VoIP for law firms and a law firm VoIP phone system for intake and client calls
Youvoip is a cloud phone system for law firms of 2 to 200 people. Every plan includes an auto attendant that sorts new client intake from existing clients, encrypted calls (TLS and SRTP), call recording with a consent announcement, and voicemail to email with a transcript, from $12.50 per user per month billed yearly. Attorneys answer the firm's number from the office, the courthouse or home, and nobody gives out a personal cell.
Why law firm phone systems lose new clients
A prospective client with a new injury, an arrest or a custody deadline usually calls more than one firm. The firm that answers, or calls back first, tends to get the consultation. Yet many small firms still run on a single landline that rings at the front desk, rolls to one shared voicemail box after hours, and forces attorneys to hand out cell numbers so clients can reach them. The result is missed intake calls nobody can see, voicemails that sit until morning, and client conversations spread across personal phones the firm does not control. A law firm VoIP phone system fixes each of those problems with routing rules, instead of relying on whoever is at the desk.
- Intake calls ring the people who handle intake, first, every time
- Voicemails arrive as email with a transcript, so a message is read in minutes
- Attorneys call and text clients from the firm's number, never a personal one
- Missed calls are reported per person, so lost leads are visible
A call flow built for legal intake
Most firms need the same three paths: new clients, existing clients and everything else. With the auto attendant on every plan, the main number greets callers, offers a short menu and routes each key to a ring group. New matters ring your intake coordinator and a paralegal at the same time, then overflow to an attorney's mobile app. Existing clients reach the right legal assistant. After hours, a separate greeting takes a message and the voicemail goes straight to the intake inbox with a transcript, so the first person in at 8:00 knows which calls to return before 8:15. Call routing handles court days too: sequential ringing tries the attorney first, then their assistant, then voicemail, so a call is never stuck on a phone that is switched off in a courtroom.
Example call flow for a litigation firm
Harlan and Pierce Law, main line +1 (555) 010-0187
- After hours
- greeting After hours, then voicemail Intake, transcription on
Client confidentiality with encrypted calls and controlled recordings
ABA Model Rule 1.6 asks lawyers to make reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized access to information about a representation, and ABA Formal Opinion 477R applies that duty to electronic communication. A phone system is part of that picture. Calls placed through the Youvoip apps, the web softphone and supported SIP desk phones are encrypted in transit, with TLS for signalling and SRTP for audio. Recordings, voicemails and transcripts are encrypted at rest and visible only to the roles you allow. Every attorney and staff member signs in with an individual account, so there are no shared logins, and admins can switch international calling off per user to block toll fraud. Read the details on our VoIP security page.
- TLS and SRTP encryption for calls in transit
- Recordings, voicemails and transcripts encrypted at rest
- Individual accounts and roles for attorneys, staff and admins
- SSO, audit log and retention policies on Enterprise
Call recording for law firms, with a consent announcement
Recording helps intake teams confirm what a prospective client said about dates and deadlines, and helps new staff learn how the firm handles first calls. It also needs care. Federal law allows one-party consent, but California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington and several other states require every party to agree. Youvoip lets your admin choose which numbers, queues or users record, and plays an announcement at the start of a recorded call. Many firms record the intake line and leave attorney lines unrecorded so privileged conversations stay off the recording. Call recording software is on every plan: 90 days of storage on Essentials, one year with search on Business, and unlimited storage with export on Ultimate.
The firm's number on every attorney's phone
With the business phone app for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, an attorney between hearings answers a transferred call from the firm's main line, and the client sees the firm's caller ID on the callback. On Business, business texting lets staff send appointment reminders and document requests from a firm number, so client texts stay in the firm's records rather than on a personal phone. When an associate leaves, their number stays with the firm and you reassign it in the admin console.
Which plan fits your firm
| Firm need | Essentials | Business | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user, billed yearly | $12.50 | $19.50 | $29.50 |
| Intake menu, business hours and holiday schedules | Included | Included | Included |
| Encrypted calls and voicemail to email with transcript | Included | Included | Included |
| Call recording storage | 90 days | 1 year, with search | Unlimited, with export |
| Business texting from firm numbers | Not included | Included | Included |
| Call queues for a busy intake line | Not included | Included | Included |
| CRM integrations: HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho | Not included | Included | Included |
| Multi-office setup with local numbers per site | Not included | Not included | Included |
A solo practice or small firm usually starts on Essentials. Firms that run marketing-driven intake, such as personal injury or criminal defense, often need Business for queues, texting and a year of searchable recordings. Firms with several offices choose Ultimate. See every line item on VoIP pricing.
Keep the number your clients already know
Your firm's number is printed on letterhead, court filings, bar directory listings and every website that mentions you. Number porting moves it to Youvoip at no charge. You build the intake menu and invite the team first, your current line keeps working until the port completes, and then calls arrive through Youvoip on the same number. Compatible SIP desk phones can often be reused. Our guide on how to port a business phone number lists the documents your current carrier will ask for.
Common questions about VoIP for law firms
What is the best phone system for a small law firm?
The best phone system for a small law firm answers every intake call, keeps client calls on the firm's number and protects what is said. Look for an auto attendant, simultaneous ring for intake, voicemail to email, mobile apps, encrypted calls and recording with consent announcements. Youvoip includes all of these on every plan, from $12.50 per user per month billed yearly. Our buyer's comparison for small law offices covers what to check.
Is VoIP secure enough for attorney client calls?
Yes, when the provider encrypts calls and stored data and you control access. Youvoip encrypts calls in transit with TLS and SRTP, encrypts recordings and voicemails at rest, and gives each person an individual login and role. That supports the reasonable efforts ABA Model Rule 1.6 expects. Calls that leave our network for another carrier follow that carrier's rules, like any phone call.
How much does a law firm VoIP phone system cost?
Youvoip costs $12.50 per user per month on Essentials, $19.50 on Business and $29.50 on Ultimate, billed yearly, or $25, $39 and $59 billed monthly. Recording, the auto attendant and voicemail to email are included on every plan. Taxes and regulatory fees are added on the invoice and vary by state.
Can attorneys use their cell phones without sharing their personal number?
Yes. The Youvoip mobile app places and receives calls on the firm's number, so clients see the firm's caller ID. Personal numbers stay private, and when someone leaves the firm, their business line stays with the firm.
Should a law firm record client calls?
Many firms record intake calls and leave attorney lines unrecorded. Check the consent law in every state where you and your callers are, since some states require all parties to agree. Youvoip plays a recording announcement and lets you choose exactly which lines record.
Can we keep our current law office phone number?
Yes. Number porting keeps your existing numbers at no charge, and your current service keeps working until the port completes.
Answer every intake call on the firm's number
Build your intake menu in the VoIP demo and hear how it sounds, then set up Youvoip on your own number with recording, routing and voicemail to email included.
More for your firm's phone system
Compare the full business phone system, see how the IVR system and auto attendant works, or read our auto attendant greeting examples, which include a script for a law office. Firms with one or two attorneys should also see phone systems for small business. Other professional offices with similar intake needs use our phone system for insurance agency setup.