What Should Be on a Client Intake Form?

A legal client intake form is an essential document used by law firms to gather pertinent information from new clients. This form helps attorneys understand the client’s needs, assess the case's viability, and ensure proper communication and record-keeping. Legal client intake automation streamlines the intake process so lawyers can focus on what they do best—helping clients.

What information does the client intake form gather?

Here's a comprehensive list of information that should be collected on a client intake form for a law firm:

• Basic client information. Full name, contact information, date of birth, Social Security number, and emergency contact information
• Client background information. Occupation, employer, marital status, dependents (if applicable)
• Current legal representation. Names of any other attorneys currently representing the client
• Legal history. Previous legal Issues or cases, including descriptions and outcomes
• Case details. Type of matter, brief description of the legal issue, date and location of event, contact information for other parties involved
• Financial information. Income, assets, debts, liabilities, relevant insurance information (auto, health, and homeowner’s insurance policies)
• Signatures. Client signature, date of completion

By collecting this information, attorneys can better understand their client's situation, provide accurate advice, and help ensure a smooth and professional relationship.

What 5 forms of information should clients be provided with in an intake?

During the intake process, legal clients should be given clear and comprehensive information to ensure they understand the nature of the legal services, their responsibilities, and what they can expect. Here are five forms of information that should be provided:

• Scope. Clearly outline the legal services the firm will provide, including specific tasks and objectives related to the client's case. Specify what will not be provided.
• Fee structure. Detail the fee arrangement, whether it's hourly, contingency, flat fee, or another structure. Explain the retainer amount and how it will be used.
• Billing. Clarify how often billing occurs, what expenses might be billed separately, and the payment methods accepted.
• Client responsibilities. Outline the client's duty to provide accurate information, respond to communications promptly, and participate in their case as needed.
• Confidentiality and communication. Inform clients about the attorney-client privilege, how their information will be protected, and specify the preferred methods of communication.

Providing this information helps manage client expectations, fosters transparency, and lays the foundation for a professional and cooperative attorney-client relationship.

What should be on a client intake form template?

A client intake form example would vary significantly depending on the specific practice area, jurisdiction, and preferences of the law firm or legal organization. An intake firm should gather basic information and also ask specific questions tailored to a certain area of practice.

While a free intake form template could be used to collect basic intake information, generic forms are often not customizable and lack the features specialized platforms provide. Legal intake software allows firms to build a custom law firm intake form for clients to create a unique intake process and efficiently capture the necessary client information.

What makes a good intake form?

A good legal assistance client intake questionnaire is one that is:

• Organized. The form should be easy to understand and include questions that will gather all the information relevant to the legal matter.
• Specific. The questions on the intake form should focus on a specific practice area or legal issue to ensure that the information applies to the potential case.
• Flexible. A good intake form is customizable so that it can be used for various types of legal matters and should provide the ability to add or modify questions as needed.
• Collaborative. Automated intake platforms that provide integration with case management software or other internal systems improve efficiency by automatically populating client information to facilitate case management.

The best intake forms allow potential legal clients to seamlessly submit the requested information via user-friendly software that optimizes the intake process and quickly converts leads into clients.

How do I create an intake form PDF? How do I create an intake form in Google Docs?

Creating an intake form PDF involves several steps, including designing the form, ensuring it is fillable, and converting it into a PDF format. To create an intake form in Google Docs, you will need to set up Google Docs, design and format the form, and convert it to PDF format. Unfortunately, neither are great solutions for efficiently creating an intake form.

However, there is a better way. You can design digital forms unique to your practice’s needs with Lawmatics’ drag and drop custom form-builder. Custom forms make it easy to qualify new prospects, organize contact information, and feed new matters into your automated processes. Ready to learn more? Get your free demo of the Lawmatics intake system today.