Clio is buying vLex for $1 Billion. Now What?
What this means for lawyers in solo/small firm practices. The harsh realities of integrating two companies and different systems need to be considered.
Clio agreed to acquire vLex for $1 billion in cash and stock, viewed by some commentators as a very significant move.
The move aims to make Clio a one-stop shop for lawyers in small to mid-sized firms. In practice, it’s about leveraging AI through what will ultimately be a complex integration challenge.
Important Background
Clio built its reputation among solo lawyers when cloud skepticism ran deep. It earned trust, grew steadily, and began moving upmarket.
Now, with AI in vogue, it wants to combine research, drafting, and practice management into a single offering.
The Goal
Clio’s leadership believes this will serve lawyers better. But good intentions don’t negate business incentives.
Like any company, Clio aims to grow, extract value, and market it. That’s not cynicism—it’s capitalism.
Lawyers need to think clearly and ask the hard questions.
Harsh Reality
Slapping AI onto legal workflows doesn’t automatically produce efficiency.
Systems have to talk to each other. People need training. Not every problem is an AI problem.
Merging different tools under one brand might deliver convenience—or just a bundled deal with a more appealing presentation.
Clio’s leadership is well-liked. Their product works. But that’s no reason to accept every press release without scrutiny.
We shouldn’t be reflexive cheerleaders—we should remain thoughtful and skeptical.
Ask: who benefits?
How well will these tools integrate?
What’s the actual return?
Because hype is cheap—and execution matters.
Lawyers’ reactions
Lawyers in my Inner Circle are starting to react and —predictably— not everyone is on the same page:
“I use them both…looking forward to seeing the integration.”
“I’m feeling trapped. I love Clio Grow and Manage; however, they keep adding things that they make me buy and they don’t work very well.”
Bottom line
This could be a significant shift—or just bigger hype.
Either way, keep a close, skeptical eye on what comes next.
—Ernie
P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the deal. Hit reply and let me know.
And if you want to join my Inner Circle, click here.