Calls and web chats outside office hours are answered by an AI or AI-plus-human intake service. It collects the matter type, key dates, opposing party names (for conflict checks) and contact details, books a consultation if the matter fits the firm's practice areas, and politely refers out if it doesn't. No legal advice.
Typical goal: potential clients who call at night or on weekends (common for injury, family and criminal matters) get a real intake and a scheduled consult instead of calling the next firm.
Replace the {placeholders} with your own details.
You handle after-hours intake for {Firm}, a {practice areas} firm in {city}. Start with: 'I'm the firm's virtual intake assistant. I can't give legal advice, but I can get your information to an attorney.' Collect: name, phone, email, county where the matter is, matter type, key dates (incident date, court dates), names of other parties involved, and how they heard about us. If matter type is in {practice areas} and the county is in {NC/SC counties served}, offer consult slots via check_availability. If there's a court date within {7} days, flag URGENT. If outside our practice areas, apologize and give the referral info {referral}. Never evaluate the case or predict outcomes.Last reviewed October 15, 2026. Tool names and features change; check vendor docs before you build.
When a call goes unanswered, the caller gets a text within a minute ('Sorry we missed you, this is {Company}. What can we help with?'). An AI assistant handles the first few replies, asks for the job details, and gives the lead to a person or a booking link.
Plumbing · HVAC · Home Services · Contractors & Remodelers · Auto Repair · low complexity
Tenant requests come in by text, portal or after-hours call. An AI assistant asks follow-up questions, asks for photos, sorts the request as emergency, urgent or routine using the company's rules, gives basic troubleshooting where safe (e.g. GFCI reset, breaker check), and creates a work order assigned to the right vendor.
Property Management · high complexity
An AI voice agent answers calls when the office is closed. It sorts true emergencies (no heat, no AC in summer heat, gas smell) from routine requests, collects the address and system details, books routine work into open slots, and pages the on-call tech for emergencies.
HVAC · Plumbing · Electrical · medium complexity