How this works. You fill out this form (about 20 minutes). The last step takes the $50 screening fee, and then you choose a time for your 30-minute screening call. We run a conflict check before the call. If a conflict prevents us from going forward, we cancel the call and refund the fee. If the check clears, we go over your answers together on a Microsoft Teams video call. We then tell you in writing whether we can take your matter. If we do, we use your answers to prepare your engagement letter, and the $50 is credited toward your fee. Your personal credit code is emailed to you once the fee is received.

How to fill this out. Answer in order. Fields marked * are required. Use full legal names (for example, "Acme Widgets, LLC," not "Acme"). Keep answers short and general, and do not attach or send documents. Not sure? Choose Unsure, or write "Don't know." Have handy: the names of everyone involved, any lawyers you have talked to, and any application, case, or contract numbers. Cancel more than 24 hours before the call and the fee is refunded in full. Read the refund policy.

Read and agree before you start. Please read and check each of the five boxes below.

We are not your lawyers yet

Filling out this form, paying the screening fee, or having a screening call does not make the firm my lawyer. That only happens if the firm and I both sign a written engagement agreement.

No legal advice yet

No attorney at this firm can comment on the legal aspects of my matter (such as its strength, my options, or what to do next) until I have completed the screening process. This form and the screening call are not legal advice, and I will not rely on anything said before then.

Deadlines are my responsibility

The firm is not tracking or protecting any deadline for me. If a deadline is within 10 days, I will call (512) 593-2281 right away or contact another lawyer.

General details only. No documents

I will describe my matter in general terms, not specific details. I will not send documents unless an attorney asks for them after screening is complete and approved.

The firm may say no

The firm may already represent someone on the other side and may decline my matter for any reason without explaining why. If the firm does not take my matter, the information in this form will not prevent the firm from representing someone else, including someone whose interests are adverse to mine.

1. Your name and contact information. "You" means the person filling out this form.

First name

Last name

Email address

We send your confirmation, agenda and receipt here.

Phone

2. Your mailing address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Country

3. Best way to reach you

Email

Phone call

Text

OK to leave a detailed voicemail or message?

No

Yes

4. Can anyone else read this email or answer this phone (for example, an employer or family member)?

If so, your messages with a lawyer may not stay private. We suggest a personal email and phone.

No, only me

Yes

Unsure

Who else can read or answer them?

5. How did you hear about us?

Who referred you?

6. Do you need an interpreter or other accommodation?

No

Yes

What do you need?

The "client" is the person or organization that would hire us. It may be you.

8. Client's full legal name

If the client is you, write your own full legal name again. For a company, use the name exactly as it appears on the formation documents.

Entity type

State or country where formed

Website

9. Other names the client has used

Former or maiden names, nicknames, "doing business as" (DBA) names, trade names, or former company names. Write "None" if none.

10. What is your relationship to the client?

I am the client

Owner, officer, or manager of the client

Employee of the client

Acting for another person (power of attorney, guardian, or parent)

Other

Who can sign a legal agreement for the client, and how are they authorized?

Does hiring a lawyer need board, owner, or partner approval?

No

Yes

Unsure

N/A

11. Related people and companies

Full legal name	Role	Ownership %	Country of citizenship or residence

12. Do you want us to represent anyone else in this same matter (for example, a company and its founders, or two co-inventors)?

If we represent a company, we represent only the company, not its owners, officers, or employees personally, unless we agree to that in writing.

No

Yes

List everyone you want us to represent.

13. Is the client, any owner, or any related company located outside the U.S., foreign-owned or controlled, or on any sanctions or restricted-party list (such as OFAC, Commerce/BIS, or ITAR)?

If Yes, no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

No

Yes

Unsure

14. Has the client, any owner, or any related company had any of the following? In the last 5 years: a lawsuit, arbitration, bankruptcy, government investigation, subpoena, audit, or enforcement action (including False Claims Act, Inspector General, or DCAA/DCMA). At any time: a criminal charge or conviction, or a government suspension, debarment, or exclusion (final, pending, or threatened).

