Filed by client and matter. Checked by you.
Turn on Analyze contents and Sortio reads each document, even scans, finds the client and the matter, and renames each file your firm's way. You check the plan. Nothing moves until you click Apply.
Free trial, no credit card required. Installs on Mac or Windows; on a phone, we'll email you the link.
How it works
From a folder of badly named scans to documents filed by client and matter, in four steps. You check the plan before anything moves.
- Step 1
Tell Sortio how your firm files
Type it in plain English: find the client in each document, file it under the client and the matter, and rename it as date, document type, client, case. Turn on Rename.
- Step 2
It reads each document, even scans
Click Analyze contents. Sortio reads each document to find the client, the matter, the date and the document type. Scanned PDFs get on-device OCR on Mac and Windows. Scans it can't read are set aside in a _Needs Review folder instead of being guessed.
- Step 3
Check where each file goes, and why
The preview shows each file's new name, its folder, and the reason Sortio chose it. Fix any it got wrong.
- Step 4
Click Apply
Nothing moves until you click Apply. Each sort is saved in Activity, where you can undo it.
Illustration with fictional names. You set the naming pattern and the folder structure, review each new name, and can change where any file goes before you click Apply.
The Filing Problem
Three patterns we hear from the firms we talk to.
200 scanned pages, one folder
A paralegal finishes scanning a stack of intake documents. They're all in one folder, named scan_001.pdf through scan_047.pdf. Each one has to be opened, matched to a client and a matter, renamed, and filed. It's slow, repetitive work.
The wrong matter
A document gets filed under the wrong matter. Nobody notices for three weeks. When it surfaces during discovery prep, the attorney has to reconstruct the timeline to figure out where it came from and whether anything else was misfiled.
The backlog grows
Every day adds more documents. The filing backlog grows because nobody has time for it. The longer it sits, the harder it gets, context fades, matters close, and unfiled documents become invisible.
What gets sent, and what doesn't
You choose the AI that reads your documents, and you choose whether it reads their contents at all. Either way, a sort doesn't move anything until you preview it and click Apply.
By default: cloud AI models
Sortio uses OpenAI's cloud AI models through Sortio's API. They receive filenames, folder paths and your instruction, and, with Analyze contents on, text from each document, up to an excerpt of about 4 KB. Or use your firm's own OpenAI or Anthropic API key (BYOK), so requests go to that provider under your firm's contract.
Scans are read on your computer
OCR runs on your Mac or Windows PC. With Analyze contents on, the recognized text excerpt is sent, not the scanned image. Analyze contents is off until you turn it on, and then stays on until you turn it off in Settings.
Offline Mode, for firms that can't use a cloud AI
Offline Mode runs the AI on your own computer with Ollama or LM Studio, so filenames and document text aren't sent to an AI provider. It needs a local model installed, and results can differ from the cloud model.
Data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest. Cloud sort requests are kept for up to 30 days for service operation and debugging.
Read the confidentiality briefUse Clio? Send filed documents to the right Clio matter
You don't need Clio to use Sortio. If your firm keeps documents in Clio Manage, Sortio can put them there too.
Connect Clio Manage in Settings. Sortio pulls your open matters through the official Clio API, suggests a matter and a clean document name for each file, and shows you the plan. Files it isn't confident about are left unselected for you to decide. Only the files you approve are uploaded, from your computer straight to that matter's documents in Clio. The Clio integration is included with Pro.
AI document filing for law firms, answered
Straight answers to what solo attorneys and small firms ask before they put Sortio on a real intake folder.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
How does Sortio file documents by client and matter?
You tell Sortio how your firm files, in plain English, and turn on Rename. With Analyze contents on, Sortio reads each document, even scans, finds the client and the matter, and proposes a folder and a new name for each file. The preview shows where each file goes and why. You fix any it got wrong, and nothing moves until you click Apply.
Does Sortio keep privileged client files confidential?
Sortio lets the firm choose what is sent. By default it uses OpenAI's cloud AI models through Sortio's API, which receive filenames and folder paths, plus text from each document, up to an excerpt of about 4 KB, when Analyze contents is on. OCR for scans runs on your computer. Firms that can't use a cloud AI can switch to Offline Mode (Ollama or LM Studio), which runs the model on their own computer. Firms that want their own provider contract can use their own API key (BYOK). The confidentiality brief covers the specifics.
