Client intake encompasses all activities required to onboard a new case into a law firm. This includes the initial phone call or online form submission, gathering basic biographical and incident details, conducting a conflicts check, determining case merit and jurisdiction, and executing a retainer agreement. For PI firms, intake often happens under time pressure because clients are frequently in immediate pain or facing statutory deadlines. Effective intake separates high-value cases from time-wasters and establishes the firm’s ability to communicate professionally from first contact. Poor intake leads to missed deadlines, mismatched client expectations, and wasted attorney hours.
← Glossary
Client Intake
The process of collecting initial information from a prospective client, verifying case viability, and establishing the attorney-client relationship.
Related terms
- Retainer Agreement — The signed contract establishing the attorney-client relationship, outlining fee structures, scope of representation, and mutual obligations.
- Conflicts Check — Search for prior or current relationships between the firm and parties involved that might create ethical disqualification of representation.
- Case Management — Organized system for tracking case deadlines, documents, communications, and tasks throughout the litigation process.