AI Consultation Scoping
The AI Scoping Consultation is the flagship feature of eSolicitors. It transforms a 30-minute video call into a structured, AI-generated scope report - saving you hours of post-call drafting and dramatically improving client conversion.
How It Works - Full Flow
Client books consultation (£15, Stripe payment)
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Recording consent - BOTH parties must consent before recording begins
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Secure embedded video room (stays within the platform — never leaves)
Real-time AI transcription (live, speaker-labelled)
AI-generated questionnaire panel (suggested questions for you)
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Call ends (30-minute auto-cutoff)
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You choose: Generate AI Scope / Create Manual Quotation / Close as Consultation Only
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If AI Scope: Transcript → eSolicitors AI engine → structured scope report
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YOU SEE THE SCOPE FIRST - 24-hour review window
Client sees: "Your lawyer is preparing your scope report"
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4 hours before deadline: auto-reminder sent to you
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You review, edit, and approve the scope
Client receives scope + "Proceed with Scoping" button
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Both parties click "Proceed with Scoping"
5-minute cooling-off period
Contact details released to both parties
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Client clicks "Accept & Hire" → escrow payment → active order created
The Video Room
The consultation takes place in a secure embedded video room that stays within the eSolicitors platform. Neither party leaves the website — no third-party app to download or join.
During the call, you have access to a split-panel view:
- Left panel: Video call (your camera, client's camera, controls)
- Centre panel: Real-time AI transcript (updates as you speak, speaker-labelled)
- Right panel: AI Assist (suggested questions based on what has been discussed, scope completeness tracker, detected key facts)
Recording Consent
Both parties must explicitly click "I consent to this call being recorded and transcribed" before the recording begins. This consent is:
- Logged to the database with a timestamp
- Required under UK law (Investigatory Powers Act 2016)
- Non-waivable - recording cannot start without both consents
If either party declines, the call proceeds without recording. The AI scope generation still works but will have less accurate data.
The AI-Generated Questionnaire Panel
During the call, the AI Assist panel displays:
- Suggested questions based on the legal area and what has been discussed so far
- Scope completeness tracker - shows which scope elements have been covered
- Detected facts - key case details the AI has identified from the transcript
This panel is visible only to you, not to the client. It is a real-time guide, not a script.
Post-Call Decision Screen
When the call ends, you see three options:
| Option | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Generate AI Scope | When a matter is likely - the AI generates a full scope report from the transcript |
| Create Manual Quotation | When you prefer to write your own scope/quote |
| Close as Consultation Only | When no matter will follow (e.g., the client just needed brief advice) |
You are not required to generate a scope report for every call. Choosing "Consultation Only" terminates the flow - no scope is created, and the £15 fee is retained by eSolicitors.
The AI Scope Report
When you select "Generate AI Scope," the transcript is processed by the eSolicitors AI engine, which produces a structured scope report containing:
- Case summary - plain-English summary of the legal matter
- Recommended pricing model - AI suggests the most appropriate pricing structure (fixed fee, hourly, retainer, etc.) with reasoning
- Milestones - a proposed set of work milestones with descriptions, due dates, and pricing
- Client next steps - what the client needs to do before work can begin (documents to gather, etc.)
- Your next steps - internal checklist of tasks for you
- Disclaimers - mandatory AI disclaimer and "your solicitor has reviewed this" statement
The AI suggests a pricing model from eSolicitors' 36-model taxonomy based on the practice area and matter type. You can change this.
Reviewing and Editing the Scope
You have a 24-hour window to review and edit the scope before it is sent to the client.
During this window:
- The client sees: "Your lawyer is preparing your scope report"
- You can edit any field in the scope (summary, milestones, pricing, dates)
- You can change the pricing model
- You must add a due date to each milestone (or mark it as open-ended)
- You can add or remove milestones
If you do not approve the scope within 24 hours:
- You receive a reminder 4 hours before the deadline
- If you miss the deadline, the client is notified and the matter is escalated to admin
- You can request a deadline extension (up to 3 extensions, max 10 days total, max 5 days per request)
Sending to the Client
Once you approve the scope, the client receives it with a "Proceed with Scoping" button.
The Proceed with Scoping Flow
Both you and the client must click "Proceed with Scoping" to formally commit to the matter:
- You click "Proceed with Scoping" in your portal
- Client clicks "Proceed with Scoping" in their portal
- A 5-minute cooling-off period starts once both have clicked
- Either party can withdraw during this window
- After 5 minutes: the matter is locked in, contact details are released to both parties
- Client can now click "Accept & Hire" to proceed to escrow payment
Contact Masking Before Lock-In
Before the cooling-off period expires:
- Client sees your public profile only (no email or direct phone)
- You see the client's first name only (no surname, email, or phone)
This prevents off-platform contact before commitment.
The Scope Disclaimer
Every scope report shows this mandatory disclaimer to the client:
"This scope was generated with AI assistance and has been reviewed and approved by your solicitor. It does not constitute legal advice."
This disclaimer cannot be removed and is required for compliance.
Advising Jurisdiction
Before approving the scope, you must specify which jurisdiction you are advising on for this matter. This is displayed on the scope and on the client's order page. It ensures the client knows which legal system governs the advice.
After Scope Acceptance - The Matter Begins
When the client clicks "Accept & Hire":
- A Stripe Checkout session is created for the full matter value
- Client pays (full amount upfront, held in escrow)
- An active order is created in both portals
- Milestone deadlines are set
- You can begin work
See Orders & Milestones for how the matter proceeds from here.
Tips for a Better Scope
- Allow the AI Assist panel to guide you - if the completeness tracker shows gaps, address them before the call ends
- Ask about the client's timeline - milestone due dates require real dates
- Discuss budget openly - the AI needs enough information to suggest the right pricing model
- Review the transcript before approving - the transcription system is highly accurate but not infallible for specialist legal terminology; correct any errors before sending
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the transcript is inaccurate? You can edit the scope report to correct any transcript errors before approving. The AI scope is generated from the transcript, so correcting the scope effectively overrides any errors.
Can I generate a scope without a video call? Yes - you can also create quotations from the messaging system without a video call. See Managing Services for the quotation-from-messages flow.
What if the client doesn't accept the scope? If the client declines, the matter does not proceed. You retain the right to re-engage them via messaging. The £15 consultation fee is non-refundable once the call has taken place.
Can a client request changes to the scope? Clients cannot directly edit the scope. They can message you through the platform to discuss changes. You can then edit and re-approve the scope.