1. Set the geographic boundary before you design the intake
Markham is recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau as a municipality in Cook County, Illinois. The 2020–2024 ACS 5-year population estimate for Markham city is 11,355, with a margin of error of 28. That figure describes the municipality; it does not establish legal demand, search volume, call volume, staffing requirements or likely case value. Your firm may serve Markham, other parts of Cook County or a wider Illinois market, so the intake should reflect the geographic scope you actually accept.
Recommended approach
Write the service boundary in plain language before selecting questions or routing rules. Decide whether a Markham visitor should be treated like any other Cook County inquiry, sent to a particular practice-area owner, or reviewed for location and venue before scheduling. During the consultation, ask how the proposed intake records location and how your team handles matters outside its service area.
