Lawyers — AI Receptionist & Phone Answering

Does this sound familiar?

When you're in court or with a client, the next client can't reach you. Most legal enquiries come from people in difficult moments — an accident, a divorce, a probate, a contract dispute. Lawyers at work Lawyers workspace Lawyers service in progress They want help today. They call three firms and retain whoever picks up. Clara picks up every call, captures the matter type and the urgency, and gets the intake on your calendar — so you don't lose the case to the firm that just had a paralegal at the desk.

Solo and small-firm legal practice is one of the most lead-response-sensitive businesses in professional services. A prospective client picks up the phone in the middle of a difficult moment — an accident, a divorce filing, a contract dispute, a probate emergency. They want to speak to a lawyer today. They call three firms in fifteen minutes. The firm that picks up takes the case. The firm that doesn't never even knew the lead existed.

The numbers on lead-response speed make this concrete. Research published in Harvard Business Review found businesses contacting a new lead within five minutes are 100 times more likely to make contact than those waiting thirty. For a small law firm, where a single retained case can generate tens of thousands of dollars in fees, the firm that picks up — or whose virtual receptionist does — wins the consultation, the engagement letter, and the relationship.

Industry research from Invoca puts the small-business missed-call rate around 25%. For lawyers who spend their working hours in court, at depositions, and in client meetings, the real rate runs much higher. The hidden cost isn't the one missed call — it's the relationship. A satisfied client refers their family, their business partners, their neighbors. Every missed first call is potentially a decade of word-of-mouth business that goes to a firm with better intake.

New client intake

Family law consultations

Personal injury enquiries

Estate planning

Business law calls

Real estate transactions

Existing case updates

Court date queries

When customers call, Clara can...

Ask what kind of matter they need help with
Confirm whether it's a new matter or an existing case
Note any deadline or urgency
Ask how they heard about the firm
Save their name and number for callback

Hi there, you've reached Brennan Law. I'm the virtual assistant, how can I help you today?

Hi — I was in a car accident last Friday. The other driver ran a stop sign. I'm okay but my car's totaled and I'm starting to get really stiff in my neck. Should I be talking to a lawyer?

I'm sorry to hear that. Yes, this is the kind of matter the firm handles. A few quick questions so the team can call you back prepared. Was there a police report filed at the scene?

Yes. The officer cited the other driver.

Good. Have you spoken to the other driver's insurance yet?

Not yet. My insurance adjuster has reached out to me though.

Got it. Have you been seen by a doctor since the accident?

Not yet. The neck stiffness only started yesterday.

Understood — that's something the team will want to talk through with you, including next steps for that. Can I take your name and the best number to reach you?

Owen Davis. 469-555-0162.

Thanks Owen. And how did you hear about Brennan Law?

A friend recommended you.

Great. Mr. Brennan is in court this morning — I'll get all of this to his team and someone will call you back this afternoon to set up a consultation. In the meantime, please don't give a recorded statement to any insurance company until you've spoken to a lawyer.

Okay, got it. Thank you.

You're welcome, Owen. The team will be in touch shortly. Take care of yourself.

Simple pricing, 7-days free

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Solo

Recommended

CA$64.99

/month 7-day free trial

One person. Every call covered

Answers calls 24/7

20+ natural-sounding voices

Call summaries, transcripts, and recordings

Spam filtering and urgent flags

Make and receive calls, all in one place

Call forwarding, keep your number

Live chat support

Teams

One business, multiple people, total coverage.

Everything in Solo, then:

Multiple users on one account

Shared phone numbers

Call routing to the right person

Web dashboard

Call summaries sent to email

Priority support

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Clara handle new client intake?

Yes. Clara asks the right opening questions — matter type, basic facts, deadline, source — and texts you a written summary so you can call back ready to confirm the consultation.

Will Clara give legal advice?

No. Clara collects intake information only and is configured not to give advice, opinions, or strategy. The privileged conversation stays with your firm.

Can Clara screen out matters outside our practice areas?

Yes. Clara can be configured with the matter types you accept and politely redirect or take a message for ones you don't, so your team isn't pulled into intake for cases you won't take.

What if an existing client calls about an ongoing case?

Clara takes a message with the details and flags it so the right attorney can follow up when they're free.

Does Clara work after hours?

Yes. Clara answers 24/7. After-hours intake — often when prospective clients have time to make difficult calls — is captured and waiting in your inbox first thing.

Will callers know they're speaking to AI?

Clara introduces herself as the virtual assistant and sounds natural — most callers continue the conversation without thinking about it.

Can Clara handle confidentiality?

Clara captures only the intake details the caller chooses to share and routes the message securely to you. The privileged conversation begins with the attorney.

Do I need a new phone number?

No. Clara works with your existing firm number. Set up call forwarding and Clara picks up when you can't.