Finding the right answering service is one of many ways to generate leads and increase client support for a law firm. Whether you’re a solo attorney or part of a growing firm, the best answering service for law firms ensures that someone is always available to answer client calls. These answering services should offer features like trained receptionists, software integrations, and secure systems.
After an extensive evaluation, here is our list of the best answering services for law firms based on pricing, features, and client and customer support.
- Ruby: Best overall law firm answering service
- VoiceNation: Best for scalability and fluctuating call volumes
- Go Answer: Best for legal intake services
- Davinci Virtual Office Solutions: Best for virtual firms and attorneys
- Abby Connect: Best law firm answering service technology
- Posh: Best for low call volumes
- MAP Communications: Best for information security and compliance
- AnswerConnect: Best for high call volume
- LEX Reception: Best for solo firms
- Gabbyville: Best for per-call pricing
Streamline legal intake with Go Answer. Screen cases and qualify clients with customizable scripts and dedicated agents. |
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Comparing the Best Answering Services for Law Firms
Answering services for law firms exist at multiple price points and specialties, depending on the needs of your firm. When choosing the best service provider, consider your practice, client type, and technology needs.
Provider | Monthly Starting Price | Standout Features | Free Trial | Our Score out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $235 for 50 minutes |
| ✕ | 4.61 |
 |
| ✓ | 4.18 | |
 | $220 for 100 minutes |
| ✓ | 4.17 |
 | $129 for 50 minutes |
| ✕ | 4.15 |
 | $329 for 100 minutes |
| ✕ | 4.08 |
 |
| ✓ | 4.06 | |
 | $49 (pay as you go) | ✓ | 3.86 | |
 | $350 for 200 minutes |
| ✕ | 3.78 |
 | $425 for 150 minutes + 30 free interactions |
| ✕ | 3.78 |
 | $285 for 65 minutes |
| ✓ | 3.76 |
Ruby: Best Overall
Pros
- Provides 24/7 support from a team of virtual legal receptionists
- Accepts payments and collects fees from clients
- Includes user-friendly features in the Ruby mobile app and desktop portal
Cons
- Lacks free trial
- Has limited customer support hours for Ruby customers
Why We Like It:
As the best overall, Ruby provides virtual legal receptionists who respond to clients via phone and chat 24/7 and provide after-hours support for time-sensitive concerns. The mobile app and portal ensure that all your software works together in a seamless interface, which is great for firms that need to manage clients on multiple platforms.
Ruby can be used to follow up on client intake calls and process payments through inbound and outbound calls. These features benefit firms when acquiring new clients and managing cases with legal service fees, providing full-service engagement with clients at all stages.
This provider also includes multiple user-friendly features that allow lawyers to customize their call features at the touch of a button. For example, you can create custom calendars and adjust call availability all from the mobile app. Ruby also integrates with legal software, so you never have to worry about complex software configurations or juggling too many tools.
Where It Falls Behind:
Unlike other providers on this list, Ruby does not offer a free trial to test its services. For firms that require more hands-on experience before selecting a legal answering service, we recommend Go Answer or LEX Reception for legal intake services that come with a free trial period.
Additionally, Ruby’s customer support hours only operate during extended business hours (5 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday), which can be prohibitive in cases where you need after-hours or weekend support with your plan.
Ruby works best for attorneys and firms that need a one-stop shop for client management. While virtual receptionists are available to handle client calls and intake questions, you can also use live chat features to follow up on leads and convert calls into new clients.
Virtual receptionists are also available to process payments, follow up on client information, and forward your calls and messages at any time. Attorneys can manage all of these processes through the Ruby app and portal, which makes it easier to keep up with clients when you’re out of the office. As the best overall, Ruby is an ideal provider to outsource legal intake or front-desk services.
- Integrations for legal software like Clio and MyCase
- Direct access to messages and client data offered in the online portal
- Virtual receptionists that can screen clients and administer intake questions
- Ruby mobile app available for iOS and Android
- Appointment scheduling via phone, chat, and the mobile app
- Client fees and payments processed through the app and answering service
Plans & Pricing
Minutes | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
50 | $235 |
100 | $375 |
200 | $680 |
500 | $1,640 |
If you’re looking for the best all-around law firm answering service, Ruby is the right choice. Ruby offers several plans that are beneficial for firms of all sizes. Regardless of call volume, Ruby’s plans include custom call handling with professional receptionists and appealing hold music options.
In addition to virtual receptionist plans, Ruby also offers live chat plans. These live chat features capture clients introduced to your firm via a website. It also provides bundled plans for firms interested in adding live chat to their website for a well-rounded suite of answering services.