Can Sortio read scanned documents?
Yes. With Analyze contents on, Sortio runs on-device OCR on scanned PDFs and photos of documents, on Mac and Windows (not on Linux). It reads the first pages of each scan, which usually carry the caption, the parties and the date. Scans it can't read are set aside in a _Needs Review folder instead of being placed by guess, so you can file them yourself.
Does Sortio work without Clio?
Yes. Sortio files documents into the folders on your computer, by client and matter, whether or not your firm uses Clio. You can point it at your existing client folders so it files into them instead of inventing new ones. The Clio integration, included with Pro, is an extra step for firms that keep documents in Clio Manage.
How does Sortio match a file to a Clio matter?
Sortio pulls your open matters through the official Clio Manage API and compares each file's name, and the names and details it found inside the document, with that list. It suggests a matter for each file and leaves the ones it isn't confident about unselected. You review the plan, and only the files you approve are uploaded to the matter's documents in Clio.
How much does Sortio cost for a solo attorney or small firm?
Sortio is free to try: the free trial includes a one-time AI allowance, enough to run it on a real folder, and no credit card is required. Pro is $14.99 per month or $99 per year and adds a monthly AI allowance sized for heavy use, the Clio integration, and watch folders. Team is $29 per seat per month for shared rules and an admin console.
Sortio vs manual filing vs rule-only automation
How matter-based filing in Sortio compares with filing documents by hand and with a Hazel style rule-only tool that has no understanding of your matters.
Who reads each document
Sortio: It reads each document, even scans, and you check the plan
Manual: A person opens and reads every file
Rule-only tool: Nobody. Rules match the filenames or keywords you wrote
Finding the client and matter
Sortio: Found in the document and matched to your client and matter folders
Manual: A person reads each file and decides
Rule-only tool: Only where a rule already covers the pattern
Catching a misfile
Sortio: The preview shows where each file goes and why, before anything moves
Manual: Often found weeks later, during discovery prep
Rule-only tool: A wrong rule files silently and repeatedly until caught
Naming
Sortio: Renamed to the convention you describe, and you review each name
Manual: Varies by who did the filing
Rule-only tool: Consistent only where a rule already exists
Record of what moved
Sortio: Each applied sort is saved in Activity, where you can undo it
Manual: None, or an ad hoc spreadsheet
Rule-only tool: Limited to what the automation tool logs
| Manual filing | Rule-only tool | Sortio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who reads each document | A person opens and reads every file | Nobody. Rules match the filenames or keywords you wrote | It reads each document, even scans, and you check the plan |
| Finding the client and matter | A person reads each file and decides | Only where a rule already covers the pattern | Found in the document and matched to your client and matter folders |
| Catching a misfile | Often found weeks later, during discovery prep | A wrong rule files silently and repeatedly until caught | The preview shows where each file goes and why, before anything moves |
| Naming | Varies by who did the filing | Consistent only where a rule already exists | Renamed to the convention you describe, and you review each name |
| Record of what moved | None, or an ad hoc spreadsheet | Limited to what the automation tool logs | Each applied sort is saved in Activity, where you can undo it |
Simple pricing
Most paralegals start with Pro. When your firm is ready to standardize, Team adds shared rules, admin controls, and centralized AI policy.
Free
Try it on a single folder
- One-time AI trial allowance, enough to try Sortio on a real folder
- No credit card required
- Reads scans with on-device OCR (Mac & Windows) during the trial, with Analyze contents on
- Rule-based sorting: free and unlimited
- Preview before applying
- Sort history & undo
- Local LLM / BYOK
Pro
For paralegals and solo attorneys
- Monthly AI allowance sized for heavy use
- Clio integration: matter matching & upload
- AI sort: up to 5,000 files / run
- Auto-sort on file change
- Bring your own AI key: unmetered, no allowance used
- Usage shown as a simple percentage in Settings
- Unlimited file renaming
- Email support (48h)
Subscriptions renew automatically until canceled. Pro Monthly is $14.99 per month ($179.88 per year); Pro Annual is $99 once per year. Cancel anytime in the app at Settings, Subscription or through the Stripe Customer Portal. See our Refund Policy and Terms.
