A good after-hours voicemail for a law firm names the firm, says the office is closed, tells callers what details to leave, gives an urgent path, and promises a specific callback window. It stays under about 30 seconds and never offers legal advice. Use the builder below for an English or French version.
What should a law firm's after-hours voicemail say?
Five things, in this order: who you are, that the office is closed, what to leave, what to do if it is urgent, and when to expect a call back. Anything beyond that is noise. The structure below works for a solo practitioner or a ten-lawyer firm, and the same wording can be handed to an answering service or an AI receptionist so every channel sounds the same.
| Part | Purpose | Example wording |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identify | Caller knows they reached the right firm | "You have reached Smith Law." |
| 2. Status | Explains why nobody answered | "Our office is closed. We reopen at 9 a.m. Monday to Friday." |
| 3. What to leave | Gets what you need for a conflict check, nothing more | "Please leave your name, phone number, and the names of any other people or companies involved." |
| 4. Urgent path | Court dates and detention matters do not wait | "If you have a court date in the next two days, call 613-555-0100." |
| 5. Promise | Sets an expectation you can keep | "We return messages within one business day." |
Placeholder phone number shown. Replace with your own.
Greeting builder
Fill in your details, choose a language, and copy the script. The timing line uses a speaking pace you can change. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Voicemail greeting builder
The pace is an assumption for planning, not a measured figure. Record the greeting and time it with your own voice.
What should a law firm voicemail never say?
- Anything that sounds like advice. "Don't sign anything" is advice. Leave it out.
- Promises of results. Lawyers' marketing rules in Ontario expect statements to be accurate and verifiable, and a greeting can count as marketing. Say who you are and when you call back, nothing more. See the LSO Rules of Professional Conduct.
- A request for the full story. Ask for names and a callback number first. Detailed facts can wait until a conflict check is done, which is the same two-stage idea used in law firm intake automation.
- A long list of menu options. If callers must press three buttons to leave a message, many will hang up.
- An outdated urgent number. Test the urgent path each quarter. A dead number is worse than none.
How long should an after-hours voicemail greeting be?
There is no official length. As a working target, keep it under 30 seconds, which is roughly 75 words at the default pace in the builder. Short enough that a caller does not skip ahead, long enough to carry all five parts above. The builder shows the word count and an estimated duration so you can trim before you record. If you add a French version, record two separate greetings or one clear back-to-back message, and keep each one under the same limit.
When is voicemail not enough?
Voicemail captures a message, but it cannot book a consult, run a quick conflict screen, or text the caller back. If you are losing callers overnight, compare it with a missed-call text back, a live answering service, or an AI receptionist. Our guide to answering services versus AI receptionists lays out the trade-offs, and the missed-call cost calculator for law firms helps you decide whether it is worth changing. If calls are recorded, check call recording consent rules first.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a law firm voicemail greeting be?
There is no official limit. Aim for under 30 seconds, about 75 words at a typical speaking pace, and time your own recording.
What should I ask callers to leave on voicemail?
Their name, a callback number, and the names of any other people or companies involved, so you can run a conflict check. Save the detailed facts for the consultation.
Should the greeting be bilingual?
If you serve French-speaking clients, yes. Record a French version of the same five parts. Have a French speaker review the wording.
Can a voicemail greeting count as marketing for a lawyer?
Assume it can. Ontario's marketing rule expects statements to be accurate and verifiable and not misleading, so keep the greeting factual: who you are, hours, and callback window.
Do I need an urgent line in the greeting?
It is good practice if you handle matters with fixed deadlines, such as court dates. Tell callers what counts as urgent and test the number regularly.
Can an AI receptionist replace voicemail?
It can answer, collect the same details, and book a consult, but it should use the wording your firm approved and never give legal advice.
Sources
General information for Canadian businesses, not legal advice. Have your own lawyer review any script before you use it.
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