{"id":10040,"date":"2025-01-14T12:28:36","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T12:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/?p=10040"},"modified":"2026-04-04T16:03:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T15:03:52","slug":"client-intake-law-firms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/client-intake-law-firms\/","title":{"rendered":"Client Onboarding: A Guide for Law Firms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Client intake in law firms is the process of onboarding new clients. It also includes acquiring the personal information that is needed to open their legal cases. The client intake process can be an incredibly time-consuming exercise for solo and small firm solicitors. Usually, it\u2019s also a non-billable one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re just <\/span>starting your own firm<\/span><\/a> or you own an established practice, a streamlined client intake is key for making a good first impression on clients and keeping your practice running efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s everything you need to know about creating a strong client intake process for your law firm. This guide includes an overview of the client intake stages, some best practices, and thoughts about online and automated client intake processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Free download: Client Onboarding Checklist<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Overview of the client onboarding process<\/b><\/h2>\n

Client onboarding is more than just getting potential new clients to fill out an intake form. It\u2019s an entire process of attracting and hiring new clients. This goes from their first interaction with your firm to the moment they sign an engagement letter. Arguably, client intake also involves onboarding new clients after they\u2019ve signed on with your law firm.<\/span><\/p>\n

The onboarding process can be divided into several stages:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Attracting a new potential client.<\/b> Clients might find you through a friend, by coming across your website when searching for information related to their legal issue, or by searching for a law firm in their city or town.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Capturing contact information.<\/b> Make it easy for potential clients to share their contact information with you. This is key to moving them toward becoming a client.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Pre-screening.<\/b> Before you book an initial consultation, save time by asking for enough information to determine whether a given client is a fit for your firm from the get-go.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Conflict checking.<\/b> Make sure there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t work for a potential client.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Scheduling and holding an initial consultation.<\/b> Allow clients to book meetings with you via a tool like <\/span>Clio Scheduler<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Collecting key information via an intake questionnaire.<\/b> Ask clients to provide key information you\u2019ll need for their case.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Creating a fee agreement\u2014and getting it signed.<\/b> With the right tools, you can generate this form automatically from information in the client\u2019s intake questionnaire.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. New client onboarding.<\/b> Send clients information on when to expect bills and in what format, how to pay bills, and when you\u2019re available. This will help set expectations and lead to a smoother experience for all involved.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    By paying close attention to your law firm\u2019s overall client intake process, you can find opportunities to streamline individual elements of client intake\u2014for a better experience for your clients and a lighter workload for your firm. For example, if you\u2019re currently using paper intake forms, you may want to consider switching to an online version that clients can fill out in the comfort of their homes. More on that later.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Discover more about client onboarding with our downloadable Client Onboarding Checklist<\/a>, where you\u2019ll be able to deliver an intake experience that doesn\u2019t just make sense for your firm\u2014but one that is smooth and straightforward for your clients.<\/p>\n

    Client intake best practices<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Lawyer-client relationships<\/span> are extremely important, so it\u2019s important to start them off right. During the client intake process, show that you\u2019re listening to your future clients. This shows that you\u2019re engaged with their issues, while also making the process as simple as possible for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A good client intake process should be:<\/p>\n