---
title: "A simple client CRM in Notion for lawyers"
url: https://notionforlawyers.com/guides/crm-for-lawyers
updated: 2026-10-17
author: Raghav Handa
---

# A simple client CRM in Notion for lawyers

A simple law firm CRM in Notion is a Clients database with contact details and relationship fields, related to Matters, plus an Interactions log and a follow-up view. LawyerOS Pro includes a Clients database. It tracks relationships and referrals; it does not send campaigns or email.

## Key takeaways

- Start with contacts, referral source and next follow-up date.
- Relate clients to matters to see lifetime work at a glance.
- Log meaningful interactions, not every email.
- For a fuller build with pipelines and segments, read the legal CRM guide.

## Fields

| Field | Why |
| --- | --- |
| Name, organisation, role | Basics |
| Email, phone | Contact |
| Type | Client, referrer, former client, prospect |
| Referral source | Who sends you work |
| Matters | Relation, shows work history |
| Last contact | Date |
| Next follow-up | Date |
| Notes | Preferences and background |


## Views

1. Follow-up due: Next follow-up on or before today.
2. Referrers: Type is referrer; sort by matters count.
3. Gone quiet: Last contact more than six months ago.
4. Client list: Type is client; show open matters count by rollup.


## Interactions log

Add a small Interactions database: Date, Person, Type (call, meeting, email), Summary, Follow-up. Keep a line per meaningful contact so you can see the relationship at a glance. Treat client information as confidential and do not log privileged detail where more people can see it than need to.


## Marketing rules

Notion will not manage consent or send newsletters. If you contact people for marketing, follow data protection and professional advertising rules where you practise, and use an email tool designed for that.

- Legal CRM in Notion (full guide): https://notionforlawyers.com/guides/legal-crm-in-notion
- Conflict checks: https://notionforlawyers.com/guides/conflict-checks


## Common mistakes

- Importing thousands of contacts and maintaining none of them.
- Logging every interaction, which makes the history unreadable.
- Storing privileged detail in a CRM note.
- Building a pipeline for work that arrives by referral only.

Begin with referrers and your current clients, then expand when the habit holds.


## A worked example: a referral through the CRM

A former client mentions a friend who needs advice. You add the friend as a Contact of type Prospect, set Referral source to the former client, and put a Next follow-up date. Once the friend instructs you, change Type to Client and relate the new matter. The former client's page now shows the referral in its matters or contacts rollup, and the Gone quiet view will remind you to keep in touch. Nothing was emailed from Notion; you did that yourself.


## Keeping it lean and safe

- Keep contact details to what you will use, and delete records you no longer need, subject to retention rules.
- Limit who can open the Clients database; not every team member needs every contact.
- Keep conflict-check data in its own list of parties, not buried in notes.
- Review the follow-up view weekly, in the same slot as your deadlines review.
- Check data-protection and advertising rules in your jurisdiction before using the list for marketing.


## FAQ

### Does LawyerOS include a CRM?

Pro includes a Clients database. It is a contact and matter register rather than a full CRM.

### Can I import contacts?

Yes, via CSV import into a Notion database.

### Is a CRM useful for solo lawyers?

Yes, mostly for referral tracking and staying in touch.

### Can it double as conflict search?

It helps, but a dedicated parties list is better; see the checklist.

### How is this different from the full legal CRM guide?

This is the quick start with fields and four views. The full guide covers pipelines, segments and a fuller build.