Systems for Criminal Defense
Criminal defense firms make money through retainers and flat-fee arrangements for felony and misdemeanor representation. Revenue leaks occur when potential clients call other firms because yours didn't answer immediately, or when unorganized discovery intake delays billable milestones.
Professional Services
How the business actually works
Inquiry
A prospective client or family member reaches out during a time of crisis needing immediate reassurance.
Conflict Check
The firm verifies names and case numbers against existing records to ensure ethical compliance.
Case Intake
Detailed facts regarding the arrest, charges, and jurisdiction are gathered during the consultation.
Retainer
The fee agreement is sent and executed, followed by the initial deposit or payment plan setup.
Arraignment
The firm formalizes representation and coordinates court appearances and bail logistics.
Discovery
Reviewing police reports, body cam footage, and witness statements through a structured intake process.
Litigation
Managing motions to suppress, hearings, and trial preparation while keeping the client informed.
Resolution
Case closure through plea negotiation, dismissal, or verdict, followed by final billing and file archiving.
Where it leaks
Criminal defendants often call multiple lawyers in rapid succession. If your firm does not respond within minutes, the potential client has already moved on to the next firm that answers their phone.
Searching through disjointed spreadsheets for adverse parties is slow and prone to human error. This creates unnecessary risk and delays the initial consultation where the fee is secured.
Clients frequently send critical case evidence via text, email, or physical copies. Without a centralized portal, documents get lost, delaying the defense strategy and increasing administrative overhead.
High-intent leads often stall after the initial consultation because the engagement letter was never signed. Manual chasing takes up paralegal time that should be spent on case work.
Clients facing jail time frequently call for updates just to hear the status of their case. A lack of automated touchpoints leads to a flooded front desk and frustrated staff.
What LATTICE can build
Capture every urgent inquiry with an AI assistant that screens for charges and schedules consultations instantly, 24/7.
Send engagement letters and payment links automatically after a consultation, with scheduled SMS reminders until the fee is paid.
Provide a secure mobile link for clients to upload photos, videos, and documents directly into their digital case file.
Keep clients informed of upcoming court dates and hearing results via automated SMS, reducing inbound anxiety calls.
Standardize the intake form to automatically flag potential conflicts against your database before the attorney enters the room.
Automate recurring billing for clients on payment plans and trigger notifications for failed installments to ensure consistent cash flow.
Request feedback and online reviews automatically once a case is successfully resolved or dismissed.
Example systems
Tell us what's slowing the business down. LATTICE can build around the way your business operates.
The system uses secure, encrypted portals for all document transfers and communication. This ensures that privileged case details remain protected and separate from general office inquiries.
Yes, by integrating payment links directly into the engagement letter and automating follow-up for unpaid retainers. You can also set up automated payment plans for clients who cannot pay the full fee upfront.
It empowers your staff by removing the repetitive data entry and manual follow-up tasks. This allows your team to focus on high-value work like drafting motions and reviewing discovery.
The AI receptionist can answer, screen for the type of charge, and book a consultation for the next morning. This prevents the lead from calling your competitors while your office is closed.
Yes, workflows are tailored to the specific lifecycle of the case. Traffic cases may require higher volume automation, while felony cases might focus more on complex evidence gathering.