your phone rings, and it’s a call from an attorney who works with a law firm

If the phone rings, answer it. If you miss the call, listen to the voice message, if any, and call them back as soon as possible. If you are unable to handle your call volume, consider hiring a legal phone answering service to assist you.

Full Answer

Should you answer the phone when it rings or not?

When the Phone Rings… Answer It We aren’t including this as a rule simply because it should be a given. If the phone rings, answer it. If you miss the call, listen to the voice message, if any, and call them back as soon as possible. If you are unable to handle your call volume, consider hiring a legal phone answering service to assist you.

Should I hire a legal phone answering service?

If you are unable to handle your call volume, consider hiring a legal phone answering service to assist you. We can recommend a service that some of our other attorney clients use and have been happy with the results. We will work with you to help you get the best results possible, no matter what issue you are facing.

How many rings does it cost to call a potential client?

When your phone rings, and it’s a potential client who’s calling you, the first three rings are on the house. BUT — if someone doesn’t pick it up by the end of the third one, each additional ring costs your firm $1,000.

What happens if a potential client doesn’t pick up the phone?

When your phone rings, and it’s a potential client who’s calling you, the first three rings are on the house. BUT — if someone doesn’t pick it up by the end of the third one, each additional ring costs your firm $1,000. Why? (1) Potentials are impatient.

How should I answer my phone at a law firm?

Check out some of the below examples of great greetings when answering the phone.“Good (Morning/Afternoon), thank you for calling (Law Firm Name). ... “Hello, you've reached (Law Firm Name). ... “Thank you for calling (Law Firm Name). ... “Happy (Day of the Week)! ... “Thank you for calling (Law Firm Name).

Do law firms do cold calling?

Lawyers Can't Cold Call Clients (who aren't lawyers) Rule 7.3(a) prohibits both in-person and telephone solicitations for business unless the person contacted is a lawyer or close friend / family.

How does a legal secretary handle a call?

Outgoing Calls:Allow the person answering to state their name and then provide them with your name and the attorney you work for.State your business concisely and speak in a clear, confident voice. ... Be sure of the name of the person you are trying to contact before making a call.More items...

When should a lawyer call you back?

As a general rule, give your lawyer 1-2 days to return your non-urgent phone call; very often, your lawyer may be out of the office for a half-day, whole day, or longer if he/she is in court.

Do lawyers call people?

A: Yes, an attorney can contact you but you have no obligation to speak with them. If you believe you are at risk of being accused of a crime, you should contact a criminal defense attorney to discuss the details of the matter. If you are contacted by law enforcement at any point, do not make any statements.

Can lawyers call potential clients?

ABA Rule 7.3(a) provides that “a lawyer shall not by in-person, live telephone or real-time electronic contact solicit professional employment when a significant motive for the lawyer's doing so is the lawyer's pecuniary gain,” unless the contacted person is another lawyer, a family member or close friend.

What do you say when you call a law firm?

0:041:20What To Say When You Call An Attorney - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou.MoreYou.

What is one quality all successful legal secretaries must have and why?

The most successful secretaries possess drive and initiative. They don't sit waiting for an attorney's instructions or assignments; they stay on top of what needs to be accomplished in any given time period. They anticipate their employer's and clients' needs.

What qualify you to become a legal secretary?

Other common requirements for a legal secretary include:Be at least 18 years old (or 21 in some states).Have a high school diploma or GED certificate.Have secretarial or administrative support skills.A background in the general legal field is helpful.Possess strong communication skills.Be very detail oriented.

What is an attorney vs lawyer?

However, when practising law, lawyers can only provide legal assistance, advice, and counselling to their clients while an attorney can represent clients in court and initiate defendant prosecutions in addition to providing legal counsel and consultation.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•

Why do lawyers never return phone calls?

Returning a client's phone call is not an efficient use of their time. Often, if you get a return call at all it is a paralegal assigned to the case, and often this paralegal cannot answer many of the legal questions you may have.

Can you get in trouble for cold calling?

These "cold calls" can serve as a legitimate way of reaching new customers, but they can also lead to trouble. Dishonest brokers may pressure you to buy a bad investment or a scam.

Can you cold call on Sunday?

Cold calls can only happen between the hours of 8am and 9pm seven days per week.

Is cold calling effective?

Cold calling has lasted so long because it's successful — to a degree. Marketer Charlie Cook estimates that cold calling is successful 2 percent of the time; qualified leads convert 20 percent of the time, he says, while referrals convert half the time.

What is the legal time to call customers?

