How a Professional Answering Service Can Help Solo Practitioners

 
When you’re a lawyer running your own practice, being efficient and managing your time is more important than ever. Whether or not you have legal assistants and paralegals, the one thing that is certain is you’ll always need someone to answer the phones. Almost all clients will contact your office via telephone, which makes it vital to make sure every call is answered. With almost 50 percent of attorneys practicing solo, as reported by the American Bar, a live answering service has risen as a solution for many with this problem.

Client Retention

When someone calls an attorney, they often need immediate help. This means they will likely hang up and call someone else if an automated service picks up the call. With a live receptionist taking the caller’s information, the customer is more likely to feel confident the lawyer will call back and take care of the issue. More clients equal increased growth and more income for your firm.

Availability

As a solo practitioner, you are likely handling all interviews, cases, depositions and hearings, and are therefore unable to answer the phone for several hours at a time. By hiring a receptionist service, you’ll be able to ensure someone can answer calls any time, day or night, even on holidays. You won’t have to worry about what is happening on the phones while you’re taking care of clients; your hired receptionist service will take care of that for you. You won’t have to worry about what is happening on the phones while you’re taking care of clients; your hired receptionist service will take care of that for you.

Customization

You’re in control of your own company, so you should also be in charge of what happens with your call reception. With several options to choose from, and most included at no additional charge, you are able to design the program to fit your needs. This can include which calls require forwarding and which can simply have messages emailed, as well as what you want done if calls are answered late at night or over holidays. You can even choose to have your appointments scheduled by the receptionist and allow any legal assistants to complete other assignments instead of managing your schedule.

Call Fielding

Your time is valuable, and even more so when you are the only lawyer in your firm. Having an answering service to field phone calls means less time wasted on conversations and details that aren’t pertinent to the case. You can get the information you need without anything you don’t. Receptionists can also field phone calls so you avoid being bothered by any sales calls or solicitors.

Cost Savings

One of the biggest keys to the success of your firm is how well your funds are managed. Hiring a receptionist who can perform all the tasks and functions an answering service can handle would be immensely expensive, especially when you factor in overtime and holiday pay. By choosing one of VoiceNation’s many options for plans, you can select only what you need and avoid paying for anything extra. You will not only increase profits through client retention but also save money you would have had to pay a receptionist.
As a lawyer running his or her own firm, you likely realize how important it is to make smart business decisions. The choice to hire an answering service is one that can benefit you in a variety of ways and lead to increased clients and retention. One of the best ways to save time, money and stress is by delegating tasks to a receptionist service so you are free to handle the more pressing matters of your firm.
Give VoiceNation a call or try our 7-day Free Trial today to check out our simple pricing plans and to see how our services can help you take your firm to the next level of service.