Cut Overhead Costs for Your Law Firm With Virtual Receptionists

With the current state of the job market, setting up your own solo practice might seem like the best option. But let’s face it; running a law firm isn’t easy. Besides the plethora of unruly clients that have to be dealt with, there are numerous overhead costs as well. Office space, utility costs and taxes are just a few of the expenses you’ll be facing.

Fortunately, a number of new innovative services have started up that help law firms reduce substantial costs. Third party legal answering services are the most significant of these developments, with an exponential growth in demand over the past few years. Here are a few of the areas where companies find value in these services:

Space

When you draw up a checklist of things needed to set up shop, office space will most likely top the list. It will probably be the biggest of your expenses as well. Depending on the region, a square foot of space may cost anywhere from $24 to $60 per month. Hiring a receptionist will require a separate cubicle or at least a front desk to lodge them. An answering service, on the other hand, wouldn’t require the physical presence of a receptionist in the office, meaning you’ll be saving on office rent.

Expenses

Staffing costs don’t just start and end at the base salary. There are numerous other costs involved as well such as health insurance, pension plan coverage and holiday leaves. Many small businesses and new law firms tend to underestimate these costs, resulting in inaccurate breakeven figures and subsequent losses. With an external answering service, you don’t have to worry about those figures. Most answering services offer packages based on the projected number of calls that will have to be attended. However, some companies may also offer a flat rate billing, which can prove to be more suitable for busier law firms.

Timing

An average receptionist works an 8 hour shift. An average answering service will work a 24 hour shift. 7 days a week. Since virtual receptionists aren’t limited by a physical office space, they also have the advantage of being available even during unconventional periods such as the holiday season or during times of civil unrest or strikes. Having a 24/7 answering service can prove to be especially beneficial for firms dealing with foreign clients that have different time zones.

Specialization

Perhaps the best thing about legal answering services is that they are trained specifically to service certain domains. For example, a good answering service would have enough knowledge to answer basic queries regarding legal matters, saving the need to redirect the call to you. They might also provide the option for bilingual assistance in order to service areas that have English as a second language. All this adds up to substantial savings in human resource training and allow you to focus on more trivial matters.