The Complete Guide to Law Firm Client Intake (2026)
Everything you need to know about client intake for law firms. From first contact to signed retainer, learn how to convert more leads, reduce drop-off, and build intake systems that scale.

Best practices for legal client intake and onboarding. Everything you need to know, from fundamentals to advanced strategies.
of law firms take 3+ days to respond to leads
Speed is critical
of clients expect e-signatures on retainers
Modern expectations
response window for 300% higher conversion
The golden window
Everything you need to know about client intake for law firms. From first contact to signed retainer, learn how to convert more leads, reduce drop-off, and build intake systems that scale.

Explore each topic in detail

You're losing clients in the gap between their "yes" and their signature. Chasing down printed retainer agreements with follow-up emails gives potenti...

Chasing a client for a signature on a retainer agreement gives them time to find another lawyer. You need to make it effortless for them to sign and p...

Setting your retainer fee can feel like a shot in the dark, but getting it wrong costs you clients and cash flow. While the average lawyer retainer fe...

Losing a potential client because your intake process was too slow and clunky is a preventable—and expensive—mistake. The time between a client's "yes...

Every hour that passes after a great consultation is an invitation for your potential client to call another firm. Your modern retainer letter lawyer...

Every hour you spend chasing down a signed retainer is an open invitation for a potential client to hire another firm. Getting the electronic signatur...

Tired of chasing down payments and dealing with cash flow gaps? A properly structured retainer turns a promising lead into a paying client before they...

A slow client onboarding process is a silent killer for small law firms, letting committed leads slip away in the gap between a verbal "yes" and a sig...

That gap between a potential client’s call and their signed retainer? It’s where your law firm is leaking revenue. A slow, clunky process doesn't just...

Still telling clients to mail a check? You're not just behind the times—you're actively making it harder for people to hire you. If you’re waiting for...

Struggling to sign clients who hesitate at your upfront retainer? Offering a payment plan is the fastest way to turn those "I need to think about it"...

Losing a great lead because your retainer process is slow and clunky is a painful, avoidable cost. This guide breaks down exactly how a retainer for a...

Tired of chasing down payments and dealing with unpredictable cash flow? Understanding how a lawyer retainer works is the key to your firm's financial...

Had a great consultation where the client said "You're hired!" only for them to disappear? You’re left chasing a signature and waiting on a check, won...

Are you losing clients before they even sign your retainer? Tired of ending your day buried in paperwork instead of practicing law? For your small fir...

A slow or confusing lawer retainer letter process is more than an admin chore—it's a deal-killer. Every email attachment, print-and-scan request, and...

Tired of chasing down clients for payment? A lawyer retainer definition is simple: it's an upfront payment to secure your services, ensuring you get p...

Chasing a potential client for a signed retainer agreement is a drain on your small firm. Every email you send and every voicemail you leave is a wind...

Losing a client between a great consultation and a signed retainer agreement is a huge profit leak. You've done the hard work, but the dead space wher...

Losing a great lead because your process is slow is a huge, preventable waste of money. When you're stuck playing phone tag and manually typing cl...

Your retainer agreement isn't just a legal document—it’s the final step that turns a promising lead into a paying client before they call another firm...

Step-by-step guide to automating your law firm's intake process with modern tools and integrations.

Tired of chasing down payments or seeing promising leads go cold while you wait for paperwork? A solid retainer agreement is the answer, turning an in...

What to include in your intake forms for personal injury, family law, criminal defense, and more. Practice-specific templates and customization strategies.

Losing a potential client because you were too slow to respond is a gut punch to any small law firm. A what is a client intake form is your first line...

Electronic signatures are legally binding for retainer agreements in all 50 states. Learn the compliance requirements, best practices, and how to implement e-signatures in your intake process.

Losing a potential client to phone tag is more than frustrating—it's a direct hit to your firm's revenue. A clunky, slow intake process gives good lea...

Research shows responding to leads within 5 minutes increases conversion by 300%. Learn how top law firms achieve rapid response times and why every minute costs you clients.
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