Free Legal Intake Script Templates for 4 Practice Areas

A structured intake script is the difference between a caller who books a consultation and one who hangs up confused. Generic scripts miss the details that matter for each practice area. Practice-area-specific scripts capture the right information in the right order.

Quick Answer

The best legal intake scripts follow a 4-phase structure: greeting and contact capture (30 seconds), open-ended situation description (60-90 seconds), practice-area-specific qualifying questions (3-5 minutes), and next steps with clear callback timeline. Below are free, copy-ready templates for personal injury, immigration, family law, and criminal defense intake.

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Universal Intake Opening (All Practice Areas)

Use this opening for every call before branching into practice-area-specific questions.

Phase 1: Greeting and Contact Capture

"Thank you for calling [Firm Name]. My name is [Your Name]. I would like to help connect you with the right attorney. Before we begin, may I get your information in case we get disconnected?"

Capture in this order:

1. Full legal name (first and last)
2. Best phone number to reach them
3. Email address
4. How they found the firm (Google, referral, ad, etc.)

"Thank you, [First Name]. Now, tell me a little about what is going on. What brought you to us today?"

Let the caller speak for 60 to 90 seconds without interrupting. Take notes. Listen for key details that indicate case type and urgency.

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Template 1: Personal Injury Intake Script

Use this script for car accidents, slip and falls, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and product liability calls.

Phase 2: Qualifying Questions

"Thank you for sharing that. I want to make sure our attorneys have all the details they need. Let me ask a few specific questions."

Ask in this order:

1. When did the accident/injury happen?

   • Statute of limitations check. If the date is approaching the deadline, flag as urgent.

2. What type of accident was it?

   • Car accident, truck accident, motorcycle, slip and fall, workplace, medical, product defect

3. What injuries did you sustain?

   • Broken bones, soft tissue, head/brain injury, spinal cord, burns, internal injuries

4. Have you received medical treatment?

   • Emergency room, hospital admission, ongoing treatment, surgeries planned

5. Are you still receiving treatment?

   • Current doctor/provider name, treatment plan, expected timeline

6. Was anyone else involved?

   • Other driver, property owner, employer, manufacturer, medical provider

7. Do you have the other party's insurance information?

   • Insurance company name, policy number, adjuster name if known

8. Have you spoken with any insurance companies about this?

   • Critical: note any recorded statements already given

9. Have you hired or consulted with another attorney about this matter?

   • Determines if the case is available or already represented

10. Was a police report or incident report filed?

    • Report number if available

Phase 3: Next Steps

"[First Name], based on what you have described, this sounds like something our attorneys can review. Here is what happens next: Attorney [Name] will call you by [specific time/date] to discuss your case in more detail. Please have any medical records, the police report, and insurance information available. We have you at [confirm phone number]. Is there anything else I should note for the attorney?"

For a deeper dive into PI intake specifically, see our personal injury intake script guide.

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Template 2: Immigration Intake Script

Use this script for visa applications, green card petitions, deportation defense, asylum, naturalization, and DACA cases.

Phase 2: Qualifying Questions

"Thank you for telling me about your situation. Let me ask a few questions so our immigration attorneys can prepare for your consultation."

Ask in this order:

1. What is your current immigration status?

   • US citizen, permanent resident, visa holder (type), undocumented, TPS, DACA, asylum seeker

2. What immigration matter do you need help with?

   • Family petition, employment visa, green card, removal/deportation, asylum, naturalization, DACA renewal

3. Are there any upcoming deadlines or court dates?

   • Visa expiration, court hearing date, filing deadline, DACA expiration. Flag anything within 30 days as urgent.

4. Have you received any notices from USCIS, ICE, or immigration court?

   • Notice to Appear, Request for Evidence, denial letter, removal order

5. Do you have a current case pending with USCIS or immigration court?

   • Receipt number if available

6. Are you currently in removal/deportation proceedings?

   • If yes, when is the next hearing?

7. Do any family members also need immigration help?

   • Spouse, children, parents. Note ages of children (derivative beneficiary age-out issues).

8. Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime in the US?

   • Impacts eligibility for most immigration benefits

9. Do you have a previous immigration attorney?

   • If yes, why are they looking for new representation?

10. What language do you prefer for your consultation?

    • English, Spanish, other. Schedule accordingly.

Phase 3: Next Steps

"[First Name], our immigration team will review your situation. Attorney [Name] will contact you by [date/time] for a consultation. Please gather any immigration documents you have: visa copies, notices from USCIS, court dates, and identification. Is [phone number] the best number? Is there a preferred language for the consultation?"

For more on handling immigration intake effectively, read our guide on immigration law intake best practices.

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Template 3: Family Law Intake Script

Use this script for divorce, custody, child support, adoption, prenuptial agreements, and protective order cases.

Phase 2: Qualifying Questions

"I understand this can be a difficult time. Let me ask a few questions so our family law attorneys can be prepared to help you."

Ask in this order:

1. What family law matter are you calling about?

   • Divorce, custody, child support, adoption, prenuptial agreement, protective order, modification

2. Are you married? If so, how long?

   • Date of marriage, date of separation (if applicable)

3. Are there children involved?

   • Number of children, ages. Note any children under 18.