Law firm FAQ
Questions we hear from paralegals, solo attorneys and small firms evaluating Sortio for client and matter filing, scans, confidentiality, and Clio.
With Analyze contents on, Sortio reads an excerpt of each document (running on-device OCR first if it's a scan) and picks out the people, organizations, dates and document type. It compares those with the folder structure you gave it, or with your Clio matters, and proposes a folder and a new name for each file along with the reason. You review the plan, fix any it got wrong, and nothing moves until you click Apply.
It depends on the AI you choose. By default Sortio uses OpenAI's cloud AI models through Sortio's API: they receive filenames and folder paths, and, if you turn on Analyze contents, text from each document, up to an excerpt of about 4 KB. OCR for scans runs on your computer, and the scanned image is not sent. To keep document text away from a cloud AI, use Offline Mode (Ollama or LM Studio), which runs the model on your own computer. To use a cloud AI under your firm's own contract, use your own API key (BYOK), which talks directly to your provider. Uploads to Clio go from your computer to Clio.
Yes. Point Sortio at the folder, tell it how your firm files, and click Analyze contents. Scanned PDFs with no text layer get on-device OCR on Mac and Windows (OCR isn't available on Linux). OCR reads the first pages of each scan, which usually carry the caption, the parties and the date. Each file is placed on its own, so scan_001.pdf through scan_200.pdf can be split across several clients. Scans it can't read are set aside in a _Needs Review folder rather than guessed.
Check the preview. It shows where each file is going and why, so a document headed for the wrong Smith matter is visible before you apply. Click the pencil to change its folder, then apply. Naming matter folders after the case caption (for example 2026-014 Smith v. State) gives Sortio more to match on. In the Clio flow, files Sortio isn't confident about are left unselected for you to assign.
No. Sortio focuses on classification, naming, and filing rather than stamping. It will rename files into the pattern you describe (for example Smith_v_State_2026-03-14_Motion-in-Limine.pdf) so they sort correctly in Clio and in your local discovery folder. For Bates stamps on the page itself, keep using your existing tool; Sortio runs alongside Adobe Acrobat and similar utilities.
Partly. On Pro, watch folders run rules on new files, so a downloaded court filing can be routed by its filename, type, or the text in a text-based PDF. Rules don't run OCR, so new scans are best filed with a sort: tell Sortio how to file them, click Analyze contents, check the preview, and apply.
No. Sortio does not modify the contents of your files. It reads them to classify and route, then moves, renames, or uploads the originals to Clio exactly as they were. If you need redaction, do it in your PDF tool first, then let Sortio file the redacted version.
Each applied sort is saved in Activity with each file's original location, its new location and its new name, and you can undo a sort from there. Clio uploads are also recorded on your computer, which is how Sortio skips a file it has already uploaded from the same location the next time.
Yes. Sortio supports BYOK (bring your own key) for OpenAI, Anthropic, and other providers, so AI requests go from your computer directly to the provider on your firm's account, not through Sortio. Offline Mode runs a local model with Ollama or LM Studio, so document text stays on your computer. BYOK and Offline Mode are not metered by Sortio and do not count against your AI allowance.
Give Sortio your existing client and matter folders as a folder list in the sort options and turn on "Restrict to a folder list". The AI will only file documents into those folders, or into a fallback folder you choose, such as Needs Review, for anything it can't place. That keeps the structure your firm has used for years instead of inventing parallel folders.
Yes. Sortio runs on Mac and Windows (and Linux) at the same pricing. On-device OCR for scans is available on Mac and Windows only, not on Linux. For mixed-OS firms, run Sortio on the machine that holds your scanning workflow.
AI sort works best under about 5,000 files per run, so split a large backlog into batches. Reading contents and running OCR on scans takes longer than a filename-only sort. For very large legacy archives, rules route any number of files by name, type, or date without using your AI allowance.
Yes. The free trial includes a one-time AI allowance, enough to run Sortio on a real intake folder before paying, and no credit card is required. Pro is $14.99 per month or $99 per year and adds a monthly AI allowance sized for heavy use, the Clio integration, and watch folders. Team plans add shared rules and centralized AI policy for firms that want everyone on the same standard.
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