Collect only enough to route the inquiry, identify urgent deadlines, check for conflicts, and decide whether the matter fits. Detailed narratives and sensitive documents should wait until the firm has a secure process for requesting them.

Onboarding a new client takes 1 to 2 weeks at most firms, and it is where time, money, and clients quietly disappear before any billable work begins. The 6 stages, the recurring problems at each one, and the best practices that fix them.