How to connect the Actionstep MCP Server to Claude and other AI tools — and what to do if a connection won't cooperate. Once you're connected, the User Guide covers everything you can ask it to do.
The Actionstep MCP Server connects your AI tool to your firm's Actionstep practice management system, so you can work with your matters in plain conversation.
Instead of clicking through screens, you simply ask — in everyday language — to look something up, summarise a matter, record time, or open a new file. It works with the AI tools your firm already uses, including Claude and Microsoft Copilot, and inside Word and Excel, where it can drop matter details straight into a document or spreadsheet you're working on.
There is nothing to install inside Actionstep and nothing about your existing matters changes. The server sits alongside Actionstep and reads from it — and writes to it — on request.
Connecting Claude takes about five minutes. Your firm gets its own dedicated, secure server, set up through LegalCollect — these are the steps to link it to Claude.
LegalCollect sends you a secure, one-time link containing your server's web address, your Client ID, and your Client Secret. Open it and save all three somewhere safe before you close the page — the link only works once. If your firm hasn't set this up yet, register your interest or get in touch with LegalCollect.
Open claude.ai in a browser. In the left-hand menu, click Customize, then Connectors.
Click the + in the Connectors column and choose Add custom connector. Give it a name (for example, "Actionstep") and paste in your server's web address. Open Advanced settings and enter the Client ID and Client Secret from step 1, then click Add.
Your new connector now appears in the list, but it isn't linked yet. Click Connect. As long as the Client ID and Client Secret were entered correctly, it connects and the list of available actions loads.
You're connected to the server, but it isn't linked to your Actionstep account yet. Open a new chat and type "Connect to Actionstep." A secure Actionstep sign-in window opens — sign in and approve access to complete the link.
Try asking "What can I do with the Actionstep MCP server?" to see what's available. From there, you're ready to go.
Keep your Client ID and Secret safe. They're the keys to your firm's connection. The setup link only opens once, so store the details somewhere secure as soon as you receive them. If you lose them, LegalCollect can re-issue a fresh link.
The server works with other AI tools too — including Microsoft Copilot and the Word and Excel add-ins. The approach is the same everywhere: add the connector with your details, authorise it, then connect to Actionstep.
As above, LegalCollect provides a secure, one-time link with your server's web address, Client ID, and Client Secret. Save all three before closing the page.
Find the connectors (or agents) list in your tool and add a new connector using the details you were given. In Microsoft Copilot, add it from the agents/connectors list. In Word or Excel, open the connectors list from the add-in panel. Enter the server's web address and, where prompted, the Client ID and Client Secret. If your firm has already added it for everyone, you can skip this step.
When prompted, sign in to authorise the connection. The list of available actions appears once this succeeds.
Ask your assistant to "Connect to Actionstep." A secure Actionstep sign-in window opens — sign in and approve access. This links the server to your firm's Actionstep account.
Ask "Is the Actionstep connection working?" Your assistant will confirm the connection is live and ready. You're done.
Using it in Word or Excel? The server works the same way there. Enable it from the connectors list in the add-in panel, and the same actions are available while you draft a letter or build a spreadsheet.
The most common hiccups and how to clear them.
Ask your assistant to "Connect to Actionstep" and sign in again. The sign-in can occasionally time out — reconnecting fixes it.
Give it a minute, then ask "Is the Actionstep connection working?" The connection sometimes needs a moment to settle after sign-in.
Open your connector settings, then remove and re-add the server. This refreshes the list. If it still doesn't appear, LegalCollect may need to re-share the connection details.
Reach out to whoever set up the server at your firm, or contact LegalCollect — they can check the connection from their end.