Take advantage of Ruby’s live chat features on your firm’s website. (Source: Ruby)
Because of Ruby’s variety of plans, we recommend this provider for small to midsize firms interested in a combination of live chat and virtual receptionist services. Additionally, its Help Center provides detailed videos that can assist you in choosing the right combination of services for your firm.
VoiceNation: Best for Scalability
Pros
- Offers bilingual answering service in English and Spanish
- Lets you create custom firm scripts for personalized client support
- Has multiple plans for low and high call volumes
Cons
- Only allows call transferring for US numbers
- Is not specific to the legal industry
- Requires $1,000 setup fee for outbound calling
Why We Like It:
VoiceNation is a top-rated answering service that provides bilingual virtual receptionists and live chat services. As the best service for scalability, it provides monthly plans that run from 50 minutes to 1,000 minutes. This variety allows you to choose a service that meets your current needs, with options to scale up service and customize your features as your call volume grows.
For law firms and solo attorneys, VoiceNation also offers a specialized team of legal receptionists available 24/7 to respond to client inquiries. Additionally, virtual receptionists can transfer your calls to specific numbers and book appointments, giving you more time to work on cases.
This provider also offers multiple platforms, such as a mobile app and online dashboard, that make tracking your calls and minutes easy. With the online dashboard, you can create customized responses or a script tailored to your firm’s needs in English or Spanish.
Where It Falls Behind:
Although VoiceNation provides legal services, it does not only handle law firms. While user reviews praise the platform for handling international clients, the service does not offer unlimited long-distance calling and can only transfer calls to US numbers, which can be an issue for firms with international offices or attorneys. We recommend Davinci Virtual for handling international clients and calls.
Additionally, most answering services include outbound calling as part of each subscription plan. However, VoiceNation charges an additional $1,000 to set up this feature. To avoid the outbound calling setup fees, we recommend our best for legal intake provider, Go Answer.
VoiceNation is best for scalability because it provides multiple plans for law firms that experience fluctuating call volumes or growth over time. Growing firms will benefit from starting with a lower-tier plan and upgrading their services. Therefore, we recommend VoiceNation for firms with low to average call volumes that plan to steadily increase their call volume.
- Live chat and answering services that ensure that clients interact with a real person
- Personalized plans with custom scripts and client intake forms
- Online dashboard and mobile app to track your minutes, billing, and client calls
- Inbound and outbound calling for collecting payments, like client retainers
- Integration with legal software like Clio and other workspace management platforms
Plans & Pricing
Plan | Minutes | Monthly Price | Price per Additional Minute |
|---|---|---|---|
Personalized | 50 | $140 | $2.81 |
Personalized | 100 | $238 | $2.60 |
Personalized | 250 | $546 | $2.39 |
Although VoiceNation offers different types of plans, Essential and Personalized, we recommend the Personalized plan because it includes great features for law firms, such as appointment scheduling, customer relationship management (CRM) integrations, and payment processing.
The provider also includes larger plans for higher call volumes, from 500 ($1,203 per month) to 1,000 minutes ($2,074 per month). Therefore, firms that start with a lower-tier plan have room to move up if they experience an increase in call flow.
Monitor calls and assess call data with VoiceNation’s call-monitoring dashboard. (Source: VoiceNation)
VoiceNation provides a call-monitoring dashboard to keep track of your monthly minutes and call volumes. This dashboard helps track growth over time, which can assist in making data-driven decisions about your plan or call usage, such as increasing or decreasing your monthly minutes.
For firms requiring a quick-start plan, VoiceNation includes instant activation for answering services, so you can access your service as soon as you purchase it. If you want to know if this is the right answering service for your firm, check out the seven-day, 30-minute free trial.
Go Answer: Best for Legal Intake
Pros
- Has dedicated account managers for personalized client interactions
- Has trained legal intake specialists to manage retainers and complex cases
- Offers numerous integrations with legal software
- 14 day risk free trial
Cons
- Requires additional fees for setup and access to specific features
- Requires a 30-day written notice to cancel plans
Why We Like It:
Go Answer provides a dedicated phone number and answering service for multiple industries. However, it stands out because it doesn’t just provide virtual receptionists; it also offers legal intake specialists trained to prescreen clients for an attorney or firm. Therefore, Go Answer is the best answering service for firms that require legal intake.
Legal plans include a dedicated account manager and receptionists available 24/7/365 to answer client calls, which benefits solo attorneys or small firms without a front desk. These plans can also be personalized for your needs, including highly customizable intake processes, firm scripts, and inbound and outbound calling for payment processing and managing retainer agreements.
In addition to customizing communication, Go Answer provides integrations with a diverse breadth of legal software, including case management with Clio and CASEpeer and legal CRMs like Law Ruler. These integrations ensure the answering service seamlessly blends with legal workspace management products.
