AI intake systems for Toronto law firms
For a law firm, an AI intake system answers and captures every prospective-client enquiry, runs a consistent intake conversation, and books the consultation — so enquiries aren't lost to voicemail while the firm is in court. Makavele builds it and runs it.
Most firms simply don't pick up.
This is the best-documented intake failure in any industry we work in, because someone actually measured it: researchers posing as prospective clients contacted 500 law firms. Only 40% answered the phone. Nearly half couldn't be reached by phone at all. And clients don't wait — most contact more than one firm, but a large share stop shopping the moment one firm impresses them. Intake isn't an administrative task. It's the first competitive event in the matter.
What the research says about law firms
of law firms answered the phone when a prospective client called — 48% were unreachable by phone entirely
Clio 2024 Legal Trends Report, mystery-shopper study of 500 US law firmsimpact score for client reviews when consumers choose a lawyer — more than three times any other factor
Clio 2022 Legal Trends Report (n=1,168 US consumers)of people stop contacting other firms once they like the first lawyer they speak with
Clio 2019 Legal Trends Report (n=2,000 US consumers)Clio's intake findings come from third-party mystery shoppers, not self-reporting, which makes them unusually reliable. All of it is US-sampled — we cite it as US research, not Canadian. One honest note: the same research scores after-hours availability low (7 out of 100), so we don't sell you 24/7 coverage as the win. Speed and capture are the win.
Where Ontario actually stands
That gap is the whole opportunity. It isn't a cost problem either — asked what's stopping them, the largest group of Ontario businesses (38.3%) say AI simply isn't relevant to what they do. Cost ranks third. Relevance is a scoping problem, and scoping is the job.
What we build for law firms
- 01
Captures
Every call and form, so no enquiry dies in a voicemail box.
- 02
Intakes
The same qualifying conversation every time — matter type, jurisdiction, timing, conflicts flags.
- 03
Books
The consultation while the caller is still on the phone, not after a callback.
- 04
Routes
Matters outside your practice areas get handled cleanly instead of wasting your time.
- 05
Follows up
Enquiries that go quiet get a second touch, and closed matters get a review request.
The pieces
Questions law firms ask
Can AI give legal advice to a caller?
No, and it is built specifically not to. It captures, qualifies, and books. Anything approaching advice goes to a lawyer. That boundary is the whole design.
How do you handle conflicts and confidentiality?
The intake collects the details you need to run a conflicts check and hands off — it doesn't decide anything. Where information is stored and who can reach it is scoped with you before anything is built.
Should we be available 24/7?
Probably not, and we'd rather say so. Clio's research scores after-hours availability as one of the least influential factors in choosing a lawyer — well behind reviews and response time. The win is answering reliably during the hours you already work, then following up fast.
Is this data Canadian?
No. The intake and client-choice research is US-sampled — there's no equivalent Canadian dataset published. We cite it as directional evidence about how legal consumers behave, not as a measurement of the Ontario market.
Let's talk.
Tell us what's bleeding hours. We'll tell you honestly if AI fixes it.