Robert Ambrogi Blog
Until last year, client intake was a forgotten component of most practice-management systems. Then, seemingly all at once, three different client-intake products were launched: Lexicata, Intake123 and Rocket Matter Intake. More recently, LexisNexis Firm Manager added an intake templates feature, although its templates cannot be sent to clients for them to fill out. Overall, most practice management platforms either do not have client intake or, if they offer it, they do so through integration with Lexicata or Intake123.
Today, the case management company PracticePanther.com will be introducing its own version of client intake. The killer feature here is that it is built directly into the platform – not a third-party integration – and is included in the platform’s subscription price. In addition, there is no limit on the number of forms a firm can create or on the fields that a form can contain.
With today’s announcement, PracticePanther will now come with a built-in form builder that anyone in a firm can use to create, edit, view, and delete intake forms. A firm can email the forms or embed them directly onto its website, where they can be filled out by prospects and new clients. The forms are mobile friendly and responsively designed to work on any device.
When the form is filled out, a new contact and matter is automatically created in PracticePanther. The attorney or paralegal also receives an email and task notifying them of the new information.
Once the form is submitted, law firms can generate entire documents with their clients’ information, like contracts and retainer agreements, saving even more time.
“Attorneys and paralegals have been wasting a lot of time manually entering their clients’ information into the computer,” said David Bitton, CEO of PracticePanther. “We’re automating that process. Law firms can now hand their clients an iPad, instead of a notepad, to fill out their personal information. Instead of trying to decipher their handwriting, the form on the iPad will automatically create a new contact in PracticePanther, saving the law firm countless hours each month.”
You can see a video of how it works at PracticePanther.com.