Can an AI receptionist answer questions about legal fees for an immigration attorney?

Yes, an AI receptionist can answer questions about legal fees for an immigration attorney, but only within the boundaries of what the firm has specifically programmed it to know. If the practice has provided the AI with fee schedules — for example, that consultations cost $150, or that a green card application runs between $1,500 and $2,500 in attorney fees — the AI can communicate that information accurately and consistently every time someone calls. What it cannot do is give legal advice, interpret how fees might apply to a caller's specific situation, or make judgment calls about fee waivers or payment arrangements without clear instructions to do so.

The practical value here is real. Immigration callers often have very specific, anxious questions about cost before they'll commit to a consultation. If your front desk is unavailable after hours or overwhelmed during the day, an AI receptionist can field those cost questions, quote the firm's standard rates, explain what's included in a flat fee, and capture the caller's contact information for follow-up. That's a genuine service gap being filled, not just a novelty. The key is that the firm needs to invest time upfront in building out the knowledge base the AI draws from — vague or incomplete setup produces vague or unhelpful answers.

There are also compliance considerations worth acknowledging. Immigration law firms need to be careful that their AI receptionist isn't inadvertently providing legal advice or making representations that could be construed as attorney-client communications. A well-configured system will deflect legal questions clearly and route them to a human, while still handling the administrative and pricing questions that don't require an attorney's judgment.

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