Law Office Intake and Fee Agreements

The first step in engaging a client is screening and law office intake. Just as your clients select you, you should also select your clients. This begins with your intake form and procedures. You’ll need information for conflict checking purposes and other matter-specific information. After collecting the information, conduct a conflict check and determine whether a conflict exists. If it is a waivable conflict, have your client(s) consent, in writing.

Once you’ve decide to represent a client, you must enter into a fee agreement as per the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5. The rules require written fee agreements in most cases, with very limited exceptions. If it is a matter taken on a contingent fee basis, see specific requirements and forms set out in Rule 1.5. Use your fee agreement to clearly define the scope of your relationship with the client. To limit future claims that you represented a party about an issue of which you are not even aware. The fee agreement is also an avenue to communicate with your client your fees, what you charge for, when you expect to be paid, whether interest will be charged for unpaid amounts due, and what will happen if the client continues to not pay. Speak with your client about paying a retainer before you begin work on a project. If it’s a flat fee matter, try to collect at least a portion of it upfront. Review the fee agreement with the client and have an executed copy for both the client and for you.

INTAKE FORMS and RESOURCES

LOMAP Sample Client Intake (Downloadable Form)

Client Intake Resources with Links to Samples (Lawyerist)

Opening a Law Firm Toolkit (Lawyers Mutual, North Carolina) (pp. 24-26)

Georgia Bar Sample Intake Form

South Carolina Sample Intake Form

Our Blog Posts about Client Intake, Experience, and Relations

FEE AGREEMENTS

Fee Agreement Best Practice Guide [Massachusetts]

Defining the Fee Agreement, Fee Tale: This is Not Your Father’s Engagement Agreement (Attorney at Work)

FAQs: Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.5(b) and Written Fee Arrangements (BBO)

Write It Up, Write It Down: Amendments to Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.5 Require Fee Agreements to be in Writing (BBO)

Flat Fees: A Three Dimensional View (BBO)

FURTHER READING FROM OUR LENDING LIBRARY

The Essential Formbook: Comprehensive Management Tools for Lawyer (Anthony Davis, American Bar Association)