Where It Falls Behind:
Although Go Answer offers flexible monthly plans, additional fees include the $75 setup fee. The customizable nature of the plans also means that any extra features can increase the monthly price. For example, including features like web chat incurs additional monthly fees.
The extra costs are coupled with tricky obligations, such as providing 30-day written notice to cancel any plans, which can be burdensome for busy lawyers. If you want to avoid the additional fees, check out services like Ruby or Davinci Virtual without setup fees.
Go Answer is the best option for law firms that require customizable legal intake services. Although many services offer virtual receptionists trained in legal terminology and confidentiality, Go Answer provides a team of dedicated legal intake specialists knowledgeable about the unique processes and strategies for assessing clients and cases.
Legal intake services also help manage high call volumes because receptionists can respond efficiently to complex legal inquiries, like managing retainers and handling clients for class-action lawsuits. Therefore, this service benefits smaller firms that need to outsource their intake and larger firms with heavier caseloads and complex client demands.
- Integration with legal tools and case management software like Clio, CASEpeer, SmartAdvocate, Law Ruler, and many others
- Custom intake processes for mass tort and class action lawsuits
- Personalized case screening and client assessment for more efficient calls
- Transparent client management with access to data via a mobile app and online portal
- Bilingual receptionists to manage clients in English and Spanish
- Telephone, online, and chat intake provided depending on your plan
- Appointment scheduling and message-taking to record client details
- Call routing to send clients to the correct legal contacts
Plans & Pricing
Go Answer offers specialized legal plans and live chat options for virtual receptionists. The virtual receptionist plans begin at 100 minutes and move up to 1,000 minutes, with each plan providing engagement with human beings instead of automated messages.
In addition to the virtual receptionist plans, Go Answer offers web chat plans based on the number of chats handled each month. Receptionists can also handle legal intake through web chat, which benefits clients who want more direct communication.
Web chat agents are available 24/7 to handle client inquiries. (Source: Go Answer)
Web chat agents can also help convert potential clients into new clients by screening inquiries and transferring them to you. This process benefits firms that prioritize efficient call flows and save time on client acquisition through lead conversion.
If you want to explore all that Go Answer offers, check out its 14-day free trial, which provides a more comprehensive introduction to the service before making a monthly commitment. For information about additional options, like pay-as-you-go plans, you can contact Go Answer directly to find the plan that fits your needs.
Davinci Virtual Office Solutions: Best for Virtual Firms
Pros
- Provides answering services for remote legal professionals
- Has call screening for corporate, family, criminal, and personal injury law
- Has high standards for client engagement and confidentiality
Cons
- Uses an automated voicemail service after hours
- Doesn’t offer case management, outbound calls, or features specific to the legal industry
- Only allows outbound calling on premium plans
Why We Like It:
Davinci Virtual Office Solutions provides the best answering service for virtual firms because of its call screening, appointment scheduling, and virtual office features. From virtual phone numbers to receptionists, it provides clients with all the benefits of an in-office experience without needing a physical front desk.
For example, lawyers who don’t have an in-office receptionist can use Davinci Virtual to provide answering services for firms specializing in corporate, family, criminal, and personal injury law. Receptionists can handle administrative tasks and screen calls for clients and cases that fit your specialty while filtering out inquiries that don’t reflect the firm.
With a team of experienced legal associates, Davinci also offers confidential services that focus on handling client calls with a personal touch. Specifically, the virtual receptionists are trained to manage sensitive information and intake for emotionally charged crises and client concerns.
Where It Falls Behind:
Although Davinci Virtual Office Solutions provides a live team of virtual receptionists during business hours, after-hours support is only available via an autoreceptionist who uses a voicemail messaging system. Firms that prefer personalized client interactions and intake or require on-call assistance should check out AnswerConnect.
Davinci’s focus on office solutions also means that the service is not entirely tailored to law offices. For example, Davinci does not offer integrations with legal software like Clio or MyCase. Some services that would benefit law firms are only available for premium plans, like appointment scheduling and outbound calling to collect client retainers or other legal fees.
Many small businesses are moving to remote work, and the legal industry is no different. As a specialist in virtual office solutions, Davinci is best for attorneys and firms operating in remote environments or outsourcing services, whether with remote legal staff or working outside of a physical office.
In addition to its answering services, Davinci offers virtual addresses, phone numbers, and conference room rentals, which support the daily operations of a virtual firm. Although the Business plan provides these features, firms that want more client support should upgrade to the Premium plan.
