Answering Service For Law Office

Answering Service For Criminal Attorneys

Attorney Answering Service Cost in 2024 | From $39/Month

Most law offices are surprised to learn that having a live professional to remotely answer calls begins at about $39 a month, or roughly $1.38 per operator minute used. A high end service including legal intake, may run as high as $3.50 a minute.

Cost For Service

Here’s how we get you the best price: Tell us about your law office. When do you need calls answered? How many calls per month? Do you need appointments scheduled? Would you like certain calls patched through? Once we build a profile, we’ll get you 1-4 quotes to compare. There’s no pressure, or obligation. Simply review answering service plans and packages from local call centers near you, and decide. It’s that easy.

This quick guide will help you understand the cost drivers for attorney answering services, allowing you to select and pay for the services that are most cost-effective for your law firm.

4 Ways to Lower The Cost of An Attorney Answering Service

24-Hour Customer Support For Attorneys BrandedUtilizing an attorney answering service can be a game-changer for law firms, offering professionalism and efficiency in handling client communications. However, the costs associated with these services can add up. Here are four effective strategies to lower these costs without compromising on quality:

  1. Optimize Call Duration
    • Train for Efficiency: Ensure your virtual receptionists are trained to handle calls efficiently. This includes quick collection of essential information and understanding when to transfer calls.
    • Use Scripts and FAQs: Implementing scripts and frequently asked questions (FAQs) can help receptionists handle common queries more quickly, reducing call duration.
  2. Carefully Select Your Plan
    • Assess Call Volume: Analyze your monthly call volume and choose a plan that closely matches your needs. Avoid plans with too many or too few included minutes.
    • Consider Pay-Per-Minute Options: If your call volume is significantly low, consider a pay-per-minute plan. This can be more cost-effective than a flat-rate plan with unused minutes.
  3. Limit Call Patching/Transferring
    • Restrict to Essential Transfers: Only use call patching for essential calls. Non-urgent matters can be addressed through messages or emails.
    • Use a Local Number: If possible, use a local number instead of a toll-free number for forwarded calls to avoid additional charges for patched calls.
  4. Regularly Review and Adjust Services
    • Monthly Service Evaluations: Regularly assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the answering service. Check if the current plan still suits your needs.
    • Negotiate with Service Providers: Don’t hesitate to negotiate with your service provider for better rates or discounts, especially if you have a long-term relationship or high volume of calls.

By implementing these strategies, law firms can enjoy the benefits of an attorney answering service while keeping the costs in check. Remember, the key is to find a balance between cost efficiency and maintaining high standards of client service.

Inbound Call Frequency

The number of calls your office receives is closely related to the number of minutes your virtual receptionists will need to spend on the phone but is a separate metric used by many attorneys answering services to set monthly and as-used plan prices. Again, the more calls you receive, the more you can expect to pay—and the more value and cost efficiency you are like to realize from your answering service investment. With a higher call volume, an answering service eliminates the trade-off between hiring multiple receptionists or putting callers on lengthy holds.

24-7 Phone Answering Sevice For Law Offices

Appointment Scheduling Services

Another value-added option available from many inbound call service providers is appointment setting, which can free up substantial amounts of time for your in-office legal staff while also keeping your schedule clear and on track. This will prolong the duration of calls answered by the service you partner with, of course, and also requires additional training to enable your off-site receptionist to access and use your calendar system. This makes appointment setting another cost driver for legal answering services, but again many attorneys find the additional assistance far more valuable than the money spent.Attorney Answering Service

Attorney answering services are very flexible, and can often be customized to fit your firm’s specific needs. By use of this service, our team will connect you with as many as five professional call centers that will match your business needs with the best-qualified companies that will provide competitive quotes to earn your business. Contact us today and see just how much you’ll save!

Inbound Call Patching/Transfer vs. Messaging

Answering services for legal practices often include features such as transferring incoming calls to relevant office personnel or sending messages through email or other platforms, allowing you to respond at your convenience. Opting for call patching or transferring usually incurs an additional, albeit modest, cost. This is because it demands more time from your virtual receptionists and utilizes more resources. Despite the extra expense, the improvement in client satisfaction and retention often justifies this service for many law firms. If you use a toll-free number for forwarded calls, there might be a nominal charge for patched calls. On average, this service might add around $0.05 per call, assuming not every call is transferred and that transferred calls don’t lead to prolonged conversations.

Time Based Billing vs Call Based Billing

The primary cost factor for your legal answering service is the duration of calls handled by your virtual receptionist. Generally, the more extended the calls, the higher the service cost. Most inbound call answering services operate on a model similar to phone plans, where a flat monthly fee covers a set number of minutes. Exceeding this limit incurs additional charges. Some plans may offer billing purely based on minutes used, often including a monthly service fee, but these are typically beneficial only for those with minimal call volumes. For collecting essential information, a call usually lasts from 45 seconds to a minute, costing approximately $0.89 to $1.46 per call. In cases where more extensive information is needed, the cost per call may increase to about $1.50 to $2.10.

Cost of Attorney Answering Services February 9, 2015