Software selection
How to choose the best legal intake software.
Choose legal intake software for the file it produces and the repair work left for staff. A polished form gets attention. Source history, review controls, case-type configuration, and a clean handoff into the matter become critical after launch, when staff are working live leads and correcting real exceptions.
Test the full path
Follow a representative lead from first contact through matter creation.
Inspect the evidence trail
A reviewer should be able to open the source behind an important value.
Price the operating limits
Seats, storage, documents, AI use, support, integrations, and export affect cost.
I · Demo
Bring a real case type to the demonstration.
Use representative questions, documents, missing records, conflicting values, follow-up, and a conversion into the case system. A canned lead skips the exceptions that consume staff time.
II · Checklist
Ask the product to prove the hard parts.
The form is one small piece. The buying decision should cover the working record.
Case-type configuration
Can questions, records, facts, roles, phases, and review gates change by matter?
Document provenance
Can a reviewer open the page or region behind an extracted fact?
Exception handling
Where do missing, conflicting, duplicate, or low-confidence items go?
Matter continuity
Does an approved lead keep its documents, history, entities, and tasks?
Security and access
Are roles, audit history, retention, incident terms, and sensitive data controls clear?
Export and ownership
Can the firm retrieve useful data and configuration if the relationship ends?
III · Price
Compare the cost of a usable file.
Include setup, seats, storage, documents, AI use, support, integrations, third-party fees, export, staff correction time, and attorney re-screening. The subscription line alone is incomplete.
IV · OBE
OBE publishes its starting terms.
Managed OBE costs $899 per month plus $700 for each configured case type. The internal codebase license is $29,000. The SaaS-ready package is $49,000. Operational limits and custom scope belong in the agreement.
Before you book
Questions worth settling first.
01What should legal intake software include?
Look for case-type questions, portals, uploads, lead operations, document processing, source history, review queues, follow-up, and controlled matter creation.
02How should a firm test the software?
Use one representative case type with real documents, missing information, conflicting values, and a full lead-to-matter handoff.
03Which price questions should buyers ask?
Ask about setup, seats, storage, documents, AI use, support, integrations, third-party fees, export, and ownership.
04How much does managed OBE cost?
Managed OBE costs $899 per month plus a one-time $700 setup charge for each case type.
Related reading
Keep working through the intake problem.
Keep reading
The legal intake library.
Pick the question on your desk. The library covers workflow design, staffing, software, recorded calls, and mass-tort volume.
Product and operations descriptions are reviewed by Tim Ottowitz, Founder and CEO, OBE. This byline does not provide jurisdiction-specific counsel review. ArbitrationIntel and OBE provide software and operations information. Attorneys and authorized firm staff remain responsible for conflicts, engagement, qualification, legal judgment, filing, and client advice. The signed agreement sets product terms and operating limits.
Bring one case type
See where the file slows down.
Bring the questions, records, decisions, and handoffs your team uses today. We will map the intake path, find the repair work, and show how OBE keeps the source record under firm control.
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