Legal intake software should make it easier to manage requests, not expose how broken the process really is. But for many legal teams, the absence of a clear intake system is exactly what creates the problem.
When you don’t have dedicated legal intake software, tracking and assigning work feels nearly impossible. Business partners toss requests over the fence via email, text, or hallway conversations, often leaving out critical details. This forces your team into a loop of back-and-forth phone calls just to get the information they need to start working.
It’s time to stop the scramble. Corporate legal departments need a smarter way to work, and automated legal intake software is the solution.
By implementing an intelligent, self-service portal, you centralize the chaos. You enable information sharing across departments and reduce the time your staff spends on manual data entry.
Why you need legal service request (LSR) software:
- Streamlined processes: Simplify how work enters the department.
- Reduced admin time: Drastically cut the cycle time spent on low-value tasks.
- Strategic focus: Free up time for high-value legal work.
- Better service: Enhance responsiveness to your business partners.
If you are ready to transform your operations, here are the six non-negotiable features you should look for in legal intake software.
1. Centralized intake
A scattered process is a broken process. Your legal software must support a central intake workflow for all legal service requests. This not only simplifies the experience for your business partners but also provides a complete, defensible audit trail for every matter.
2. User-friendly interface
Adoption is everything. If the tool is difficult to use, your partners won’t use it. Look for legal intake software that is intuitive and easy to learn, requiring virtually no training for users to get started immediately.
3. Variable workflows
Rigidity kills efficiency. Your workflow process should be flexible and easy to modify. You need the ability to alter requests, review and approve them dynamically, and add new approvers on the fly without slowing down the entire operation.
4. Automated notifications
Eliminate the “black box” perception where requests go to die. Your software should automatically generate notifications to keep business partners updated on the status of their requests. Transparency builds trust.
5. Reporting and dashboards
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Robust reporting and dashboard views allow the corporate legal department to track legal intake software metrics by region, department, business unit, or complexity. Use these data-driven insights to optimize resource allocation.
6. Rapid deployment
You don’t have months to waste on implementation. Look for an intake solution that offers rapid deployment with little or no IT involvement. The goal is to get your corporate legal department up and running quickly so you can start seeing ROI immediately.
Driving success with legal intake software
The right technology allows your legal department to stop chasing paperwork and start focusing on business needs. With well-chosen legal intake software, you can provide higher-quality services, operate more efficiently, and become a driving force in fueling your company’s success.
Ready to put these ideas into action? Download the Legal Service Request Checklist to evaluate whether your current intake process actually supports how your legal team works today, or quietly holds it back.
And if you want to see what a modern, automated intake experience looks like in practice, you can also speak to an expert to find out how Onit helps legal teams streamline requests, improve visibility, and operate on their terms.
