Clarra’s Microsoft OneDrive Integration allows your firm to securely store, organize, and manage documents in Microsoft OneDrive while working seamlessly inside Clarra.

Once connected, you can:

• Automatically create structured matter folders in OneDrive, using either a Shared Drive (organization-owned) or My Drive (user-owned folders).
• Link existing OneDrive folders to Matters.
• Upload, edit, preview, and share files directly within Clarra.
• Maintain real-time collaboration using Microsoft’s native tools.
• Keep file links intact even when files are moved within OneDrive.

There are two ways to set up the integration: Automatic (Clarra creates OneDrive folders for you when a Matter is created) or Manual (you link an existing OneDrive folder to each Matter yourself). Either way, your files stay in OneDrive and are accessible from both OneDrive and within Clarra.

The Integration also implements a shortcut to OneDrive actions via a OneDrive button placed throughout Clarra, offering a quick way to open, view, move, download, and upload documents.

Setup is simple, requiring first an Administrator to enable the Integration in Account Settings, before Users who want to access the Integration connect it in their User Settings.

Note: Only one document management system (DMS) can be connected at a time. If you’re currently using iManage, NetDocuments, or Google Drive, enabling OneDrive will disconnect it. 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 previous DMS 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.

Enabling Microsoft OneDrive for Admin

To use the OneDrive Integration, your company’s Admin must first enable it.

To enable the OneDrive Integration as an Admin:

• Click on your Profile Icon
• Select “Account Settings”
• Select the “Integrations” tab
• Scroll to “OneDrive” in the Document Management Section
• Click “Enable”
• Sign in to your Microsoft account and grant the required permissions
• Select Automatic or Manual Folder Setup
  • Automatically Create New OneDrive Folders for Matters — This option creates Folder Structures in OneDrive for New Matters based on preselected Naming Conventions and Folder Templates you choose. It offers a convenient way to automatically structure your document workflow.
  • Manually Link Existing OneDrive Folders to Matters — This option allows you to link a New Matter with an existing Folder already in your OneDrive. Once you enter the Folder’s URL, documents associated with the Matter will be placed there.

Automatic FolderSetup

With Automatic setup, Clarra creates a folder structure in OneDrive for each new Matter automatically. 

During setup, you’ll be walked through a few steps:

• Choose a naming convention — Decide how Clarra should name the OneDrive folders it creates for each Matter.
• Select a Base Folder — Pick the OneDrive folder where all your Matter folders will be created. You can connect more than one.
• Create Folder Templates (optional) — If you want subfolders inside each Matter folder (e.g., separate folders for Contacts, Documents, Correspondence), you can set up templates here. This is optional — if you skip it, all files will go into one Matter folder.
• Map sections to folders (optional) — If you created templates, you can tell Clarra where to save files from specific sections. For example, files added under Contacts could automatically go into a “Contacts” subfolder.
• Set folders for non-matter files — Choose where to store files that aren’t tied to a specific Matter. This step is required.
• Click “Save”

When setup is complete, you’ll see: “You’re All Set! OneDrive Integration is Enabled.”

Manual Folder Setup

With Manual setup, instead of automatic folder creation, users will manually link an existing OneDrive folder when creating each Matter in Clarra.  They must enter the Matter’s existing OneDrive folder URL, and review and map Clarra’s Sections to the OneDrive folders upon matter creation. This is a good option if you already have an existing folder structure in place for the new Matter in OneDrive.

During set up, after choosing “Manual folder setup”, you only need to complete one step:

• Connect OneDrive Folders to Non-Matter Sections of Clarra
  • Select where to store files for given Clarra Sections. These storage locations are for files not related to a specified Matter.
• Press “Save”

After completing either the Automatic or Manual setup paths as an Admin, users must connect their own accounts to OneDrive under “User Settings”. Each user authenticates individually, and permissions mirror their OneDrive access rights.

Connecting OneDrive for Each User

Once the Admin has enabled the integration, each user needs to connect their own Microsoft account. This is a one-time step.

• Click your Profile Icon and select “User Settings”
• Go to the “Integrations” tab
• Find “OneDrive” under Document Management and click “Connect”
• Sign in with your Microsoft account and grant permissions

Once connected, the status will show as “Connected”. Each user’s access to files in Clarra will match their existing OneDrive permissions.

Creating a Matter with OneDrive Integration Enabled

Automatic Folder Creation

When you create a new Matter, Clarra will handle the OneDrive folder for you.  

• On the New Matter Creation page, select a Base Folder from the OneDrive Matter Location field. If you only have one connected, it will be filled in automatically.
• Select a Folder Template (optional) — If you set up templates during Admin setup, you can apply one here. If you don’t select a template, Clarra will create a single folder for the Matter and all files will be saved there.
• Save the Matter. 

To update the folder setup for an existing Matter, go to the Matter Info tab, click “Edit,” and then “Review Folder Setup”. Remember to save when you’re done.

Manual Folder Linking

When you create a new Matter with Manual setup, you’ll need to provide the link to an existing OneDrive folder.

• On the New Matter Creation Page, in the Matter Information Section, go to the Field named "OneDrive Matter Location"
• Enter the URL for the OneDrive Folder where you would like to save files related to this Matter
• Click “Review Folder Setup” to map Clarra Sections to the folders inside that OneDrive folder.
  • This step is optional — if you skip it or do not select a folder location for a Clarra Section, all files uploaded to that Section will go into the main Matter folder.
• Press Save to confirm the Folder Setup

To update or add a OneDrive Folder for an already created Matter, go to the Matter Info tab, click “Edit,” and enter the new OneDrive URL. If you change the URL, you’ll need to review and confirm the folder setup before saving.

The OneDrive Tab

You can browse and work with your OneDrive files directly inside Clarra — no need to switch between applications.  You can access your connected OneDrive at two points in Clarra:

• Inside a Matter — Open a Matter’s Documents tab and select the OneDrive tab. Clarra will show you that Matter’s OneDrive folder automatically.
• In the Documents Section — Click "Documents" in the left sidebar and select the OneDrive tab to browse your full connected OneDrive.

From either location, you can:

• Open in OneDrive
• Share
• Send to ClarraDocs
• Download
• Move
• Rename
• Delete (if you have permission in OneDrive)

Clarra remembers where you last were in the OneDrive tab, so you’ll pick up right where you left off.

Key Capabilities

Throughout Clarra, you’ll see a OneDrive button next to file attachments. Clicking it gives you quick access to:

• Open in OneDrive — Opens the file in a new browser tab.
• Open with Microsoft Office — Edit the file directly in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
• View Properties — See the file’s details in a side panel.
• Show in Documents — Jumps to the file in the OneDrive tab in the Documents section.
• Send to ClarraDocs — Creates a new ClarraDocs entry pre-filled with the file’s information.

You can also upload and download files to and from OneDrive anywhere in Clarra where file attachments are supported — including Events, Contacts, Plaintiffs, and more.