By Guest Blogger Melanie Fischer
Most solo attorneys wish they had a full-time receptionist on staff to answer the office phone every time it rings. But due to budget restrictions and/or lack of office space, many solo law firms operate as a one-person shop. The attorney does it all.
In many solo law firms, if there are papers to file, the attorney files them. If there are bills to pay, the attorney pays them. If there are clients to meet, the attorney meets with them. And, if the phone rings, the attorney answers it.
Some solo attorneys have a system down pat. The attorney may allot certain times of the day for filing paperwork, paying bills, meeting with clients, and returning phone calls. However, problems can quickly arise on busy days. When it’s busy, there simply isn’t enough time to get everything done in an efficient manner.
Answering the Phone Can be a Time Killer
Every attorney’s time is valuable. When an attorney is trying to fill his or her day with as many billable hours as possible, there isn’t much time to waste. As a solo attorney, missed phone calls can mean missed opportunities. But most solo attorneys do not necessarily have time to answer the phone each and every time it rings. In fact, answering the phone every time it rings can lead to many wasted minutes and hours each day. So, what are solo attorneys to do if they don’t have the budget or the space for a full-time receptionist? The answer may be to hire a virtual receptionist.
Virtual Receptionists
There is little doubt that hiring a virtual receptionist is a cost-efficient and time-efficient method of dealing with office phone calls. A virtual assistant does not work on site. And if trained properly, a virtual receptionist can answer a caller’s basic questions, get a hold of the attorney immediately if warranted, take messages, and reassure the caller that the attorney will get back with them as quickly as possible. The personal communication that a virtual receptionist provides can make all the difference!
How is a Virtual Receptionist Paid?
There are several different virtual receptionist services available to solo attorneys. And each has its own billing method. Some require the attorney to pay a monthly fee and also an additional fee for each phone call answered. Others charge based on the number of total minutes the virtual receptionist spends on the attorney’s phone calls each month. Therefore, before any solo attorney decides to hire a virtual receptionist service, the various options should be compared and the best one selected.
However, it’s probable that no matter how much a solo attorney spends on a virtual receptionist, the fee will be well worth the cost. A virtual receptionist saves a solo attorney time. And as all solo attorneys know – – time is valuable. Also, with a virtual receptionist, there is no need to hire a full-time staff or pay for extra office space. Clients prefer to talk with a human every time they call their attorney. This simple fact is reason enough to look into hiring virtual receptionist.
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I am a big believer in professionals answering your phone. Particularly if your firm handles consumer cases such as personal injury. While many of the better options are very expensive, it is a cost that is well worth it in the long run.
If the contact is positive and professional the first time, you stand a good chance of getting the business. If not, they will call your competition.
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