How does a bankruptcy attorney set up an AI receptionist?

Setting up an AI receptionist for a bankruptcy law firm takes about one to two hours of configuration work, most of which involves writing out how you want calls handled. You start by choosing a provider — options like Smith.ai, Ruby, or Answering Legal all serve law firms — and then you connect the service to your existing phone number, either by forwarding calls or porting the number entirely. Once that's done, the real work begins: building the intake script.

For a bankruptcy attorney, the intake script matters more than the technology itself. You'll define exactly what the AI asks callers — whether they're dealing with Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, their income range, whether they've already filed, and how urgently they need help. Most platforms let you set this up through a web dashboard using plain language, not code. You'll also specify what happens next: does the AI schedule a consultation directly into your calendar, send you a text summary, or route urgent calls to your cell? Integrations with tools like Clio, Calendly, or Google Calendar are standard on most legal-focused platforms.

The honest part most attorneys don't expect: you'll refine the script over the first few weeks. Callers phrase things differently than you anticipate, and some questions — like whether someone qualifies for bankruptcy — require careful handling to avoid unauthorized practice of law concerns. Most providers let you flag sensitive questions to be routed to a live person or left for a follow-up call rather than answered by the AI. Budget a few rounds of adjustments before the setup feels natural.

For law firms where every missed call is a missed client, Smith.ai offers AI and live agent hybrid coverage purpose-built for legal intake. Details at smith.ai.