4. Is there an existing custody arrangement or court order?

   • Current order details, who has primary custody

5. Has either party filed anything with the court yet?

   • Petition for divorce, custody motion, protective order. If yes, court and case number.

6. Is there a safety concern or domestic violence issue?

   • Flag as urgent. Provide crisis resources if needed. Note for attorney review.

7. Are there significant assets or property involved?

   • Home ownership, business ownership, retirement accounts. Determines complexity.

8. Is the other party represented by an attorney?

   • Attorney name if known

9. Are there any upcoming court dates or deadlines?

   • Hearing dates, filing deadlines, temporary order expiration

10. What is the primary outcome you are hoping for?

    • Custody arrangement, asset division, protective order, adoption completion

Phase 3: Next Steps

"[First Name], our family law team handles exactly this type of situation. Attorney [Name] will call you by [date/time] for a confidential consultation. Please bring any existing court orders, financial documents, and a timeline of events. We have your number as [confirm]. Is there anything time-sensitive the attorney should know before then?"

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Template 4: Criminal Defense Intake Script

Use this script for DUI/DWI, drug charges, assault, theft, white collar, domestic violence, and federal charges.

Phase 2: Qualifying Questions

"I want to make sure we get the right information to our defense attorneys. Let me ask a few questions."

Ask in this order:

1. What is the charge or what happened?

   • DUI, drug possession, assault, theft, fraud, domestic violence, federal charges

2. When did the arrest or incident happen?

   • Date and time. Recent arrests (within 48 hours) are flagged as urgent.

3. Where did it happen?

   • City, county, state. Determines jurisdiction and which court.

4. Is the person currently in custody?

   • If yes, where? Bond amount if set. This becomes the top priority.

5. Has a bond or bail been set?

   • Amount, conditions, bondsman used

6. Is there a court date scheduled?

   • Date, time, court name, judge if known

7. Has the person spoken to police or given a statement?

   • Critical: any statements made can impact the case significantly

8. Are there any prior criminal convictions?

   • Type, when, where. Affects sentencing exposure.

9. Is anyone else charged in this case?

   • Co-defendants, accomplices

10. Is this a state or federal matter?

    • Federal charges require attorneys with federal court experience

Phase 3: Next Steps

"[First Name], our criminal defense team can review this case immediately. Attorney [Name] will call you [within X hours / by specific time]. Do not discuss this matter with anyone else, including police, until you speak with our attorney. We have your number as [confirm]. Is the person who needs representation available at this number?"

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How to Use These Templates

Step 1: Choose the template that matches your firm's primary practice area. Customize the questions to fit your specific case types.

Step 2: Train every intake staff member on the script. Practice with role-plays until the flow feels natural, not robotic.

Step 3: Print and post the script at every intake station. Even experienced staff benefit from having it visible during calls.

Step 4: Record calls and review weekly against the script. Score each call on whether all required fields were captured.

For a complete list of intake process improvements, read our legal intake best practices guide.

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Automate Intake Scripts with AI

Training and maintaining intake staff on these scripts requires ongoing investment. Staff turnover, sick days, and after-hours gaps create consistency problems.

KaiCalls automates the entire intake flow:

• Practice-area scripts are built into the AI — configured for your firm's case types
• Every call follows the same structured flow — no skipped questions, no forgotten fields
• 24/7 coverage — after-hours, weekends, and holidays
• Bilingual English/Spanish — included at no extra charge
• $69.99/month — no per-minute charges

Setup takes less than 24 hours. The AI asks the same questions your best intake specialist would ask, every time, on every call. See how it compares to other services in our best answering service for law firms ranking.

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FAQ

What questions should a legal intake form include?

Every legal intake form should start with contact information (name, phone, email) followed by practice-area-specific qualifying questions. The exact questions depend on case type. Personal injury intake needs accident details and medical information. Immigration intake needs current status and deadline information. See the templates above for complete question lists.

How long should a legal intake script take to complete?

5 to 10 minutes for initial intake. Contact capture should take 30 seconds. The open-ended description takes 60 to 90 seconds. Practice-area questions take 3 to 5 minutes. Going longer than 15 minutes suggests the script needs tightening.

Should intake scripts be different for phone vs. web leads?

Yes. Phone intake scripts are conversational and follow a linear flow. Web intake forms can use conditional logic (showing different questions based on case type selection). Both should capture the same core information, but the delivery format differs.

Can AI follow these intake scripts accurately?

Yes. AI answering services like KaiCalls are configured with practice-area-specific intake scripts. The AI follows the structured flow, asks each question in order, and captures all required fields. It handles caller interruptions and follow-up questions naturally.

How often should intake scripts be updated?

Review quarterly and update when case acceptance criteria change. If the firm stops taking certain case types or adds new practice areas, update the scripts immediately. Track which questions lead to qualified consultations and remove questions that do not contribute to qualifying.

What is the biggest mistake law firms make with intake scripts?

Skipping contact capture at the beginning. Firms that dive into case details before getting the caller's phone number lose the lead entirely if the call drops. Always capture name, phone, and email in the first 30 seconds. Read more about how to convert more legal leads.