Client Intake Checklist
for Texas Solo Attorneys

5 mistakes costing you 6+ hours per week — with the exact fix for each one.

How to use this checklist: Check each item as you implement the fix in your practice. The goal is to eliminate all five mistakes — each one you fix recaptures hours per month and reduces lead loss. Check them off as you go.

Mistake #1 Paper Forms & Email Attachments
What it costs: 5–7 hours/month in manual data re-entry ($1,500–$2,100 at $300/hr)
✓ Your fix checklist
  • Audit current intake: identify every paper or Word form still in use
  • Replace each with a digital form that submits directly to your case record
  • Confirm zero data re-entry required after form submission
  • Test form on mobile device — ensure it loads and submits without issues
  • Retire the paper/email version and update your website intake links
Mistake #2 Generic Fields That Don't Match Your Practice Area
What it costs: 75–150 extra consultation minutes/month ($375–$750 in lost billable time)
✓ Your fix checklist
  • List the 8–12 critical data points you need before a first consultation in each practice area
  • Build separate intake templates per practice area (not one generic form)
  • Criminal defense: charge, court date, arresting agency, prior convictions
  • Personal injury: date/location of injury, treating physicians, insurance contact status
  • Family law: marriage date, children's ages, existing orders, asset/debt overview
  • Immigration: country of origin, visa status, entry date, prior applications
  • Run one consultation using the new form — confirm you have everything you need at the start
Mistake #3 No Automatic Notifications When a Lead Comes In
What it costs: Slow follow-up loses 1 in 5 potential clients — $2,000–$4,000+/month in lost revenue
✓ Your fix checklist
  • Set up instant email or SMS notification on every intake form submission
  • Ensure the notification reaches your phone (not just a desktop email you check twice a day)
  • Define your response time SLA: aim for under 30 minutes during business hours
  • Set up after-hours auto-reply so prospects know when to expect a call back
  • Test: submit a form from your own phone and verify the notification fires immediately
Mistake #4 No Mobile Support
What it costs: 60%+ of traffic is mobile — non-mobile forms lose 42% of all prospects at intake
✓ Your fix checklist
  • Open your intake form on an iPhone and an Android phone — test both
  • Verify all fields are large enough to tap accurately without zooming
  • Confirm the form submits successfully on mobile with no errors
  • Eliminate any PDF download, Word document, or "desktop required" friction
  • Check load time on mobile (aim under 3 seconds on 4G)
Mistake #5 No Follow-Up System After Intake
What it costs: No acknowledgment = low confidence, reduced conversion, early relationship damage
✓ Your fix checklist
  • Set up automatic confirmation email sent immediately on form submission
  • Confirmation should include: "We received your info," expected response time, next steps
  • Add your direct phone number to the confirmation for urgent matters
  • Test the confirmation email: submit the form and verify it arrives within 60 seconds
  • Review confirmation email copy — ensure it sounds like a human, not a CRM template

🎯 Your Target: All 25 Items Checked

Fixing all five mistakes recovers 6+ direct hours per month and eliminates $6,875–$15,850 in monthly revenue leakage. Most solo attorneys can implement all five fixes in a single afternoon using practice management software built for this.

Automate All Five Fixes for $49/Month

Steadfast Practice includes 9 practice-area-specific intake templates, instant notifications, mobile-optimized forms, and automatic follow-up — everything on this checklist, already built.

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