If Yes, no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

No

Yes

Unsure

15. Are there any current or expected disagreements among the client's owners, founders, board, or managers?

If Yes, no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

No

Yes

Unsure

N/A (client is a person)

We use these names for our conflict check, so list everyone you can.

Does your matter, technology, or company have any connection to the U.S. government, military, or federal funding, now or potentially in the future?

No

Yes

Unsure

Does your matter involve any of the following?

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

Department of the Air Force

Defense Health Agency (DHA)

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Military Health System (MHS)

Military Treatment Facility (MTF)

None of the above

Medical Technology Screening

Government Contracting Screening

Technology Screening

The firm can’t take matters involving government-funded research, defense activities, federal contracting, or other government programs at this time. See the Practice Notice.

16. Is anyone on the other side?

Anyone you have a dispute with, are negotiating with, or expect to be against you, now or later.

Yes, I can name them

None known

Who is on the other side?

Full legal name	Other names they use	Their lawyer and law firm (if known)

17. Who else is involved or affected?

Full legal name	Their role

18. Does anyone at our firm know you or anyone you listed, or has our firm ever represented or advised you or anyone you listed?

No

Yes

Unsure

Who, and how are they connected?

19. Have you hired or talked to any lawyer or law firm about this matter or a related matter?

Include free or short consultations.

Yes

None

List every lawyer or law firm

Lawyer name	Law firm	City, state	Hired or only talked?	Still working for you?

20. Is any lawyer you listed still the lawyer of record, or still receiving official notices, with a court, agency, or the USPTO?

If so, deadline notices may still be going to them instead of you.

No

Yes

Unsure

Which lawyer?

21. Check any that apply to a lawyer you listed

If you check anything other than "None of these," no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

I owe them money

We disagree about fees

They are holding my file or claiming a lien

They withdrew, stopped, or turned down my matter

I ended things but have not told them in writing

None of these

22. If we take your matter, may we contact your prior lawyer about your file and the handoff?

Yes

Only with my approval each time

No

N/A (only talked, never hired)

23. Have you or the client ever filed a bar complaint, fee arbitration, or malpractice claim against a lawyer?

We ask everyone. A Yes does not automatically mean we will decline. If Yes, no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

No

Yes

General details only. Do not include specific or confidential details.

24. Which of our services are you interested in? Start with the area, then check every service that applies.

These match scitechlawfirm.com/shop. Checking a box does not mean the service fits your matter or that we have agreed to provide it. The engagement letter sets the final scope and fee. We do not handle courtroom litigation or give advice on Texas state law. Not sure? Check the area closest to your matter and choose "Not sure" below.

Intellectual property: patents, trademarks, copyright, IP deals, and IP disputes

Technology deals and business contracts, including fractional general counsel

Federal government and defense services

Award terms and flow-down review

CRADA, OTA, SBIR/STTR, or teaming agreement

Pre-disclosure IP strategy (experimental or dual-use hardware)

Technology deals and business contract services

Tech transactions: software, SaaS, or API agreement review

Tech transactions: AI, marketplace, data, or open-source deal

Contracts: NDA review, redline, or inventor NDA package

Contracts: website or mobile app terms and privacy pages

Contracts: vendor or commercial agreement review

Fractional counsel: monthly fractional GC or IP officer

Fractional counsel: 30-day fractional legal counsel engagement

Also check if any apply

General IP consultation (30 min)

Not sure. Help me choose on the screening call

Other

If you picked a specific service on our website, or checked "Other," write its name

25. In one or two sentences, what do you need help with?

26. Where is this matter located?

State or country, plus any court or agency (for example, "USPTO" or "Federal court in Delaware").

