matter, update the calendar entry after creation using PATCH.

Update Calendar Entry

PATCH /clio/api/v4/calendar_entries/{id}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "summary": "Updated Meeting Title"
  }
}

Delete Calendar Entry

DELETE /clio/api/v4/calendar_entries/{id}

Documents

List Documents

GET /clio/api/v4/documents?fields=id,name,content_type,size,matter{id,description}

Get Document

GET /clio/api/v4/documents/{id}?fields=id,name,content_type,size,created_at

Download Document

GET /clio/api/v4/documents/{id}/download

Users

Get Current User

GET /clio/api/v4/users/who_am_i?fields=id,name,email,enabled

List Users

GET /clio/api/v4/users?fields=id,name,email,enabled,rate

Bills

List Bills

GET /clio/api/v4/bills?fields=id,number,issued_at,due_at,total,balance,state

Get Bill

GET /clio/api/v4/bills/{id}?fields=id,number,issued_at,due_at,total,balance,state

Pagination

Clio uses cursor-based pagination. Response includes pagination metadata:

GET /clio/api/v4/matters?fields=id,description&limit=50

Response includes pagination info in the meta object:

{
  "data": [...],
  "meta": {
    "paging": {
      "next": "https://app.clio.com/api/v4/matters?page_token=xyz123"
    },
    "records": 50
  }
}

Use the page_token parameter to fetch the next page:

GET /clio/api/v4/matters?fields=id,description&page_token=xyz123

Code Examples

JavaScript

const response = await fetch(
  'https://api.maton.ai/clio/api/v4/matters?fields=id,display_number,description',
  {
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.MATON_API_KEY}`
    }
  }
);
const data = await response.json();

Python

import os
import requests

response = requests.get(
    'https://api.maton.ai/clio/api/v4/matters',
    headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}'},
    params={'fields': 'id,display_number,description'}
)
data = response.json()

Notes

• Field selection is important - default responses only include id and etag
• Nested resources use curly bracket syntax: matter{id,description}
• Only one level of nesting is supported
• Contact types: Person or Company
• Task assignees require both id and type ("User" or "Contact")
• Calendar entries require calendar_owner with id and type; associating a matter during creation may fail - use PATCH to link matters after creation
• Activity quantity is in seconds (3600 = 1 hour)
• Contact records limited to 20 email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses each
• Activities, Documents, and Bills endpoints require additional OAuth scopes beyond the basic integration
• IMPORTANT: When using curl commands, use curl -g when URLs contain brackets to disable glob parsing
• IMPORTANT: When piping curl output to jq or other commands, environment variables like $MATON_API_KEY may not expand correctly in some shell environments

Error Handling

Rate Limit Headers

Clio includes rate limit headers in responses:

• X-RateLimit-Limit - Maximum requests in 60-second window
• X-RateLimit-Remaining - Requests remaining in current window
• X-RateLimit-Reset - Unix timestamp for window reset
• Retry-After - Seconds to wait (when throttled)

Resources

• Clio API Documentation
• Clio Fields Guide
• Clio Rate Limits
• Clio Permissions
• Maton Community
• Maton Support