Telephony for Law Firms

Lawyers are often on the move, appearing in court and going to meetings with clients, all while taking calls on cases and handling other tasks in between. Today’s attorneys need tools that seamlessly transition phone conversations from their inside office lines to external devices without interruption. Having robust, mobile, and reliable business communications are essential for every firm, from the family office to large corporate practices.

In such a high-stakes field, feature-rich voice communications can help clients feel well cared for from the very first conversation. These effective communication systems can aid attorneys in creating long-lasting relationships between their firms and clients. What do IP-based phone technologies have to offer legal practices?

Strong First Impressions

Often the first point of contact with a new client is a phone call, and the last thing anyone wants to listen to is low-quality call waiting music or the classic ‘never-ending’ ring. A VoIP auto-attendant can answer using pre-recorded messages, including a directory categorized by department, extensions, last names, etc. These systems can play uploaded (or standard) music or marketing messages when someone is placed on hold, with different content for each repeat caller to avoid annoyingly repetitive loops of information.

Better Client Relationships

Perhaps one of the best features hosted VoIP has to offer is CRM (Customer Relationship Management) integration. With CRM integration, employees can receive pop-ups with relevant customer information when calls come in from a number attached to existing accounts. That data may include details of previous calls, length of conversations (important for billing), and the topic of each discussion. Not only does this technology allow attorneys to pick up where their conversations left off, but it improves the customer experience. Clients will trust that their attorney is genuinely paying attention and listening to their legal needs.

More Professional Connections

Lawyers are often outside of the office, and a phone system that can follow them anywhere is key to an efficient practice. IP-based telephony eliminates the need for a dedicated phone line, allowing users to utilize their smartphones as another business line. Giving a client a personal number can look unprofessional and lead to privacy and safety issues. Hosted VoIP allows attorneys to permanently route calls to their mobile or temporarily provide access for top clients. Voicemails and faxes can also be directly sent via email or text, circumventing the need to return to the office to access critical information.

Reduced Office Overhead

VoIP also saves law firms money. It doesn’t require as many hardware resources as traditional phones, and our unique Call Path Pricing model increases those savings. Call Path Pricing bases the cost on the lines they use each month, not the number of phones. This program is extremely handy for firms looking to grow with a limited budget or possibly downsize in the future. To top it off, firms can pay month-to-month; no contracts are required.

Still Have Questions?

Follow the practices above to improve client engagement and watch satisfaction rates soar! And check out our other articles for more advice on specific industries and use cases.