Developers have until the end of July to submit apps that address a difficulty legal professionals face daily when managing their business for the chance to win a $100,000 prize through the Clio Launch//Code content. This is part of a larger investment Clio, a Canadian-based legal software services provider, is making in the legal technology space via the $1 million Developer Fund.
Jack Newton, CEO and Co-founder
“We believe technology will be instrumental in defining the future of the practice of law,” said Jack Newton, CEO and Co-founder of Clio. “And we realize that no single company can provide the breadth and scope of innovation that’s required to take this industry to the next level. This developer fund and contest will, we expect, spark an explosion of creativity and innovation in the tech industry.”
The winning company or business will design and develop an app that is built against and deeply integrates with Clio’s API. Contest entries can range from apps that have previously demonstrated market traction to innovative functioning ideas that have yet to be tested. Individuals interested in submitting their apps are encouraged to visit the Launch//Code contest website.
Finalists will be invited to Clio Cloud Conference 2018 and have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to the keynote audience and panel of judges. The winning company or business will receive the $100,000 prize, but all entrants who complete the necessary requirements and are approved by Clio will be featured on Clio’s App Directory, bringing their app to a growing community of over 150,000, world-wide legal professionals.
In discussing the importance and focus of Launch//Code, Jack Newton, CEO and Co-founder of Clio offered the following remarks.
Q: What types of challenges is the legal profession looking to solve through app development?
A: “Using the Legal Trends Report, we discovered that on average, legal professionals only bill 2.3 hours of an 8 hour day. Out of those 2.3 hours they only collect 1.6 hours of that billable work. The vast majority of their time is spent on administrative tasks and business development, and lawyers don’t have great insights into the ROI of their business development efforts.”
“Time tracking, automation, billing, collections, and client intake are just a few challenges Clio and our integration partners help solve—but there are a lot more opportunities to support legal professionals in their day-to-day business management tasks.”
Q: Tell us about Clio, the software management system for lawyers that you offer.
A: “Clio’s mission is to transform the practice of law, for good. This mission began in 2008, when Clio launched the first-to-market cloud-based legal practice management software, offering a low-barrier, affordable solution.Clio offers … calendaring, time tracking, billing, and more—all from a single online interface.”
“As legal technology reaches new levels of importance and adoption in law firms, Clio continues to invest in its platform and in app integration partners that deliver tailored solutions to the challenges faced by attorneys and their staff members.
“With over 90 app integrations, such as Microsoft Office 365 and Intuit QuickBooks, Clio offers more integrations than any other practice management platform and is the central hub for data-driven lawyers looking to stand out and meet their clients’ needs in 2018.”
“[And], the Clio Cloud Conference
… sees over 1,500 attendees from around the world each year. Clio also produces … Legal Trends Report, which provides insights into the legal industry, providing legal professionals with key performance indicators to make data-driven decisions.”
Q: Who will be on your judging panel?
A: “The judging panel will be announced closer to the Clio Cloud Conference. What I can say is that the panel will likely include a diverse group of experienced perspectives including Clio customers, legal tech experts, VCs, and I will also be part of the panel.”