- Bilingual support in English and Spanish for diverse clients on the Premium plans
- Attentive service and automated call system with low wait times
- Call forwarding and screening service to route calls to specific attorneys
- Experienced legal receptionists who are on-call during business hours
- Voicemail management and transcription services for easy message delivery
- Free local or toll-free numbers, which are beneficial for virtual businesses
- Multiple mobile apps (Davinci Virtual, LIVE, and Meeting Rooms) provide specialized voice services for virtual firms
Plans & Pricing
Plan | Minutes | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|
Business | 50 | $129 |
Premium | 50 | $249 |
Business | 100 | $239 |
Premium | 100 | $319 |
Davinci Virtual Office Solutions offers two types of plans: Business and Premium. While both include the same monthly minutes, the Business plan only includes standard virtual receptionist features, like answering and screening calls, routing and forwarding, and voicemail services.
In contrast, the Premium plan includes essential features for law firms, such as appointment scheduling, outbound calling, and payment processing. The Premium plan also includes bilingual receptionists for firms with diverse language needs.
Therefore, Davinci’s Business plans might not be sufficient if you want a wide range of answering services. We recommend the Premium plans if you want to receive the most value for your monthly service.
Abby Connect: Best Technology
Pros
- Provides a dedicated team of virtual legal receptionists
- Offers unique digital tools, like Abby Intelligence and the AbbyGo app
- Has custom scripts for personalized service
Cons
- Has high-cost plans in comparison with other answering services.
- Charges extra for 24/7 live answering services
Why We Like It:
Abby Connect is a top-rated provider serving law firms and legal professionals. The platform also stands out from the other providers by providing the best technology. Specifically, Abby Connect integrates artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and ease of use.
For example, Abby Intelligence supports its virtual legal receptionists by creating instant call summaries, sentiment scores, and data analytics following every call. Additionally, the AbbyGo app tracks your call usage, so you never have to worry about how many receptionist minutes you have used every month.
As a personalized answering service, Abby provides a team of legal receptionists who respond to your clients with custom intake questions. The mobile app also sets availability and offers custom client insights for your account. Therefore, you and your clients can build rapport with your receptionists to improve communication and support.
Where It Falls Behind:
Although Abby Connect provides unique technology and custom integrations that benefit law firms, those features come at a cost. Abby’s monthly price is much higher than other legal answering services, which can be prohibitive for some firms.
While many answering services provide 24/7 live support, Abby’s standard package only includes live answering from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST on weekends. Abby also charges for 24/7 live answering services and requires additional software to run custom integrations.
These costs can add up when creating a custom plan that meets your firm’s needs. Therefore, if your firm needs 24/7 support, check out VoiceNation or Go Answer.
Abby Connect is best for technology because it includes more advanced features and technological tools. With Abby Intelligence, virtual receptionists can collect more in-depth information and insights about calls and clients, which benefits firms looking for data-driven solutions to improve their business.
Even those less technologically savvy will benefit from Abby Connect’s advanced features because the platform provides learning resources that make it easier to adopt them. Additionally, the Abby Go app allows you to stay updated on your calls and communicate with team members, so the technological benefits may outweigh the cost for some firms.
- User-friendly web portal and mobile app for tracking usage and insights
- Integrations with popular legal software like Clio, Clio Grow, and Lawmatics
- Client intake and lead capture that is customized to your firm’s needs
- Custom call handling that lets your program call journeys for potential clients
- Compliant with legal privacy standards that ensure data protection and client confidentiality
- Bilingual receptionists (English and Spanish) available to meet your client’s needs
- Appointment scheduling with popular scheduling platforms like Google or Outlook
- Voicemail transcription optimized with artificial intelligence
- Bundled plans offered for firms that need virtual receptionists and live chat
Plans & Pricing
Although Abby Connect is not the highest-priced answering service on the list, the starting monthly price is higher than many other options. Specifically, Abby Connect offers three distinct plans, which primarily differ in the minutes provided for each month, beginning with 100 minutes and going up to 500 minutes.
In addition to its virtual receptionist services, Abby Connect also offers live chat options. These live chat plans start with 10 engaged chats and then move up to 50 chats. Live chat is best for firms that want to offer their clients quick and easy access to information beyond a help center or frequently answered questions section.
Provide fast feedback to client inquiries with Live Chat. (Source: Abby Connect)
Although you can choose a virtual receptionist or live chat, combining both is especially useful for firms that want to capture leads at all stages of engagement. If you are interested in both the live chat and virtual receptionist features, you can also choose from three tiers of bundled plans.
Posh: Best for Low Call Volumes
Pros
- Offers flexible monthly contracts for firms of all sizes
- Lets you manage your front desk with the Posh app
- Offers secure calling and texting with a Posh business number
Cons
- Doesn’t offer case screenings or other services specific to the legal industry
- Limits chat to text messages
Why We Like It:
Posh offers live virtual receptionists and legal answering services for firms of all sizes. However, it is best for firms with low call volume because it offers plans below 100 minutes. With 24/7 live call answering, custom intake processes, and after-hours support, Posh also works well for remote-working attorneys who want to reduce client intake costs.
