If at any time a client does not wish to continue an intake, the paralegal must respect this. This may be because the client becomes concerned about divulging certain information. For example, surveyed projects reported that undocumented street children involved in crime who fear giving fingerprints during ID document applications often end intake interviews before they are finished. If this happens often, it may mean that outreach efforts should be improved or increased or that you should conduct advocacy for a tailored approach with authorities. PARALEGALS SHOULD Your project may develop a variety of forms to use during first contact with clients, such as: FAMILY. PARALEGAL • Sign-up sheets for consultations (for use during group activities) • Registration form (for initial screening prior to intakes with selected clients) DO THINGS IN LINE WITH CULTURAL NORMS THAT PUT PEOPLE AT EASE, SUCH AS ASKING AFTER THE CLIENT’S PROJECTS OFTEN USE A COMFORTABLE, PRIVATE ROOM FOR INTAKE. • Reception form (for the waiting room; may invite clients to indicate requests such as gender preference of interviewer/interpreter) • Detailed intake interview or case form (for use during intake and for later updates throughout the case’s progress). Even if paralegals will not handle a particular client’s case, an intake may still be conducted to provide advice, involve the client—and their case information—in further advocacy objectives, or join a strategic litigation case. Paralegals must clearly communicate that the project will use client data in this way and obtain consent. When data is kept for a long period, as may occur during litigation before higher courts, projects must followup with minor clients who become adults. At this time they must give their informed consent regarding the continued use of their personal information. Analysis of intake information Well-constructed intake questionnaires can greatly assist paralegals in analyzing cases and deciding the appropriate course of action. Some case management software may even automate case categorization and instructions for next steps, based on the answers to particular questions. Intake forms may include a section for the paralegal to summarize the key element of the case and indicate the action to be taken; depending on the context, these may serve just as a record of the paralegal’s activity, or they may be the basis of internal discussions regarding the next steps for a case.  ee 5.3 Collecting, Managing, and Using Data for advice on S developing case intake forms to facilitate intake, and discussion of structuring data collection to enable statistical analysis. Paralegals often improve at identifying the main issue in a case over time and with practice. In many contexts, client stories will reflect long and convoluted administrative processes and attempts to obtain documentation or be recognized as a citizen. Clients may be living with trauma and psychological distress that may impact the way they explain their stories, which requires sensitivity on the part of the paralegal DISCRIMINATION EMPOWERMENT SUSTAINABILITY DATA RELATED RESOURCES (EXTERNAL) RELATED SECTIONS (WITHIN) A C O M M U N I T Y- B A S E D P R A C T I T I O N E R ’ S G U I D E : D O C U M E N T I N G C I T I Z E N S H I P A N D OT H E R F O R M S O F L E G A L I D E N T I T Y | 97