People call a lawyer right after something happens: an accident, an arrest, a letter from the other side. They're worried, and they want to talk to someone now. If your firm's phone goes to voicemail, many of them simply call the next firm on the list. So what does a legal answering service have to do, what should you ask before you sign up, and what does it cost?
The calls a small firm gets
Most calls are new inquiries: someone explains what happened and wants to know whether you can help. A few are urgent, like an arrest tonight or a court date this week, and those need to reach a lawyer quickly. Some callers have a matter you don't take, and they deserve a kind answer and a clear next step.
Whoever answers has a careful job. They need to write down the basics, leave legal advice to your lawyers and keep a record your team can trust later. "Do I have a case?" is a question for a lawyer, so a good service takes the details and books the consultation.
What it has to do
- Take the basics: name, number, type of matter, any deadline or court date.
- Leave legal advice to your lawyers. "Do I have a case?" goes to a lawyer.
- Tell callers kindly when you don't handle their kind of matter.
- Flag urgent matters, like an arrest or a deadline this week.
- Book consultations into free times.
- Keep a written record of every call.
$99 a month. Cancel anytime.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Can I limit intake questions, so callers don't share too much?
- Can I list practice areas, and matters we don't take?
- Does it connect to our case management software? If you use legal software like Clio, check it connects.
- How are urgent matters sent to us?
- Can callers book a consultation during the call?
- Can we read the full conversation later?
What it costs
Live answering services charge for people's time, so they cost more per minute. AI services cost less, answer every inquiry right away and write down the basics, day and night. Here are the public prices of the best-known options:
| Service | Who answers | Starts at | Books into your calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cally24 | AI | $99 a month, 240 minutes | Yes |
| Ruby | Live people | $250 a month, 50 minutes ($395 for 100) | Optional scheduling |
| Smith.ai | AI, live backup | $0 for 25 calls; Pro $150 for 75 calls | Calendly and more |
| Rosie | AI | $49 a month, 250 minutes | From the $149 plan |
| Dialzara | AI | $29 a month, 60 minutes | From the $99 plan |
| Goodcall | AI | $79 a month, 100 callers | Google Calendar |
Prices checked October 25, 2026 on each company's public pricing page. Prices change. Sources and the math for 100 minutes are in what an AI receptionist costs.
If your team works in other software, Cally24 can send each lead to 5,000+ apps through Zapier. See integrations.
An evening with Cally
It's 9:40 PM. A mother calls because her son was arrested an hour ago. Cally answers in your firm's name, takes her name, her number and the basic facts, and sees that it's urgent. It flags the matter and puts the call through to you, so you know who's calling and why before you say a word.
At 8:05 AM the next day, someone calls about updating a will. Cally asks the intake basics, checks your calendar and books a consultation on Thursday at 2:00 PM. The summary and the full conversation are waiting in your dashboard when you sit down.
How Cally24 handles law firm calls
Cally answers in your firm's name, asks the intake basics, and books consultations into free times. Legal advice and conflict checks stay with your team, and Cally collects the names they need for the check. Urgent matters are flagged and put through. Each lead arrives by email, in your dashboard and as a phone alert, with the full conversation saved. It costs $99 a month with 240 minutes included.
Law firm setup checklist
- Practice areas listed
- Matters you don't take, and what to say
- Consultation length and free times
- Urgent rules: court dates, deadlines, arrests
- What to say about fees, if anything
- Forwarding on for unanswered calls
See Cally for law firms, pricing, or hear your own receptionist, built from your website in 30 seconds.
Common questions
Does Cally ask for sensitive details?
Keep intake to the basics: name, number, type of matter and any deadline. Tell Cally not to ask for anything more, and your team can go deeper on the call back.
Can Cally run a conflict check?
No. Cally collects the names you need, and your team runs the check.
Can callers book a consultation directly?
Yes. Connect your calendar and set consultation lengths, and Cally books callers into free times.
