A careful AI receptionist for family law firms that answers with empathy, collects conflict check details, books consultations, and routes safety concerns right away.
Why calls matter for family law firms
Family law callers are often in the hardest moments of their lives: a separation, a custody dispute, a protective order. They need a calm, clear response, and many reach out after hours, when they finally have privacy to call.
An AI receptionist answers every call with care, checks that it is safe to talk, collects what you need for a conflict check, books consultations, and routes safety concerns and urgent hearings immediately. It never gives legal advice.
Common call types
- Divorce and separation consultations
- Custody and visitation questions
- Child and spousal support matters
- Protective orders and urgent hearings
- Existing client updates
- Mediation and fee questions
Relevant automations
- After-hours consultation booking
- Conflict check information capture
- Safe-contact preferences
- Urgent hearing routing
- Consultation reminders
Business outcomes to measure
- Respond when clients finally have privacy to call
- Run conflict checks before consultations
- Protect callers' safety and privacy
- Free paralegals from scheduling calls
What a call sounds like
An illustrative example of a typical call. Your receptionist follows your own rules, services, and wording.
- Caller
- I need to talk to someone about getting a divorce.
- AI receptionist
- Thank you for calling Morgan Family Law. I'm the virtual assistant, and I can help you book a consultation. Is it safe for you to talk right now?
- Caller
- Yes, I'm alone.
- AI receptionist
- Thank you. So we can check for conflicts, what is your spouse's full name?
- Caller
- Jordan Ellis.
- AI receptionist
- Thank you. I have a consultation Tuesday at 2 p.m. or Thursday at 6 p.m. Which works, and is it okay to text or email you the confirmation?
What the AI receptionist asks
- Is it safe for you to talk right now?
- What kind of matter is this: divorce, custody, support, or something else?
- What is the other party's full name, for a conflict check?
- Are children involved?
- Is there an upcoming court date or deadline?
- What is the safest way and time to contact you?
Urgent calls go straight to a person
The caller is in danger
The receptionist tells the caller to call 911 and shares the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. The matter is routed to an attorney.
Emergency custody or protective order hearings
Routed to an attorney immediately, with the hearing date.
Existing clients with urgent filings
Transferred to their attorney or paralegal.
Works with your software
- Clio
- MyCase
- Lawmatics
- PracticePanther
- Smokeball
We connect through each vendor's API, webhooks, or a workflow tool. What is possible depends on your plan and the vendor's API access, which we confirm before quoting.
What to get right
- Ask whether it is safe to contact the caller by phone, text, or email before sending anything.
- Collect the other party's name for conflict checks before any details are discussed.
- The receptionist never gives legal advice or predicts outcomes.
- Restrict access to recordings and transcripts; these calls are sensitive.
Implementation approach
- Write scripts with your attorneys, focusing on tone and safety.
- Define consultation types, fees, and conflict check steps.
- Connect your case management or intake CRM.
- Launch and review every call in the first weeks.
What it costs
Focused automations such as missed-call recovery typically cost $2,000 to $5,000 to build. A production AI receptionist with booking, CRM updates, and call transfers typically costs $5,000 to $15,000, plus monthly usage for calls and texts. Every quote is fixed-scope and in US dollars. See pricing details.
Frequently asked questions
Can an AI receptionist handle sensitive family law calls?
It can answer calmly, check that it is safe to talk, book consultations, and route anything urgent to an attorney. It never gives legal advice.
How does it handle domestic violence situations?
It tells callers in danger to call 911, shares the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and routes the matter to an attorney.
Does it run conflict checks?
It collects the other party's name so your team can run the conflict check before the consultation.
Will it text or email clients?
Only after asking whether it is safe to contact them that way.
Does it work with Clio or Lawmatics?
We connect through the vendor's API or a workflow tool, subject to your plan and the vendor's API access.
Sources
General information, not legal advice.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline)