A caller books a consultation at 6 p.m. By 6:02 they should have a text with the day, the time, the place and what to bring. Most firms either send nothing or send a long text that splits into three. This page gives you a builder for a short confirmation and a separate document checklist text, in English or French, with a live character and segment count.
A law firm consultation confirmation text should name the firm, give the date, time and place, add a phone number and an opt-out, and stay under 160 characters where possible. It confirms a booking the person agreed to, so no consent step applies. Never mention the matter, the other party or case facts in a text.
How do I build a consultation confirmation text?
Consultation confirmation builder
Fill in the fields. Everything stays in your browser. Edit the firm name and details; the samples are placeholders.
What should a confirmation text include, and what should it leave out?
| Element | Include? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Firm name | Always | CASL requires you to identify the sender |
| Day, time and format | Always | The point of the message, and what makes it a confirmation |
| Phone number to change the booking | Always | CASL requires working contact details, valid for 60 days |
| Reply STOP line | Always | CASL requires an unsubscribe mechanism |
| What to bring | Optional, own text | Directly tied to the booked consultation |
| Nature of the matter or other party | Never | Confidentiality: a text can be read by anyone holding the phone |
| Fees, retainer amounts or balances | Not in a text | Send through a secure portal or discuss on the call |
| Promotion for another service | Not in this message | It would need consent, and it breaks the exemption |
Does a confirmation text need consent under CASL?
Not for the consent step. Section 6(6) exempts a message that solely facilitates, completes or confirms a commercial transaction the recipient already agreed to, and one that solely provides a quote they asked for. The identification and unsubscribe rules in section 6(2) still apply. For the full message-by-message map, see CASL for law firms. If the person only called and never booked, use the missed-call text back scripts instead.
How long can the text be?
A single SMS holds 160 characters in the basic GSM-7 alphabet and 70 once any Unicode character appears, such as an emoji. Linked messages carry 153 and 67 characters per segment, according to Twilio's documentation. Common French letters such as é, è and à sit inside GSM-7, but others such as ê, ô and î do not, and one of them is enough to push the whole text into the 70-character class. The builder detects this. Avoid curly quotes, which also force Unicode.
Can an AI intake tool send these?
Yes, with the same limits. The firm is the sender, a lawyer approves the wording, and the tool never gives legal advice, accepts a retainer or decides conflicts. A good setup books the slot, sends text 1 within minutes, and routes anything urgent to a person. Our after-hours voicemail script builder covers the call before the text, and AI receptionists for law firms explains how AGNT/01 scopes the rest.
Consultation text FAQ
Do I need consent to text a consultation confirmation?
No consent is needed for a message that solely confirms or completes a transaction the person already agreed to, under section 6(6) of CASL. The message still has to identify your firm, give contact details and include an unsubscribe mechanism.
Can the confirmation text include a document checklist?
Yes, if the list relates to the consultation they booked, such as what to bring. Keep it to that job. Adding a promotion for another service turns it into a commercial message that needs consent.
What should a law firm never put in a text?
Leave out the nature of the matter, the other party, case facts, fees owed and anything you would not say on a voicemail. Texts sit on phones and carrier systems. Check your law society's confidentiality rules, such as Chapter 3 of the LSO Rules of Professional Conduct in Ontario.
How long can a text be before it splits into several messages?
A standard SMS holds 160 characters in the basic GSM-7 alphabet, or 70 if any character forces Unicode, such as an emoji or certain accented letters. Longer texts are sent as linked segments of 153 or 67 characters each, per Twilio's documentation.
Can I send the confirmation in French as well as English?
Yes. Send it in the language the person used with you. Some French accented letters can switch the whole message to the shorter Unicode limit, so the builder shows the encoding and segment count before you send.
How soon do I have to honour a STOP reply?
No later than 10 business days after the request, per the CRTC FAQ, and sooner is better. Log the date and stop all commercial texts. Keep the unsubscribe working for at least 60 days after each message.
Sources
- Justice Laws: Canada's anti-spam legislation, section 6 (s. 6(2) content rules, 60 days, s. 6(6) exemptions).
- CRTC: CASL frequently asked questions (60-day validity, 10 business days, texts covered).
- Twilio: SMS character limit (160, 70, 153 and 67 character limits, Unicode triggers).
- Law Society of Ontario: Rules of Professional Conduct, chapter 3 (confidentiality).
General information for Canadian law firms, not legal advice. AI tools never give legal advice or decide conflicts. Last verified October 2026 by Aniket Gandhi, AGNT/01.
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