Reception for Solo Attorneys: Three Setups at Three Budgets

Solo attorneys lose more calls than anyone. You're in court, with a client, or driving, and the phone goes to voicemail. Most callers with a new legal problem don't leave a message; they call the next name on the list. Here are three ways to fix it, with costs from published prices on 11 November 2026.

Setup 1: a shared receptionist plan (small budget)

What you get: a team answers your calls, takes messages, and books into your online calendar. 24/7 on most plans. Costs at entry level: Posh 50 minutes $130/month; Veza Reception (legal-only) 100 minutes $200; Ruby 50 minutes $250; Abby Connect 50 minutes $164; PATLive 50 minutes $99; Responsive Answering from $29 plus $1.25/minute. At 100 three-minute calls a month (300 minutes): Responsive about $358, PATLive about $479, Veza about $515, Posh about $630. Best for: fewer than about 100 calls a month, mostly new enquiries. Watch for: overage rates, rounding, and messages piling up while you're in court.

Setup 2: a part-time dedicated remote receptionist (mid budget)

What you get: one person who answers your line during set hours and spends the gaps on your calendar, client updates, document requests and billing reminders. Costs: HireParalegals and Virtual Legal Assistants from $8/hour: about $693/month at 20 hours a week and $1,040 at 30. Back Office Betties (US-based) sells 20-hour monthly plans from $886. Best for: solos with steady daytime volume and admin that's eating evenings. Watch for: you're now managing a person. Give them a written routine (our front-desk workflow guide has one) and a weekly check-in.

Setup 3: the hybrid (what many solos end up with)

What you get: a part-time dedicated receptionist for your busiest hours, plus a shared or pay-as-you-go plan for lunch, evenings and court days. Example: HireParalegals, 20 hours a week at $8 (about $693), plus Posh's $65 plan at $2.30/minute for 60 overflow minutes ($203). Total about $896/month.

How to choose in 15 minutes

1. Count last month's inbound calls, and the share during your court or meeting hours.
2. List the admin tasks you do after 6pm.
3. Under 100 calls and little admin: Setup 1. Steady calls plus evening admin: Setup 2. Both, with court days: Setup 3.

What to put in place on day one

• Call forwarding rules: who rings first, after how many seconds, and where calls go next.
• A one-page script: greeting, new-client questions, conflict-check names, booking rules, what never to say.
• A same-day rule for returning messages.
• Calendar slots the receptionist can book without asking you.