Like many answering services, Posh uses multiple communication technologies to manage calls, such as the online portal and mobile app. The app allows you to use your phone to change call availability and keep up to date with client appointments and messages, even when you’re away from the office or without an in-office receptionist managing the front desk.
The provider offers business phone numbers so you can privately communicate with clients without giving a personal number. Additionally, you can use your business number with Posh’s platforms to ensure confidential and secure communication.
Where It Falls Behind:
While Posh offers answering services for many industries, it doesn’t specialize in the legal sector. Consequently, the service lacks a few features that benefit law firms, such as case screening and guidance for handling clients within a specific practice.
While many answering services provide live web chat options, Posh only offers chat via text messaging, which is less useful for clients or individuals with texting limits on their phone plans. Check out Ruby or VoiceNation for live chat answering services.
Posh is best for low call volume expectations or new firms. The standard Chic plan has zero virtual receptionist minutes, so you can pay for calls by the minute. For new firms, this plan gives you time to learn how many receptionist minutes you will need every month before purchasing a higher-tier plan.
For firms with low call volumes, the 50- and 100-minute plans are good options for managing a few clients or inquiries. The flexible plans make it easy to update your subscription if your call volume shifts over a month.
- Customized switchboard solutions for efficient call routing to specific departments or attorneys
- Integration with legal software like Clio and workspace management platforms like Zapier
- Appointment scheduling with popular integrations like Calendly and Acuity
- Posh mobile app and portal for handling calls after hours or out of the office
- Message delivery through the app via text or email
- Bilingual receptionists for English and Spanish communication needs
Plans & Pricing
Plan | Minutes | Monthly Price | Price per Additional Minute |
|---|---|---|---|
Chic | 0 | $64 | $2.20 |
Vogue | 50 | $119 | $2.10 |
Elegant | 100 | $204 | $2.04 |
Luxurious | 200 | $394 | $1.97 |
Prestigious | 350 | $664 | $1.90 |
Lavish | 500 | $924 | $1.85 |
Exclusive | 1,000 | $1,794 | $1.79 |
Posh offers several subscriptions through a clever naming practice that will lighten up any law firm. While the introductory Chic plan is suitable for solo firms with less consistent client inquiries, the Lavish plan is beneficial for larger firms managing multiple clients.
Although many answering services offer different features for each plan, Posh provides the same standard features across plans. However, the lack of live web chat plans and features may be an issue for firms that want to optimize their website.
You can use the Posh App to manage calls and your account. (Source: Posh)
Despite lacking web chat features, you can use the mobile app to communicate with clients directly. Additionally, each plan offers a seven-day free trial, so you can choose the one that works for your firm and try it out before committing to a monthly plan. Receive an additional week free if you mention the “Lawyerist.”
MAP Communications: Best Security
Pros
- Provides legal intake services through a pay-as-you-go plan
- Provides support for multiple legal specialties, including estate planning and immigration law
- Is HiTRUST and PCI DSS certified
Cons
- Has no mobile app
- Has outdated interface and web design
Why We Like It:
MAP Communications provides diverse answering services to small and large firms, but it stands out for its cybersecurity features. Although all legal answering services offer client confidentiality, MAP Communications is best for security because of its HiTRUST certification. This certification ensures a high level of information protection to safeguard client information on calls.
Additionally, the pay-as-you-go plans and platform integrations work well for firms that need extra assistance with message-taking or appointment scheduling. With 24/7 virtual receptionists, MAP makes it easy to handle client intake at any time. The receptionists are also trained in several legal specialties, like criminal, family, personal injury, corporate, immigration, and estate/elder law.
With its various legal specialties and high security standards, MAP benefits firms that require overflow call handling during busy times or want to add additional support to an in-house administrative team.
Where It Falls Behind:
Although MAP Communications provides a dashboard to access client data and calls, the answering service does not offer a mobile app. Even though you can use the web portal on your phone, not having an app is inconvenient for attorneys needing information on the go.
Additionally, the web portal’s interface is outdated and lacks many legal software integrations, which can be less user-friendly for some. Other answering services, like Abby Connect, provide more up-to-date and intuitive technology for law firms.
MAP Communications is best for security because it offers specialized security features and high compliance standards with privacy laws. This includes the encryption and secure storage of client files or recorded information, like messages, as well as routine data audits from third-party assessors.
By providing a higher level of safety and security, MAP Communications is excellent for lawyers and firms with international clients or healthcare contracts that require adherence to specific regulatory models. Therefore, MAP is best for firms that need secure after-hours support but already have a dedicated receptionist during business hours.
