When it's used
At the very first client meeting or call, before any file is opened or conflicts are checked.
Definition
A client intake memo is the foundational document a paralegal prepares immediately after a prospective client’s first contact with the firm. It records the client’s identifying information, the factual narrative, key dates, claimed injuries or issues, and the attorney’s initial legal impressions. Because it is prepared in anticipation of litigation or legal representation, it is protected by the attorney-client privilege and work-product doctrine from the moment of creation. The paralegal must gather complete, accurate details—inconsistencies caught at intake prevent costly credibility problems later—while ensuring the memo is clearly marked confidential and stored only in the client’s secured file.