Legal intake question bank: 85 questions by practice area

This question bank provides draft questions for configuring first contact at a U.S. law firm. Use the questions as a draft for firm approval. Select the minimum information needed for first contact, define questions that should wait for an attorney and approve the order before use.

Personal injury intake questions (25)

PI intake captures four core dimensions: mechanism of injury, treatment status, fault and liability, and insurance layers. Have the firm approve the order and the information that may be collected before its initial review.

Mechanism of injury (5)

1. Can you tell me what happened?
2. When did the incident occur — date and approximate time?
3. Where did it happen (city, county, intersection or address)?
4. Were you the driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bicyclist? (Or for non-MVA: how were you injured?)
5. Was a police report filed, and do you have the report number?

Treatment status (5)

1. Did you go to the ER, urgent care, or a doctor after the incident?
2. Are you currently receiving treatment (PT, chiropractic, pain management, surgery)?
3. Have you been diagnosed with any specific injuries (broken bones, soft tissue, TBI, internal)?
4. Are you taking any prescribed medications related to the injury?
5. Have you missed any time from work? How much, and what's your role?

Fault and liability (5)

1. Whose fault was the incident, in your understanding?
2. Were there any witnesses, and do you have their contact information?
3. Did the other party admit fault or apologize at the scene?
4. Was the other driver cited, arrested, or impaired (DUI, distracted, drowsy)?
5. Have you spoken to the other party's insurance company yet?

Insurance layers (10)

1. Do you have your own auto insurance? Which carrier?
2. What are your policy limits (bodily injury, property damage)?
3. Do you have PIP (Personal Injury Protection)? What's the limit?
4. Do you have MedPay? What's the limit?
5. Do you have UIM or UM coverage (underinsured/uninsured motorist)?
6. What's the at-fault party's insurance carrier?
7. Have you been contacted by their adjuster?
8. Do you have health insurance (separately, primary, or secondary)?
9. Do you have any other policies — umbrella, employer-provided?
10. Have you signed any documents from the other party's insurance?

Record insurance details for review.Record the policy details the caller knows and flag unknown information for the firm. Intake staff should not promise that a policy covers an incident or estimate the value of a claim from these answers.

Criminal defense intake questions (20)

Have the firm approve which party identifiers may be collected at first contact and when to pause for review. Record reported court dates for the designated person; ClaireAI does not determine legal urgency or a representation outcome.

Party information for firm review (5)

1. May I have your full legal name?
2. What's the name of any co-defendant or co-defendants?
3. Who is the alleged victim or alleged victims?
4. Have you spoken to or retained any other attorney about this matter?
5. Are there any witnesses you've named or who have been identified?

Charge and custody (5)

1. What is the charge or charges?
2. Are you in custody, on bond, or out on release?
3. If in custody — at which detention facility?
4. What's your next court date, if you know it?
5. What's your bond amount, if set?

Case background (5)

1. Where did the alleged incident take place — city and county?
2. When did it happen?
3. Which agency made the arrest (PD, sheriff, state, federal)?
4. Were you Mirandized?
5. Have you spoken to law enforcement about this matter? The firm can review any details with you.

Practical (5)

1. Have you been convicted of anything previously?
2. Are there any current restraining orders or PFAs?
3. Is there any immigration-status concern you would like the attorney to review?
4. Are you currently employed? Where?
5. What's the best way to reach you and a backup contact?

Family law intake questions (22)

Ask the firm to select the relationship and contact-safety questions appropriate for the first call. Use its approved review sequence and avoid asking for sensitive details that belong in a consultation.

Party information for firm review (5)

1. May I have your full legal name?
2. What's your spouse's or opposing party's full legal name?
3. Are there any paramours or third parties named in the matter?
4. Have you spoken to any other attorney about this?
5. Are there other family members or related parties involved (in-laws, prior partners)?

Case type (3)

1. What brings you to the firm today — divorce, custody, support, modification, PFA, or something else?
2. Is this a new matter or a modification of an existing order?
3. Have any court papers been filed or served?

Children (4)

1. Are there any children involved? Names and ages?
2. Are there existing custody arrangements, formal or informal?
3. Are the children safe at this time?
4. Has there been any history or current incident of domestic violence?

Assets and financial (5)

1. Do you own a home or other real estate together?
2. Are there any business interests, equity holdings, or partnership stakes?
3. Retirement accounts, 401(k)s, pensions?
4. Any premarital or separate-property concerns?
5. Are you suspecting any hidden assets or financial waste?

Urgency markers (5)

1. Are you currently safe and in a safe location?
2. Have you been served with papers? When?
3. Is there an upcoming court date or response deadline?
4. Are there immediate concerns — restraining order, emergency custody, child relocation?
5. Has there been any threat or action regarding the children?

Approve an emergency protocol.Have the firm supply instructions for callers reporting immediate danger, including when routine intake should stop and how to direct the caller to appropriate emergency assistance. Confirm the available human escalation route and fallback. ClaireAI is not an emergency response service.

Immigration intake questions (18)

Ask which language the caller prefers and confirm a supported route. Collect document dates for attorney review without calculating a legal deadline or deciding eligibility.

Current status (5)

1. What is your current immigration status (visa type, LPR, undocumented, asylum applicant, etc.)?
2. When did you enter the U.S., and on what type of entry (visa, parole, undocumented)?
3. Is your status currently valid, or has any document expired?
4. Are you in removal/deportation proceedings?
5. Have you ever been detained by ICE or held by any federal agency?

Matter type (5)

1. What's the goal — visa, green card, citizenship, asylum, removal defense, or family petition?
2. Have you previously applied for any immigration benefit?
3. Have any applications been denied?
4. Do you have a current employer or sponsoring family member?
5. Are there any criminal charges or convictions in your background?

Deadlines and urgency (4)

1. Is there an upcoming hearing — USCIS interview, immigration court (EOIR), or BIA appeal?
2. What's the date of the next deadline or hearing?
3. Have you received any Notice to Appear (NTA) or charging documents?
4. Is family separation imminent?

Practical (4)

1. What's your preferred language for this consultation?
2. Where are you currently located (state and city)?
3. Are there family members in the U.S. or abroad whose status is also affected?
4. What's the best way to reach you (phone, WhatsApp, email)?

Configure the questions ClaireAI should ask

During onboarding, choose the questions and call paths your firm approves for ClaireAI. Confirm supported language coverage, data capture, routing and connected-system handoffs with the team. Test a sample call and its resulting record before launch; the workflow does not need to ask the entire question bank or make a legal decision.

• Personal injury intake with ClaireAI
• Criminal defense intake with ClaireAI
• Family law intake with ClaireAI

Frequently asked questions