27. Has anything been filed, sent, or received? (for example, a lawsuit, demand or cease-and-desist letter, subpoena, USPTO office action, or bid protest)

No

Yes

Unsure

What it is, any case or application number, and the date received

29. Would the firm need to receive, hold, or send money for you (for example, collecting a debt or holding a settlement)?

No

Yes

Unsure

30. Check any that apply

Reminder: please do not delete or change any emails, texts, files, or records related to this matter.

The matter is getting news or social media attention

Someone asked the client to keep documents (a "litigation hold")

Neither

This section is only for intellectual property services. It does not apply to your answers, so press Next.

31. Existing applications or registrations

Country	Application or registration no.	Status	Next due date (if known)

32. Inventors, authors, or creators

Full name	Current employer	Signed an assignment?

33. Could any agreement affect who owns it (for example, an employment agreement, NDA, license, university or grant funding, or government contract)?

No

Yes

Unsure

34. Has it been shown publicly, published, sold, offered for sale, or used in public?

No

Yes

Unsure

Earliest date only

35. Do you know of similar prior inventions or marks, other people's rights, or anyone else claiming ownership?

If Yes, no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

No

Yes

Unsure

This section is only for federal government and defense services. It does not apply to your answers, so press Next.

36. Registration and contract details. Write "N/A" for anything that does not apply.

UEI

CAGE code

Contract, solicitation, or award no.

Agency

Contracting officer

37. Do you know of any organizational conflict of interest (OCI), or past work that could create one?

If Yes, no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

No

Yes

Unsure

38. Has anyone on your team worked for the agency involved in the last two years, or seen non-public procurement information?

If Yes, no need to explain here. We will ask about it on the screening call.

No

Yes

Unsure

39. Security clearance

None needed

Facility clearance held

Personnel clearance held

Needed but not held

40. Is any deadline, hearing, filing date, or response date coming up?

No

Yes, within 10 days

Yes, within 11 to 90 days

Unsure

Call (512) 593-2281 today. Do not wait for our review. The firm is not tracking or protecting this deadline for you, and submitting this form does not pause it.

Date of the next deadline

What is due, and who is handling it now (you, another lawyer, or no one)?

41. About when did this problem start, or when did you first learn about it?

Many claims must be filed within a set time from this date. Month and year is fine.

42. Who will pay the legal fees?

Even when someone else pays, we take direction only from the client.

The client

Someone else

Their name and relationship to the client

Do they expect to direct the work or receive updates?

No

Yes

Unsure

44. Could an insurance company, employer, or other organization pay for or defend this matter?

No

Yes

Unsure

Name of the company or organization, and any claim or policy number

45. Budget and payment

Preferred fee type

Flat fee

Hourly

Monthly retainer

Not sure

Can the client pay a retainer and bills when due?

Yes

No

Would like to discuss

Is the client currently able to pay all of its debts when due?

Yes

No

Unsure

46. Is there anything else we should know before deciding whether we can help?

General details only.

Please check each box, then sign.

My answers are true and complete

My answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge, including every person, company, and lawyer I know of. I will tell the firm right away if anything changes.

The firm may check public records

I authorize the firm to run a conflict check and review public records about the client and the people and companies I listed (such as court, business, intellectual property, government contracting, and sanctions records).

My answers will be used for the engagement letter

If the firm takes my matter, it will use this form to prepare the engagement letter (such as the client's name, the services, the other parties, and who pays). I will review the letter and point out any errors before signing. The signed engagement letter, not this form, sets the scope and terms.

Signature (typing your full name counts)

Title (if signing for a company)

Date

Email preferences

Transactional email about your screening, engagement letter and payments is sent regardless of this preference.

You may email me about my matter and about the firm’s updates.

Last step: the $50 screening fee. After payment you choose your call time. The fee is credited toward your fee if the firm takes your matter, and refunded if a conflict prevents us from going forward.

Screening deposit

Credited in full toward your fee. We email your personal credit code, good for 90 days on any purchase of $50 or more, once the deposit is received.

Price: $50.00

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