As you may already know, a legal answering service takes calls to a law firm or attorney, taking down caller information, answering FAQs, passing on messages, and arranging appointments for clients.
If this is the type of service you are looking for, it’s best to familiarize yourself with what to expect from a legal intake answering service to be sure you end up with a quality company.
Law office virtual receptionist services have different functions depending on the level of service they provide. The best attorney answering services must have the following features:
If you did not have much understanding of the services that an attorney answering service can provide, you now know what to look for in a service. However, there are plenty of things to consider when you are looking to find the best law firm answering service. First, start by taking stock of any legal answering service reviews.
To further help you choose, please check the points below.
Of course, there are different ways that legal answering services provide their reception teams. For example, one way is to assign a small team to your firm in particular. An advantage of doing so is that the receptionist team gets to know your firm better as they will work with you more directly. One downside is that this may cost more.
Another way that receptionists can work for you is by receiving a script from your firm. This script can include a greeting and a guide on pronouncing the partners, attorneys, and other staff’s names. The downside is that they may not be able to answer more specific questions, and the service is less personal.
How often will you need your reception team? There are a few ways to go about this as well. Some firms may choose a legal answering service that works round the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, etc. While this may be convenient, it isn’t always the most cost-effective choice, depending on what service you opt for.
You may instead want to have a regular receptionist during office hours and use the service when the office is closed. Or, if you would like the small team of attorney answering service receptionists as mentioned above, they would not be available 24/7 unless you increase the number of team members.
If you would prefer a legal virtual receptionist with more than just calls, you may want to choose a service that offers other features (and consider the prices). These services can include things like live chat, taking payments, scheduling and confirming appointments, client intake, and many more.
The scope of your firm’s answering service needs will likely determine what plans you consider, especially versus the cost. For instance, many virtual legal answering services charge on a per-minute basis. However, others allow you to put together a customizable package or subscribe to a plan that offers unlimited minutes for their services.
If you are looking for the best attorney answering service, remember that what you need will be specific to the needs of your law firm. A good place to begin your search is in looking at attorney answering service reviews to see which company is the most reputable.
If your firm could benefit from extra help with taking messages, caller information, setting appointments, and so on, a legal answering service is the right choice for you.
