Your client intake builds your law practice like nothing else. Whether your law office sits in a large corporate skyscraper or a small home office, client intake boosts your bottom line. Optimizing this process can pay off. Since intake is about getting your client through the door, there are easy ways to improve it and make your legal practice busy and profitable. Read the following tactics to improve your client intake.
Build a Connection
There isn’t a better way to build trust than to build a connection. When a potential client first comes into your office, any staff member that comes into contact with them should greet them warmly. When you meet with them, do the same. Ask them how they are doing. When interviewing them, ask open-ended questions about their case. Ask questions with the priority of listening, as this will cause your client to feel like you care. The longer you spend with the client, the more trust you build. Just remember to interview, not interrogate. Customer service is key to building a connection with your client.
Make a Template
You may already use templates for other parts of your business. Making a template to use for client intake will help you save time. You can save more time by making it into a form your client can fill out either in person or online. Don’t hesitate to put the forms on an encrypted page on your website, use a downloadable Word document or PDF, or even utilize digital law office management tools that enable secure file exchanges. Remember to print off the template to keep a master copy for yourself and save it to your computer for your electronic records. If the client brings you the completed template or completes the template in your office, scan it to your computer. Templates save time for you and your client.
Check for Conflicts of Interest
Sometimes your perfect client can become a perfect ethical nightmare. Take the time to check your client’s legal and personal history for possible conflicts of interest. Sometimes their opponent or a business may be someone you represented in the past. This can spell trouble for you and you will have to decline to represent them in many instances if signing a waiver isn’t possible. The client won’t be happy because they will need to find a new lawyer. Save time, money, and energy by checking for conflicts of interest as soon as possible.
Offer a Welcome Package
When you sign a new client, prepare a welcome package to send home with them. Your package can include many documents, some personalized per the client’s specific need. Be sure to include your business card, copies of any documents the client may need to keep, and any other information they may need, including your billing and payment policy and who they can call if they have questions.
Trust Your Gut
You need to trust your gut. Some people may give you an uneasy feeling about whether you should represent them. You might not even know why. Do your research and don’t get stuck with a bad client or a client you don’t feel you are the right fit for. You have the option to say no.
Dependable Help for Your Law Office
Clients ARM has over 30 years of experience offering services such as customer service, billing, accounts receivable management, and more. If you need help with your business, don’t wait! Contact Clients ARM today for your free consultation!
