Clio has acquired Learned Hand, an AI company building tools for judges and court staff, advancing the Canadian legal technology company’s expansion into the judiciary.
Learned Hand’s workspace connects with court case management systems to help judges and clerks review filings, research legal issues, and prepare bench memoranda and draft orders. Its technology is already used in U.S. courts, including the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.
For Clio, the acquisition addresses a potential consequence of faster, AI-assisted legal work: greater pressure on courts.
“The bottleneck simply shifts to the courts,” said Jack Newton, Clio’s CEO and founder, describing what happens when lawyers gain capacity while judges remain constrained.
The acquisition builds on a judiciary strategy that LegalTech.ca has tracked in recent months.
In August, Clio appointed Casetext co-founder Pablo Arredondo as Senior Vice President, Judiciary, tasking him with developing a dedicated product line for courts and judges. At the time, the company emphasized that judicial technology would need to protect independence and impartiality while meeting rigorous standards for transparency and security.
Clio subsequently recruited former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack as General Manager, Judiciary. Scheduled to join in October, McCormack will lead the division’s market and commercial strategy, complementing Arredondo’s product leadership.
Learned Hand now adds a product and team already working within court systems to that leadership structure.
Founded by Shlomo Klapper, the company will form the foundation of Clio’s court products, drawing on Clio’s legal research and court data resources.
Clio will continue supporting Learned Hand’s existing deployments and pilots while investing in its technology and team. Further judiciary product announcements are expected in the coming months.