The regulations also mandate that no commercial communication,even for unregistered customers,shall be sent between 9.00 pm and 9.00 am,so that customers are not disturbed at night. Pandemic effect: Chip manufacturers pick phones, laptops over automobiles...

Do desperate people hang around after the forth ring?

Desperate people don’t hang around after the forth ring.

Do potentials call law firms?

Potential s don’t call law firms to tell you how great their day is going.

What to do if a lead requests fee information on the phone?

What to do if a lead requests fee information on the phone: Simply let them know that the attorney will go over everything with them in person, that you can offer them the opportunity to meet with an attorney face to face for a Free Initial Consultation, and schedule the appointment.

What to do if you miss a call?

We aren’t including this as a rule simply because it should be a given. If the phone rings, answer it. If you miss the call, listen to the voice message , if any, and call them back as soon as possible. If you are unable to handle your call volume, consider hiring a legal phone answering service to assist you.

What is the importance of phone etiquette?

There is a lot more to phone etiquette than simply the tone of your voice and how polite you are , although those items are also extremely important. Properly handling calls from new leads can make a big difference in your ability to convert an interested party into a new client. After working with our legal clients and reviewing the way the best (and the worst) handle calls, we have been able to pinpoint what makes the difference between a new client and a missed opportunity.

How much does a 15 minute consultation cost?

An hour with an attorney costs on average $200-$400, so even a 15-minute consultation has a value of $50-$100.

What to do if a lead wants to tell you all about their problem?

What to do if a lead wants to tell you all about their problem: Politely stop the conversation and inform them that you are not an attorney and can not assist them with their problem over the phone. However, if they schedule their initial consultation now, you can offer them the opportunity to meet with an attorney face to face free of charge. Then schedule the appointment.

How to remind a lead of an appointment?

When you speak with the lead on the initial phone call, confirm with them the best way to remind them of their appointment. Based on the reason for needing your services, they may prefer to be contacted at work or through email instead of through a phone call to their cell.

How many chances do attorneys have of retaining clients?

Studies show that once a lead is in front of an attorney, the attorney has a 74% chance of retaining them as a client. That is why the goal of your phone conversation should be nothing more than scheduling an in-person consultation. The initial phone call is not the time to discuss fees or to qualify the lead.

What should I do if my attorney will not return my phone calls?

Attorney Ben Schwartz talks good customer service and answers the question, “What should I do if my attorney will not return my phone calls?”

Where is the Salisbury law office?

Are you looking for a Salisbury, Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer? Our Salisbury law office is located next to the Shore Bank in Downtown Salisbury, Maryland. Our building address is 100 East Main Street Salisbury, Maryland 21801 and our office is located in Suite 500-A.

How many law firms answer the phone the same way?

You’re giving yourself an opportunity to be forgotten. As potential clients move down their list of law firms that might be able to help them, at least 25% of those firms will answer the phone the same exact way. This can lead to confusion and your potential client forgetting who they just spoke with. You don’t want your firm to be forgotten in a sea of law firms, right?

Why do attorneys need an answering service?

Instead, consider hiring an answering service to provide your callers with a better experience and gather all of the information you need from each potential client.

How to start a client relationship with a law firm?

Start your client relationships off on the right foor by answering the phone with a greeting that is friendly and announces the name of your law firm. Immediately, your client knows they reached who they intended and the call starts off with some positivity. It also helps to mention your own name so that the potential client knows who they spoke with should they need to reference it later.

How often do law firms fail to collect contact information?

Nearly nine times out of ten, law firms fail to collect full contact information from their callers. This is alarming; those callers are your leads! Leads turn into clients – don’t let them walk away.

What happens if a caller ends without collecting information?

Every call that ends without collecting information from your caller is money out the window. You are now at their will and can’t follow up to sell your legal services to them. Not to mention, if they call back, you have no record of what happened during that initial call.

What is the relationship between a lawyer and client?

An important part of the client/attorney relationship is a feeling of trust and mutual respect. Whether you realize it or not, that relationship starts as soon as someone picks up the phone for your law firm! We all know that first impressions matter, and that first phone call is your chance to give a killer first impression. Don’t blow it with poor customer service, answering with a generic greeting, or by missing the call altogether.

Is it okay to talk to a caller?

Small talk is okay, but try to get straight to the point of what the caller’s needs are. Be friendly and upbeat while keeping them focused on their needs so you can understand exactly what they need help with. This avoids wasting anyone’s time and gets the potential client the help they need sooner rather than later.