Top 10 Client Portal Features Clients Actually Use in Frith
The ten client portal features clients genuinely use — secure messaging, document sharing, status updates, payments, and more — and how Frith delivers them.
Rebecca Davis
Client experience strategist for professional services and legal teams.
Most client portals are full of features clients never touch. What clients actually use is a much shorter list — the things that answer "what's happening with my matter?" and "what do you need from me?" Build around those and adoption follows; build around everything and clients ignore it. Here are the ten client portal features clients genuinely use, and how Frith's client app delivers them.
Ten features clients actually use
- Secure messaging. Clients want a direct, secure line to their lawyer that is not lost in email. Frith keeps messaging connected to the matter.
- Document sharing. Uploading and receiving documents securely is the most-used portal function. Frith keeps shared documents on the matter.
- Status updates. "Where are we?" is the question clients ask most. Frith surfaces clear matter updates.
- Easy payments. Clients use portals that make paying simple. Frith supports paying invoices easily; confirm payment features for your jurisdiction.
- Document signing. Clients use e-signature when it is built into the flow rather than a separate email.
- Appointment scheduling. Booking or confirming meetings without phone tag. Confirm availability in your setup.
- Shared task/checklist visibility. Clients use clear lists of what the firm needs from them. Frith keeps requested items visible.
- Mobile access. Clients live on their phones; a dedicated client app drives real usage. Frith includes a client app.
- Invoice and balance visibility. Clients use clear views of what they owe and have paid. Frith keeps billing visible to the client.
- Notifications. Timely alerts about updates and requests keep clients engaged without the firm chasing them.
Why the short list wins
Client portals fail when they are designed for the firm's convenience rather than the client's. Clients are not power users; they log in occasionally with a specific need. Concentrating on the ten functions above — communication, documents, status, and payment — produces a portal clients actually open. Frith's client app is built around these high-use functions, with everything tied back to the matter so the firm has a single record.
Feature usage at a glance
| Feature | Client need it serves |
|---|---|
| Secure messaging | Reach the lawyer directly |
| Document sharing | Send/receive files safely |
| Status updates | Know what's happening |
| Easy payments | Pay without friction |
| Document signing | Sign in the flow |
| Scheduling | Book without phone tag |
| Task visibility | Know what's needed |
| Mobile access | Use it on the phone |
| Invoice visibility | See what they owe |
| Notifications | Stay informed |
Adoption depends on simplicity
A portal clients use is one that is simple, mobile, and focused on their questions. Overloading it reduces adoption. From the firm's side, keep client communication and documents on the matter so the portal reflects one source of truth, and protect confidential data according to policy. The goal is fewer status calls and faster client responses, not more features.
Who this is best for
Firms that field many client status inquiries and document exchanges benefit most — which is most client-facing practices. Solo and small firms gain especially, since a good client app reduces the communication load they otherwise carry personally. Practices with minimal ongoing client interaction will use fewer of these features.
FAQ
Which portal feature do clients use most?
Secure messaging and document sharing, followed by status updates and easy payments. Build around these.
Does Frith include a client app?
Yes — Frith provides a dedicated client app in addition to the lawyer-facing apps.
Will a portal reduce client phone calls?
Clear status updates, messaging, and notifications reduce avoidable "just checking in" calls.
Can clients pay through the portal?
Frith supports paying invoices; confirm payment and trust-handling features for your jurisdiction.
How do we drive client adoption?
Keep it simple and mobile, focused on the client's questions, with notifications that prompt engagement.
Is there a free trial?
Frith offers a no-credit-card 14-day free trial.
Next step
If client status calls and document chasing are eating your team's time, a focused client app helps. Start a free Frith trial or book a demo to see the client experience.