Hi there, I’m Aaron Boatin, President of Ambs Call Center. Since 1932, we’ve provided answering services for law firms all across the United States. Over the years, we’ve worked with hundreds of legal practices—from solo criminal defense attorneys to large personal injury firms.
As you know, in the legal world a missed call often means a missed case. Potential clients may be calling from jail, hospitals, or emotionally charged situations. But when hiring full-time staff is too expensive, what can you do? Hire a law firm answering service.
And if you're here, you're probably wondering, “Can someone screen my legal calls after hours?”, “What if I’m in court and can’t answer the phone?”, or “Can a call answering service handle sensitive case info?”
Don't worry. Your concerns are valid—and if you stick with us through this post, you’ll have clear answers and confident next steps.
But first, let's walk through the best phone answering services for legal professionals in 2025 and help you choose the one that fits your firm’s needs.
Best Answering Services for Law Firms [2025 Comparison Table]
|
Law Firm Answering Service |
24/7 Availability |
Human or AI? |
US-Based Agents |
Legal Intake Support |
HIPAA Compliant |
Free Trial |
Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yes |
Human-Only, AI-Only, or Hybrid Options Available |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No, learn why |
$175/mo (human) / $19/mo (AI) |
|
|
Smith.ai |
Yes |
Human and AI |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
$292.50/mo |
|
Ruby Receptionists |
Yes |
Human |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
$385/mo |
|
Answering Legal |
Yes |
Human |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Custom Pricing |
|
Nexa |
Yes |
Human |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
$239/mo |
|
PATLive |
Yes |
Human |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
$235/mo |
|
Posh |
Yes |
Human |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
$210/mo |
Legal Answering Service Reviews
1. Ambs Call Center
Strengths: Trusted by law firms nationwide. Truly US-based agents. 24/7 live answering. Legal intake trained. HIPAA-compliant. AI + human options, great for lead qualification, and FREE CRM integrations. (mycase, Clio, PracticePanther, and more!)
Consider: No free trial, but transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
Why it Works: Ambs Call Center understands attorney schedules from their near-100 years of experience working with attorneys. Their receptionists are trained to capture sensitive legal details accurately and empathetically.
2. Smith.ai
Strengths: AI-powered call routing, CRM integrations, good for lead qualification.
Consider: No HIPAA support; human agents limited in personalization.
3. Ruby Receptionists
Strengths: Friendly live agents, strong brand polish, helpful mobile app.
Consider: Most expensive option. Less focus on legal-specific scripts.
4. Answering Legal
Strengths: Tailored exclusively for attorneys. Offers legal intake, call patching, bilingual receptionists.
Consider: Pricing isn’t published—you’ll need a consult.
5. Nexa
Strengths: Legal-specific experience, bilingual agents, HIPAA compliant.
Consider: Mixed user reviews on onboarding and platform setup.
6. PATLive
Strengths: Affordable pricing, good call scripting, 24/7 human agents.
Consider: Less legal-specific training than others on this list.
7. Posh
Strengths: Customizable routing.
Consider: Lacks experience in many industries.
If you're shopping for a legal answering service and are worried about the cost affecting your firm, consider the cost of a single missed call to your firm.
If you're having trouble figuring it out, use our "Cost of a Missed Call" calculator now!
What Makes Legal Answering Services Different?
Your legal firm needs more than just a voice on the line. Here's why:
- Urgent nature of calls: Calls may come from jail, hospitals, or people seeking immediate legal relief.
- Client confidentiality: Legal receptionists must be discreet, professional, and HIPAA-aware.
- After-hours demand: Court doesn’t care about business hours. Legal emergencies happen 24/7.
- Tone and accuracy: Receptionists must handle emotional, complex situations with calm and precision.
When Should a Law Firm Use an Answering Service?
The age old question for law firms. When attorneys are in court or with a client, someone still needs to answer the phone. And not just anyone—someone trained to handle legal conversations with professionalism and care. So, if you check any of the boxes below, an answering service is likely the right choice for your law firm.
- You’re a solo attorney who can’t always pick up the phone
- You miss calls while in court or client meetings
- Your staff is stretched thin during intake seasons
- You want bilingual support
- You’re trying to improve your client experience without hiring in-house
And, you may not need a law firm if you check any of these boxes below:
- You already have a full in-house admin team
- You rarely receive urgent calls or new leads by phone
- Your practice runs on email/chat-based communication
Isn't that simple? So, what else should an answering service for a law firm cover? Well, there's two main things: being exclusively US-based and having strict HIPAA-compliance.
Why US-Based and HIPAA Compliance Matter for Law Firms
HIPAA compliance extends to more than just a requirement for healthcare professionals. If you want to protect you and your client's information, a HIPAA compliant answering service is your best bet. And if that answering service is also US-based? You've got a winner. Here's why:
- Cultural fluency: Legal conversations are nuanced. Clients want to feel understood.
- HIPAA compliance is necessary: If your firm handles medical records (e.g., injury law), HIPAA applies.
- Local trust: Voices from your own country inspire more confidence.
Read our blog on the Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Your Call Center to learn more!
Frequently Asked Questions About Law Firm Answering Services You Should Know
Can a legal answering service take new client intakes?
Yes. Services like Ambs Call Center and Answering Legal offer detailed intake scripting and follow-up protocols to ensure every potential client is properly onboarded.
What if I miss a call from jail or a court clerk?
No problem. Answering services can alert you via text, email, or live transfer—you’ll know the moment a high-priority call comes in.
Do I need HIPAA compliance for personal injury or medical law?
Absolutely. If you handle health-related information or records, HIPAA compliance protects you legally and ethically.
Can a legal answering service transfer calls to my mobile?
Yes. Most services offer call patching, smart routing, and voicemail forwarding. You stay connected without revealing your personal number.
What’s the average cost for legal answering services?
Expect to pay between $175 to $350/month depending on call volume and features. Ambs Call Center offers flexible plans starting at $175 for human answering or $19 for AI.
Find Your Trusted Legal Intake Support in Ambs Call Center
If you’re a law firm looking for reliable call coverage, empathetic intake, and peace of mind after hours, a specialized legal answering service is a smart investment. And who better to work with than the legal answering service that's handled tens of thousands of legal calls since 1932. Ambs Call Center is here to help your law firm, whenever you're ready. Contact us to learn more.
You handle the legal work. Let us handle the calls.