- Appointment scheduling with calendar apps like Google and Calendly
- Bilingual receptionists with English and Spanish fluency
- Free message-taking with delivery via email, text, or phone
- Custom firm scripts and legal intake for virtual receptionists
- Call routing and transfers to the correct attorney
- 24/7 live answering services for after-hours client calls
- Secure web portal for safe data storage and retrieval
Plans & Pricing
Plan | Minutes | Monthly Price | Price per Additional Minute |
|---|---|---|---|
Pay as You Go | N/A | $49 | $1.37 |
Business | 125 | $179 | $1.30 |
Enterprise | 250 | $339 | $1.28 |
Premium | 500 | $649 | $1.28 |
In contrast to many of the answering services in this guide, MAP Communications offers pay-as-you-go pricing, which allows you to purchase a plan without a monthly minute limit. We recommend these plans for law firms with low call volumes or attorneys looking for cost-effective virtual receptionist features.
MAP Communications also offers Business, Enterprise, and Premium plans for firms that want a specific number of monthly minutes. Compared with the cost of other answering services, these rates are accessible for firms of all sizes.
As an affordable and secure answering service, MAP Communications provides high-quality call handling for several legal specialties. Take advantage of the seven-day free trial to determine if this provider meets your law firm’s needs.
AnswerConnect: Best for High Call Volumes
Pros
- Offers live chat answering service or website widget to answer client inquiries
- Has lead capture and qualification to generate potential clients
- Offers personalized client engagement with custom scripts
Cons
- Is not specific to the legal industry
- Only offers custom scripts on higher-tier plans
- Has no free trial
Why We Like It:
AnswerConnect is a human-centered voice-answering service that prides itself on personalized client experiences. This provider is best for handling high call volumes because it includes monthly plans that range from hundreds to thousands of minutes. The platform also offers trained virtual receptionists for law firms and live chat answering services to handle client inquiries with custom scripts.
Although some providers charge additional fees for live chat and 24/7 answering services, AnswerConnect provides monthly plans that include all these features. You can also answer your chats by adding a live chat widget to your website. Therefore, the service benefits firms that require after-hours availability and client engagement across platforms.
The AnswerConnect app and web portal also provide convenient access to client data, manage calls and messages, and update firm scripts. The mobile app integrates with several legal software platforms and CRMs, allowing you to track your leads and follow up with potential clients. Overall, AnswerConnect provides everything you need to handle high call volumes within the legal industry.
Where It Falls Behind:
Although AnswerConnect provides diverse services for the legal industry, it is not an answering service that only focuses on law firms. Therefore, the custom integrations and features would not benefit a firm that uses legal software or handles complex cases.
While other providers, like Go Answer and MAP Communications, offer personalized scripts across plans, AnswerConnect only offers custom scripts for the Growth and Standard plans. Also, no free trial is available, so you must commit to a monthly plan to try out these features.
AnswerConnect is the best option for law firms with high call volumes. Compared with other answering services, AnswerConnect offers several more extensive monthly plans ranging from 500 to 1,500 minutes to over 15,000 minutes. Therefore, this service is best for larger firms with heavier caseloads or anticipating extensive inquiries.
- Client Web Access portal and mobile app for easy data access
- Call patching to forward your calls to wherever you want
- Bilingual receptionists for client support in English and Spanish (for an additional fee)
- Free message delivery via email or text
- Appointment scheduling software for viewing calendar dates
- Toll-free numbers offered for more straightforward call routing
Plans & Pricing
Unlike answering services geared towards lower call volumes, AnswerConnect offers introductory plans that begin at 200 minutes. Except for the Growth plan, all of AnswerConnect’s plans include a $49.99 setup fee, so it is important to remember this when choosing a plan based on price.
In addition to these introductory plans, AnswerConnect provides plans for up to 100,000 minutes, which include all of the features of the Growth and Standard plans. For plans that go above 500 minutes, it also includes free call transfers.
Set call availability and forward call using AnswerConnect. (Source: AnswerConnect)
You can add additional features, such as bilingual support, live relays, and voice prompts, which can improve your response to clients. However, one issue with these plans and pricing is that many of AnswerConnect’s additional features are standard features of other answering services.
Therefore, law firms or legal professionals who want a more inclusive plan at a lower price point should check out some previous providers, especially if they don’t require a plan above 1,000 minutes a month.
LEX Reception: Best for Solo Firms
Pros
- Provides professional resources for solo firms
- Offers specialized legal support in personal injury, criminal defense, family, and immigration law
- Has document tracking and client follow-ups
Cons
- Requires $75 setup fee for entry-level plans
- Has no voicemail transcription
Why We Like It:
LEX Reception is a 24/7 answering service for lawyers that helps with standard receptionist tasks, like answering calls, scheduling appointments, and taking payments. It is also the best for solo firms because it offers specialized professional support and resources, such as the “Solo Firm Toolkit,” which explains the benefits of an answering service for solo attorneys.
