How does an estate planning attorney set up an AI receptionist?

Setting up an AI receptionist for an estate planning law firm typically takes a few hours to a few days, depending on the platform and how much customization you need. The attorney starts by choosing a provider that supports legal intake — some, like Smith.ai, are built specifically for law firms, while others are general-purpose tools that require more configuration. After signing up, the attorney provides basic information about the practice: office hours, service areas, languages spoken, and the types of matters handled, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate.

The next step is scripting the call flow. The attorney decides how the AI should greet callers, what questions it should ask new prospective clients — typically name, contact information, the nature of their legal need, and urgency — and how it should handle existing clients calling about active matters. Most platforms let you set escalation rules, so calls involving time-sensitive situations, such as a death in the family requiring immediate probate guidance, can be routed to a live person or flagged for urgent callback. Estate planning firms often deal with emotionally sensitive callers, so the tone and scripting decisions matter more than in many other industries.

Once the script is built and tested, the attorney forwards their main phone number to the AI system, either full-time or only when lines are busy or after hours. Most platforms send call summaries and new lead notifications by email or text, so the attorney can review what came in and follow up appropriately. Many firms run the AI alongside a human staff member during business hours and rely on it exclusively after hours or during court appearances.

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.