# After-hours intake for solo law firms > [llms.txt](https://www.lighthouselegal.ai/llms.txt) Learn when an after-hours answering service makes sense for your solo law firm, what to ask before signing up, and how to get help without being on call. URL: https://www.lighthouselegal.ai/blog/after-hours-intake-for-solo-law-firms [Blog](/blog) September 29, 2026 ## After-hours intake for solo law firms Understand when an after-hours answering service makes sense for your firm. - Solo firms - Intake If you're a solo attorney, your phone probably keeps ringing long after you've left the office. You want to hear from new clients, but you also need time away from work. An answering service can take those calls for you. If you only get a few each week, though, paying for help may seem hard to justify. What should you expect, and what should it cost? ### Is it worth it? Look through a few weeks of call history. How many calls did you miss, and how many people did you reach later? Someone looking for help after an accident may find another lawyer before you call back. **Weigh the cost against the business you might gain and the time you'd get back.** If you're answering calls yourself, count the time spent on basic questions and cases you can't take. Answering services commonly charge by: - **Monthly fee** A flat rate for the hours you want covered. - **Per call / minute** A fee for each call answered or minute spent on the phone. Use your monthly call count when you ask for a quote. Check whether those charges are combined and what costs extra. Ask what you'd pay in both a quiet month and a busy one. ### What you should expect The person who picks up is speaking for your firm. They should ask your intake questions, follow up on missing details, and answer questions about your practice. A caller who only leaves a name and number may still be unsure whether you can help. For a car accident, that could mean asking where it happened, whether the caller was hurt, and whether they got treatment. If they ask whether you handle motorcycle accidents, they should get an answer. **Lighthouse works with attorneys to customize the questions, answers, and qualification criteria for your practice.** Human answering services may charge more to train staff on your firm. A generic script can cost less but leave more of the intake work to you. ### Which calls reach you When someone has a strong case, you want to speak with them right away. **Set rules for which calls reach you and when.** Most others can wait until morning. - **Put the call through** The service asks about the case and tries to reach you if it fits your rules for a live call. - **Send you the details** For other calls, it saves the case details and callback number, sends you notes, and tells the caller when to expect a reply based on your instructions. If you don't pick up, the service should save the caller's details, notify you, and explain what happens next without promising a callback you can't make. ### Try it before you sign up **Test the service with your own instructions before signing up.** Use made-up case details. Ask about the firm, change an earlier answer, and see what happens when you don't pick up a transfer. Read the notes afterward: could you call back without asking all the same questions again? This matters whether a person or an AI answers. Make sure you're trying the plan you'd buy. Our [guide to choosing an after-hours answering service](/blog/can-clients-reach-you-after-hours) has more questions to ask. Start with the times you need help most, such as evenings or weekends. Ask your phone provider how to forward calls from your current number. Once the service is running, review the first few calls and ask for changes where needed. For a step-by-step plan, see [how to test AI answering with Lighthouse](/blog/how-to-test-ai-answering-with-lighthouse). It covers practice calls, forwarding on selected nights, and what to review during the free two-week trial. ### Lighthouse loves solo firms **Lighthouse works with solo attorneys, even if they only get a few calls each week.** Tell us where you need help, and we'll work with you on a plan as you build your practice. Our AI agent asks your intake questions and checks whether a case fits your practice. You choose which callers reach you and at what times. For other calls, you get an email with the details. Garrick McFadden runs [GAMESQ, a solo personal injury practice in Phoenix](/case-studies/gamesq). He used to answer his own intake line. When he couldn't pick up, calls went unanswered. Lighthouse now takes those calls and connects callers whose cases fit his practice. He reported signing more clients without changing his marketing, budget, or staff. > "Since I started using your service I have taken on more clients than any other time in my career as a law firm owner." > > Garrick McFadden, GAMESQ Lighthouse Legal ### Let's talk about the calls you're missing. Tell us what cases you take and when you'd want to answer a call. We'll show you how Lighthouse can help, even if you only get a few calls each week. [Book a demo](/#book-demo) [Call demo agent](tel:+16813760380) +1 (681) 376-0380