LEX Reception also prioritizes the needs of solo practitioners by supporting seamless integration with CRMs and other workspace management tools unique to the legal industry. For example, the online platform provides integrations from Clio, MyCase, and Lexicata, which can each be used for client intake, communication, and lead capture.
Legal specializations, such as immigration and personal injury law, also mean this answering service can handle complex cases and client needs. For firms that require document handling and hands-on interactions with clients, virtual receptionists can also send documents and handle legal intake.
Where It Falls Behind:
One issue with LEX Reception’s services is the unusual pricing structure and high cost. LEX Reception’s entry-level plan includes a $75 setup fee and a monthly cost of $425. However, the second-tier plan is $450 with no setup fee. This means that it has the highest cost on the list, and the entry-level plan is more costly than the second-tier.
Whereas answering services like AbbyConnect offer voicemail transcription for simplified message delivery and call summaries, LEX Reception does not. We find the service is tailored to firms with low call volumes instead of firms that require more detailed client data.
LEX Reception is best for solo firms because the 24/7 support provided by its virtual receptionists acts as an extra set of hands for busy legal professionals. These receptionists not only answer calls but can also schedule appointments and take payments while you work.
For example, you can use the LEX Reception mobile app to create a personalized consultation calendar to meet with clients on your schedule. Therefore, LEX Reception demonstrates its value for solo firms or those with limited staff by ensuring someone is always available to meet your client’s needs.
- Customized client intake scripts for a variety of legal specialties, such as personal injury cases or immigration screening
- Desktop and mobile app for online access to client data, messages, and tracking monthly usage
- Setmore Premium included in the monthly plan for more efficient appointment scheduling
- Custom integrations with popular legal software like Clio, MyCase, and LawPay
- Virtual receptionists that provide empathic support for improved client retention and a personalized touch
- Live chat availability during weekends and after-hours
Plans & Pricing
Plans* | Minutes | Monthly Price | Setup Fee | Price per Additional Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Entry | 150 | $425 | $75 | $2.75 |
Best Value | 300 | $450 | N/A | $2.25 |
Growth | 500 | $775 | N/A | $2.25 |
*Although there is no charge for the first 30 interactions, interactions are billed by the minute.
LEX Reception offers three introductory plans (Entry, Best Value, and Growth), each differing slightly in key features. While the entry-level plan includes basic firm scripts, it does not include appointment scheduling or email and text message alerts. It also includes a setup fee, so it would be best to choose one of the higher-tiered plans.
After the three lower-tier plans, LEX Reception offers several higher-tier plans, beginning at 750 minutes a month for $1,155 to 2,000 minutes a month for $3,050. These plans include the same features as the Best Value plan, which provides answering services, legal integrations, appointment scheduling, and personalized firm scripts.
LEX Reception offers legal integrations to help grow your firm. (Source: LEX Reception)
Although there is a wide variety of monthly plans, we recommend LEX Reception for firms with lower call volumes. Like AnswerConnect, LEX Reception does not charge for the first 30 interactions under 30 seconds in each billing cycle, which is great for firms that receive undefined call traffic. But overall, LEX Reception is an excellent option for smaller firms.
Gabbyville: Best for Per-call Pricing
Pros
- Provides engaging use cases and customer feedback
- Provides per-second billing for more detailed pricing
- Has free voicemail boxes
Cons
- Lacks updated technological features
- Has no mobile app
- Is not specific to the legal industry
Why We Like It:
Gabbyville is a virtual receptionist service that provides appointment scheduling and call answering with small businesses in mind. In contrast to the other answering services on this list, Gabbyville offers both per-minute and per-call pricing, making it the best option for per-call pricing.
While per-minute pricing is great for law firms with fluctuating call inquiries and shorter calls, per-call pricing is best for stable expectations and longer client calls. Additionally, Gabbyville uses per-second billing instead of rounding up to the nearest minute for more exact and cost-effective pricing.
For law firms and legal professionals, Gabbyville tailors its services to offer prospective clients a professional front-desk experience. The free voicemail boxes and transcriptions ensure you never miss a client’s message.
Overall, Gabbyville specializes in providing excellent engagement and high-quality service through receptionists trained to handle legal professionals’ unique client needs with care and confidentiality.
Where It Falls Behind:
Although many answering services have modern website designs and mobile apps, Gabbyville states that its mobile app is still in development and has yet to have a definite premiere date. Therefore, it is not the best service for virtual firms or lawyers who want on-the-go access to their answering services.
Unlike most legal answering services, Gabbyville offers support only during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Firms that require after-hours or weekend support should consider providers like MAP Communications or Go Answer.
Additionally, we found the website was often unresponsive when accessing information, which can be frustrating if you need to access customer support or other resources. Because Gabbyville is not specific to the legal industry, it also doesn’t offer many standout features that would appeal to larger law firms, like legal software integrations or tailored intake forms.
