Legal Client Intake Form Template

Give your law firm a professional first impression with a structured client intake form. Collect contact details, case type, opposing party information, and a brief summary of the matter — all before the consultation begins. Attorneys arrive prepared, and clients feel heard from the start.

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Who uses this template

Law firmsSolo practitionersParalegalsLegal aid organizationsImmigration attorneysFamily law attorneysCriminal defense attorneysEstate planning attorneys

About this template

A legal client intake form is the foundation of every new client relationship at a law firm. Before the first consultation, attorneys need to understand who the client is, what kind of legal matter they face, who the opposing parties are, and whether any urgent deadlines apply. Without a standardized intake process, this information arrives piecemeal — over phone calls, emails, and handwritten notes — leading to gaps that can harm the case.

This template is designed for general-practice and specialty firms alike. The case-type dropdown covers major areas of law so the form can serve as a universal intake tool. Fields for opposing party names, incident dates, and upcoming court deadlines give attorneys a complete picture at a glance, allowing them to assess conflicts of interest and urgency before the client walks in the door.

formformform makes it easy to embed this intake form on your firm's website or share it directly via link. Every submission goes straight to your inbox and into your dashboard, where you can review and organize new matters without any manual data entry. No CAPTCHA, no per-submission fees, and no technical setup required.

14 form ideas you can build with this template +
Family Law Client Intake Form

Captures divorce, custody, and support details including children's ages and current living arrangements before the first family law consultation.

Criminal Defense Intake Form

Collects arrest date, charges, jurisdiction, and whether the client has an arraignment date so defense counsel can assess urgency immediately.

Personal Injury Client Intake Form

Gathers accident date, injury type, insurance carrier information, and treating physician details for plaintiff attorneys evaluating a new PI matter.

Immigration Law Intake Form

Records country of origin, current visa status, entry date, and pending immigration deadlines to help immigration attorneys assess eligibility and timelines.

Estate Planning Intake Form

Collects marital status, names of beneficiaries, existing estate documents, and asset overview to prepare for a will or trust drafting consultation.

Employment Law Intake Form

Documents the employer name, employment dates, type of alleged misconduct, and whether an EEOC charge has been filed for discrimination or wrongful termination cases.

Bankruptcy Intake Form

Captures income, monthly expenses, total debt, and whether a creditor lawsuit or wage garnishment is pending so bankruptcy counsel can recommend Chapter 7 or 13.

Business Litigation Intake Form

Records the nature of the contract dispute, the value at issue, and whether arbitration clauses apply, helping commercial litigators assess case viability quickly.

Real Estate Legal Intake Form

Collects property address, transaction type, closing date, and the nature of the dispute or transaction so real estate attorneys can prepare the correct documents.

Landlord–Tenant Intake Form

Captures rental property address, lease term, arrears amount, and whether an eviction notice has been served for landlords and tenants seeking legal counsel.

Intellectual Property Intake Form

Gathers IP type (trademark, copyright, patent), registration status, alleged infringer details, and prior cease and desist correspondence for IP attorneys.

Nonprofit Legal Intake Form

Collects the organization's mission, current legal structure, and specific compliance questions so attorneys advising nonprofits can prepare for governance consultations.

Solo Practitioner General Intake Form

A compact, all-purpose intake covering name, contact, case type, and a brief description — ideal for solo attorneys who handle a variety of matters.

Legal Aid Organization Intake Form

Includes income and household size fields to determine fee-waiver eligibility alongside standard case details for legal aid providers serving low-income clients.

What's included

+ Collects full contact info and date of birth
+ Case type dropdown covering major areas of law
+ Opposing party field and incident date
+ Free-text description for the client's situation
+ Flags upcoming deadlines or court dates
+ Indicates prior attorney consultations
+ Mobile-friendly for clients to complete on any device
+ Unlimited submissions with instant email notification

How to create a legal client intake form

  1. 1

    Click 'Use this template' to start with the legal client intake form pre-built in your formformform account.

  2. 2

    Customize the case-type dropdown to reflect the specific areas of law your firm practices.

  3. 3

    Add or remove fields — for example, a referral source dropdown or a preferred contact time field.

  4. 4

    Set up email notifications so the intake is delivered to the right attorney or staff member immediately.

  5. 5

    Add a conflict-of-interest notice or privacy disclaimer using a paragraph field above the submit button.

  6. 6

    Publish the form and share it via your firm's website, intake email, or client portal link.

Best practices for your legal client intake form

Send it before the consultation

share the intake link in your appointment confirmation email so clients arrive prepared and you arrive informed.

Keep the case description open-ended

a long_text field gives clients space to tell their story in their own words, which often surfaces details a checklist would miss.

Flag urgency early

the upcoming court date field lets staff prioritize urgent matters the moment the form lands in the inbox.

Use conditional logic for sensitive fields

if your platform supports it, show the 'prior attorney' follow-up only when the client selects 'Yes'.

Run a conflict check immediately

make sure your workflow triggers a conflict-of-interest search as soon as a new intake arrives, before any substantive discussion.

State your privacy policy

include a brief note about how client information is stored and protected to build trust and meet professional responsibility obligations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this form for multiple practice areas? +

Yes. The case type dropdown lists the most common areas of law and you can customize it to match exactly what your firm handles. You can also create separate intake forms per practice area if you prefer a more tailored experience.

Is this form secure enough for client information? +

formformform transmits all data over HTTPS. For a law firm, we recommend reviewing your jurisdiction's rules on electronic storage of client data and enabling any additional security options appropriate for your practice.

Can I receive the intake by email before the consultation? +

Yes. Every submission triggers an instant email notification with all the fields filled in, so you can review the client's matter before they arrive. You can also view submissions in your formformform dashboard.

How do I prevent the form from being submitted by non-clients? +

You can restrict the form to a private link shared only in appointment confirmation emails, or add a password to the form from your settings.

Can I collect a retainer agreement alongside the intake form? +

formformform is an information-gathering tool and does not support e-signatures. For binding retainer agreements, use a dedicated e-signature tool like DocuSign or HelloSign in addition to this intake form.

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