NetDocuments Integration

Clarra’s integration with NetDocuments enables law firms to seamlessly manage their documents within their existing NetDocuments environment while accessing and organizing them through Clarra. Once connected,  users can interact with documents securely and efficiently using NetDocuments' structure and  access permissions, without leaving Clarra.

Enabling the integration is simple. First, the firm’s Admin enables the NetDocuments integration in Account Settings > Integrations.  Users can then connect their accounts via User Settings > Integrations to access and manage NetDocuments files directly within Clarra.

Only one Documents Management System (DMS) can be active at a time in Clarra. Enabling a second DMS will disconnect the current integration. Files going forward will be saved in the newly enabled DMS and users will no longer have access via Clarra to files and features associated with the previously connected system. You can re-enable the authentication later but that requires manual folder re-linking for the existing Matters.

If you do want to switch DMS systems, contact our support team to help you migrate your documents. 

What the Integration Does

• Connects Clarra Matters to existing NetDocuments workspaces
• Provides secure access and interaction with files using NetDocuments permissions
• Supports folder mapping for each Clarra section (e.g. ClarraDocs, Events, Accounting)
• Stores files uploaded to Clarra in the designated NetDocuments location
• Enables document editing, tagging, and metadata sync through an embedded NetDocuments interface
• Allows users to “Send to ClarraDocs” from NetDocuments to log important documents in Clarra’s final records section
   

How to Enable or Disable the NetDocuments Integration

Enable NetDocuments for the Firm (Admins Only)

To enable the integration, the firm's administrator must first install the Clarra App and activate it.

1. Go to Account Settings > Integrations > Document Management.
    
2. Under NetDocuments, click Enable.
    
3. Follow the prompts to install the Clarra App in your NetDocuments Admin Console:
    
   • Log in to the NetDocuments Admin Portal
      
   • Select the appropriate cabinet
      
   • Select Integrate external applications 
      
   • Grant access to Clarra
      
4. After installation, return to Clarra and complete the authentication.
5. Set the Folder Setup for Non-Matter-Related Documents.
   • Choose where documents uploaded to Clarra that are not related to a Matter will be saved by entering the URL of the NetDocuments folder for each Clarra Section.
      
6. Once successful, you’ll see “NetDocuments Integration is Enabled”.
    

Enable for Individual Users

Once NetDocuments is enabled for your organization by an admin, each user must connect their individual NetDocuments account in User Settings. This ensures they have the appropriate permissions to access and use NetDocuments features within Clarra.

1. Go to User Settings > Integrations.
    
2. Under NetDocuments, click Connect.
    
3. Authenticate with your NetDocuments credentials.
    
4. Once connected, Clarra will enforce your DMS permissions automatically.
    

Disable the Integration for the Firm

1. From Account Settings > Integrations, open the NetDocuments menu and select Disable.
    
2. Confirm that file storage will revert to Clarra for any files uploaded from that point on.  Access to NetDocuments files through Clarra will no longer be available.
    
3. Re-enabling later will require repeating the setup steps.
    

How to Create a Matter and Link It to NetDocuments

With the integration enabled, when you create a Matter in Clarra, you need to link it to an existing workspace in NetDocuments.

Steps to Link a Matter

1. Go to Matters > New Matter in Clarra.
    
2. Under the Matter Info section, locate the NetDocuments Matter Location.
    
3. Enter the following fields:
    
   • Cabinet (required) - this is the unique identifier for this client in NetDocuments.
      
   • Client Key (required) - this is the document repository where this matter will be stored in NetDocuments.
      
   • Matter Key (required) - the unique identifier for this specific matter in NetDocuments.

Once entered, Clarra will display the corresponding NetDocuments Matter URL.

4. Click Review Folder Setup to map Clarra sections (like ClarraDocs, Events, Accounting) to folders in the existing NetDocuments workspace.
5. Click Save to finalize the connection.
    

Note that you cannot edit the NetDocuments Matter URL directly but changing the Cabinet, Client Key, or Matter Key will regenerate the link and require re-mapping folders.

Working with Documents After Integration

Once a matter is linked, document workflows between Clarra and NetDocuments are fully integrated. Users can work with documents directly from within Clarra’s interface.  All files remain stored and managed in NetDocuments. The experience is designed to be seamless, with full access to your DMS functionality.

Accessing Documents 

• Navigate to the Documents section in the left-hand menu or within a specific matter.
• You’ll see multiple tabs:
  • NetDocuments – displays the corresponding NetDocuments workspace using an embedded iFrame. You can browse, open, move, or edit documents as if working inside NetDocuments directly.
     
  • ClarraDocs – lists all final documents logged in Clarra.
     
  • Templates (if enabled) offers additional options for document generation and imports.

Key Capabilities

• Edit Files: Click the NetDocuments icon next to any attachment to open editing options including:
   
  • View Properties
  • Edit in NetDocuments
  • Show in Documents
     
• Tag and Sync Metadata: Tags added in Clarra sync to NetDocuments, and vice versa, keeping your document metadata aligned across systems.
   
• Send to ClarraDocs: From any file in NetDocuments, you can select Send to ClarraDocs to log it into Clarra’s final document repository.

Navigational Tips

• Clarra remembers where you left off within the NetDocuments interface, helping you return quickly to the same workspace or folder.
• Files linked via NetDocuments remain accessible and editable within Clarra without needing to re-upload or manually sync content.