Client portal guide: choosing and running a portal for your firm

What do clients actually want from a portal?

• To send and receive documents without email attachment risk.
• To see the status of their matter and what is needed from them.
• To know what the next step is and who is doing it.
• To avoid learning another complicated login.

Ask three or four clients which of these matters most before you spend anything.

What are the options?

Our blog post on building a client view in Notion covers the shared-page approach in detail; this guide is about choosing between options.

How do you roll one out?

1. 1

   Write down the security questions

   Who can access, how sign-in works, where data is stored and how access is removed. Ask vendors directly and read their documentation.

2. 2

   Pilot on one matter

   Pick a friendly client and a simple matter.

3. 3

   Write a one-page client guide

   What it is for, what it is not for, how to get help.

4. 4

   Review after a month

   Keep, change or drop it based on what clients used.

• Build a client portal in Notion
• Security and your data
• Virtual law firm setup
• MatterOS vs Clio

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a client portal?

Not always. If most clients are comfortable with email and your matters are simple, a portal may add little. Ask your clients first.

Is a Notion page a secure portal?

It can give clients a restricted view of status. For sensitive documents, check Notion's sharing and security features against your confidentiality duties, or use a dedicated exchange.

What should I ask a portal vendor?

Where data is stored, how access is controlled, whether two-factor sign-in is available, how data is exported and what happens when you leave.

Does MatterOS include a portal?

No. It is a template. You can build client-facing views using Notion's sharing features, within the limits Notion sets.