For solo attorneys and small firms
AI receptionist for law firms that never misses a new client
An AI receptionist for law firms answers every call, day or night, asks the intake questions you define, books consultations on your Google Calendar, and transfers urgent calls to an attorney. It never gives legal advice. It gathers the facts and gets the right person on the line.
Why small firms lose clients on the phone
People call a lawyer when something has just gone wrong: an arrest, a car accident, an eviction notice, a divorce filing, a business dispute. They are often calling several firms at once, and the first one that answers and takes them seriously usually gets the consultation. A solo attorney in court or in a deposition cannot answer, and a small front desk is often on another line.
Existing clients call too, wanting a status update or to reschedule a meeting. Every one of those calls pulls an attorney or paralegal away from billable work. A legal intake answering service that handles both kinds of calls keeps new matters coming in and protects your time.
New-client intake on your terms
You write the intake questions, and the AI asks them in order, in a calm and professional voice. A family-law firm might ask about the type of matter, the county, and whether there is an upcoming court date. A personal-injury firm might ask when and where the accident happened and whether the caller has been treated. A criminal-defense firm might ask whether the person is currently in custody.
- Captures the caller’s name, contact details, and the names of other parties involved so your team can run its own conflict check before any meeting.
- Records answers to your intake questions in the call log with a full transcript.
- Books an initial consultation into an open slot on your Google Calendar and sends a text confirmation.
- Answers general questions from your knowledge base: practice areas, office hours, location, consultation fees.
- Takes detailed messages for existing clients and routes them to the right attorney.
No legal advice, and clear handoffs to an attorney
Your law office virtual receptionist is not a lawyer and does not act like one. You instruct it not to give legal advice, predict outcomes, or quote fees you have not approved. When a caller asks a legal question, it explains that an attorney will need to answer and offers a consultation or a callback.
For time-sensitive matters you define, such as a client who has just been arrested or a filing deadline this week, the AI flags the call as urgent and transfers it to the attorney you choose. If nobody can pick up, smart callback keeps the caller from being dropped and the details are saved for your team.
Confidentiality and call records
Each firm’s calls, transcripts, and contact records are kept in its own separate account, visible only to the people you give access. Call recording is off by default. If you turn it on, recording follows rules you set, and you are responsible for any notice your state or practice requires. Transcripts of every call are available in your dashboard so you can review exactly what was said. AssistStaff does not claim any legal-industry certification, so review it against your own confidentiality obligations before you go live.
Spanish-speaking clients
Many firms serve clients who are more comfortable in Spanish. AssistStaff answers in English, Spanish, or Korean, based on the preferred language saved on each client’s contact record, so a returning Spanish-speaking client can complete intake and book a consultation in Spanish.
Cost compared with a missed retainer
Plans start at $29 a month. A single new matter you would otherwise have missed is worth far more. Hiring a full-time receptionist costs about $38,000 a year in median pay according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, before benefits, and attorney answering services commonly charge per minute or per call. Setup takes minutes: forward your firm’s number, add your practice areas and intake questions, connect Google Calendar, and go live.
Frequently asked questions
- Will the AI receptionist give legal advice to callers?
- No. You instruct it not to give legal advice or predict outcomes. It gathers intake details, books a consultation, takes a message, or transfers the caller to an attorney.
- Can I write my own intake questions for each practice area?
- Yes. You define the questions, and the AI asks them during the call and saves the answers with a full transcript in your call log.
- Does it run conflict checks?
- No. It collects the caller’s name and the names of other parties involved so your team can run its own conflict check before meeting with the prospective client.
- Does AssistStaff integrate with Clio or other practice management software?
- No. It books consultations on Google Calendar and keeps its own call log, transcripts, and contact records.
- Are calls recorded?
- Not unless you turn it on. Recording is off by default. If you enable rule-based recording, you are responsible for any notice your state requires.
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Stop missing calls this week
Set up takes minutes. Forward your business line and your AI receptionist starts answering right away.