Gabbyville is the best option for firms interested in per-call pricing. While most other answering services on the list provide plans based on monthly receptionist minutes, Gabbyville offers four different plans priced per call.
There is also unlimited talk for each phone call. Therefore, this pricing option is best for law firms or legal professionals with more detailed service requests or scripts requiring extended client calls.
- Personalized voice mailboxes and voice transcription that allow clients to leave messages after hours
- Plans with a toll-free or local number for your firm
- Call routing to transfer calls to specific numbers or attorneys
- Call screening to filter clients and streamline your client acquisition
- Call forwarding services that allow you to keep your business phone number
- Outbound calling for additional client interactions, like sending appointment reminders
Plans & Pricing
Gabbyville offers multiple monthly plans depending on your call volume, with unique features for each plan. Law firms with lower call volumes can benefit from a Starter or Basic plan, which includes a virtual receptionist Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. These plans also generate leads to convert inquiries into potential clients.
Online scheduling and appointment reminders are only available on the Basic, Premium, and Executive plans. For firms that desire a dedicated team of virtual receptionists, the Premium and Executive plans provide personalized features with room for scalability. However, Gabbyville’s plans are capped at 500 minutes, which could be prohibitive for law firms that receive much larger call volumes.
For firms interested in Gabbyville’s per-call pricing, four different plans are offered for this subscription type. While the Starter plan is comparable to the per-minute pricing, the Basic, Premium, and Executive plans come at a significantly higher price.
Gabbyville also offers live chat services that can be added to your website or plan. While the first 10 chats are free, more chats incur an additional monthly fee that covers a wide range of services. The live chat features include a virtual receptionist trained to use custom scripts that reflect the needs of your firm.
Like virtual receptionist plans, the live chat receptionist can schedule appointments and answer client inquiries. These chat features are beneficial for handling questions about your firm’s specialties or attorney availability. A 20% discount is applied for bundling virtual receptionist services with live chat.
While firms that require more in-depth answering services and longer client calls can benefit from Gabbyville’s per-call pricing, firms that require more complex legal intake should look into other providers.
How We Evaluated the Best Law Firm Answering Services
Numerous answering services are available for law firms that want to improve their availability and client retention. However, not all answering services are the best for your needs. For this guide, we started with 14 of the most popular legal answering services and then created comprehensive evaluation criteria to rank the top 10.
Specifically, we considered product pricing, key features, and the level of support for firms of all sizes.
- Cost: Pricing is a primary concern for many firms, so we compared the costs of each product and evaluated whether it is a good value for the quality of service.
- General Features: We evaluated essential features like voicemail transcription, mobile apps, and the availability of live receptionists for each answering service. These features ensure you get the most out of your answering service.
- Advanced Features: Besides the general features, advanced features include any helpful tools available on the platform. These features include live chat capabilities and appointment scheduling with clients.
- Customer Support: We analyzed the capacity and quality of user support, such as the customer service hours, the diversity of communication methods, and knowledge base forums.
- Ease of Use: This score reflects how user-friendly and intuitive the platform is, focusing on the technical skills required to set up website widgets, access dashboards and portals, or navigate the mobile app.
- Expert Score: Finally, we evaluated the tools based on our knowledge and experience with similar tools. These criteria include user reviews, overall value, and how well the tool works for law firms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The most important features of a legal answering service are client intake, appointment scheduling, case screening, and virtual receptionists with legal training or experience. The technology should also be current, with legal software integrations, cybersecurity protocols, and online portal or mobile app access.
Legal answering services also support law firms by managing call overflow with unique care and confidentiality. Therefore, having 24/7 availability and secure message delivery is also important so you never miss a call.
Lawyers should answer phone calls with a polite introduction, stating their name, the firm’s name, and specialty. Because of the time-sensitive nature of client calls and cases, lawyers should also be available to respond promptly. Therefore, law firms would benefit from a legal answering service or virtual receptionist trained to answer legal inquiries promptly and professionally.
Virtual receptionists are telecommunication professionals who can provide various voice-answering services across industries, such as scheduling appointments and transferring calls. In contrast, legal intake specialists are trained to deliver legal answering services like client intake and case screening with the highest quality of confidentiality.
Bottom Line
The best answering service for law firms allows you to meet client needs no matter how busy you are. Before choosing a service, consider your legal specialization, client type, and overall goals. While some providers prioritize legal intake with trained receptionists and relevant software integrations, others offer personalized support and customizable features that allow you to create the right plan.
We chose Ruby as the best overall legal answering service. However, each provider in this guide provides excellent virtual receptionists or live chat services that cater to firms of all sizes. Explore the provider websites to learn which answering service is best for your law firm.
