CaseHug vs. Manual Intake
Manual intake isn't free. It costs you in lost clients, wasted attorney time, and documents that never arrive.
Platform
CaseHug
Platform
Manual process
The new way
streamlinedThe old way
friction| Feature | CaseHug | Manual Process |
|---|---|---|
| Time to fully onboard a client | ~15 minutes | 2–3 weeks |
| Client completion rate | Target: 98%+ | 60–70% |
| Attorney admin time per matter | < 5 minutes | 3–4 hours |
| Follow-up calls/emails needed | Automated | 10–15 manual calls |
| Document organization | Auto-labeled and sorted | Manual filing |
| Mobile document upload | ✅ Native camera capture | ❌ Email or fax only |
| Jurisdiction-aware checklists | ✅ 4 states built-in (expanding) | ❌ Manual research each time |
| HIPAA compliance | ✅ Built-in | ⚠️ Your responsibility |
| Audit trail | ✅ Automatic | ❌ None |
| Client experience | Professional, branded portal | Email attachments, confusing |
| Upfront cost | From $99/mo | Free (but see below) |
| True monthly cost (30 matters) | $249/mo (Practice plan) | $2,800–$4,200 in lost revenue |
What manual intake actually feels like
Sarah sits in her car outside the law office, phone in hand, rehearsing what she'll say for the third time this week. She's already filled out forms twice — once on a website that crashed, once on paper she had to mail. Now she's calling because nobody ever followed up.
CaseHug clients don't experience that. From the first message, they're guided — not processed. One link, not three transfers. Their information follows them, so they never repeat themselves.
The real cost of “free”
Manual intake looks free because there isn't a subscription. But the labor, delay, and drop-off costs compound fast.
* These are industry averages. Your actual numbers may vary. Use our ROI calculator to see your specific numbers.
A day in the life: Manual vs. CaseHug
Monday without CaseHug
Pull up email. 12 unread about intake from clients. Three say they never got the form. One sent 47 photos in a single email.
Call back client from last week who still hasn't returned the retainer agreement. Goes to voicemail. Leave message #4.
Client brings in documents in a plastic bag. Spend 45 minutes sorting, scanning, naming files. Half are the wrong documents.
Another consultation converts. Email them a 14-page PDF intake packet and tell them to print, fill out, and mail back or drop off.
Client from 3 weeks ago still hasn't returned documents. Case sitting idle. Paralegal has sent 6 follow-up emails.
Monday with CaseHug
Dashboard shows 3 new clients completed intake overnight. Documents organized, labeled, ready for review. One click to approve.
CaseHug automatically sent Day 7 reminder to pending client. Client clicks link at 9:42am and completes intake in 11 minutes.
Client who would have brought a plastic bag instead photographed everything on their phone last night. All organized in the right matter.
Consultation converts. Send intake link via text. Client has it open before they leave the parking lot. Intake started in 4 minutes.
CaseHug sent the Day 14 reminder automatically. No staff time. Matter was idle; now moving again without anyone lifting a finger.
Before & After: The intake transformation
Before
Email attachments, faxes, physical drop-off, mailed paperwork
After
Secure client portal — photo upload, PDF, any device, instant
Before
Paralegal calls, emails, voicemails — manual, inconsistent, often awkward
After
Automated Day 3/7/14 reminders — personalized, sent at the right time
Before
Someone manually sorts, renames, and files every document received
After
Auto-labeled, sorted by matter, ready for one-click approval
Before
3–4 hours per matter chasing and organizing documents
After
Under 5 minutes — review queue, approve, done
Before
Confusing, slow, frustrating — often why clients walk
After
Branded, guided, done in 15 minutes on their phone
Before
Your responsibility to ensure every transfer is secure
After
HIPAA-compliant by default — encrypted, audited, BAA signed
Stop paying with lost clients and wasted time.
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