Free tools · CA, Legal & Consultants
Do law firms have receptionists?
Larger law firms usually have a receptionist; many Indian practices, especially solo advocates and small chambers, do not. The advocate’s or a junior’s mobile is the firm number, so calls during court hours go unanswered.
Whether you need a receptionist depends on how many calls arrive in the busiest hour, how long intake calls take, and how many arrive when no one is in chambers. The calculator below works it out; the answer is often cover for court hours rather than a full-time hire.
By Vocora team · Published 18 October 2026
Receptionist coverage calculator: ca, legal & consultants example
Pre-filled with the hypothetical example below. Replace every number with your own; nothing you type leaves your browser.
Receptionist and call coverage calculator
Pre-filled with the hypothetical example explained on this page. These are not benchmarks or averages: replace them with figures from your own records. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent or stored. ·
After-hours gap (optional)
| Phone workload at the peak | 30 minutes of calls per hour (0.5 erlangs) |
| People needed on the phone at the peak to meet your target | 2 |
| People to roster at the chamber desk in that hour, including other desk work | 2 (no one above 85% busy) |
| Calls arriving when nobody is rostered | 45 a week, about 195 a month |
| People on phones | Callers who find everyone busy | Each person busy on calls |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33.3% | 33.3% |
| 2 | 7.7% | 23.1% |
| 3 | 1.3% | 16.5% |
Erlang B formula: it assumes calls arrive at random within the hour. Real peaks are lumpier, so treat the answer as a minimum.
What decides reception cover in a law practice
- Court hours empty the office. When advocates and juniors are at court, nobody answers the chamber phone.
- Intake calls are long. A first call about a matter takes several minutes to note properly.
- Confidential calls. Calls cannot be taken in court corridors, so they are missed rather than answered in public.
- Clients call after work. Many enquiries come in the evening, after chambers close.
- No soliciting. Bar Council of India Rule 36 bars soliciting work, so firms depend on answering the enquiries that come in.
Where the example numbers come from
These are example assumptions, not benchmarks. We have not found reliable public data for them, so check each against your own records.
| Input | Example assumption | Why, and where to find yours |
|---|---|---|
| Calls in the busiest hour | 6 | Assumption for a small practice in the late morning. |
| Minutes per call | 5 | Assumption: intake calls need name, matter type, court and dates. |
| What happens when busy | No queue | Chamber numbers are usually mobiles. |
| Busy callers accepted | 10% | Your choice. |
| Other desk work | 15 minutes | Assumption: clients dropping papers, clerks and couriers. |
| Unrostered share | 25% of 30 calls/day | Assumption: evening and court-hours calls when no one is in chambers. |
Worked example (hypothetical)
A hypothetical small practice gets 6 calls in its busiest late-morning hour, each about five minutes, and the desk spends 15 minutes on visitors. A quarter of its 30 daily calls come when no one is in chambers.
Traffic at the peak: 6 calls × 5 min ÷ 60 = 0.50 erlangs.
| People on the phone | Callers who find the line busy |
|---|---|
| 1 | 33.3% |
| 2 | 7.7% |
| 3 | 1.3% |
- People needed on the phone to meet the target (at most 10% busy): 2
- With 15 minutes of other desk work in that hour and no one busier than 85%: 2 at the peak
- Calls when no one is rostered: 30 × 25% × 6 days ≈ 45 a week (about 195 a month)
What it shows: Daytime volume is modest, so the case for a receptionist rests on the hours when nobody is in chambers. Forwarding during court hours and after closing to someone who takes a proper message may do more than a full-time hire.
How to apply this to your practice
- Forward the chamber number during court hours to a clerk, colleague or AI receptionist that takes a structured message.
- Use a short intake script: name, matter type, court, next date, best callback time. No advice.
- Confirm consultation slots on WhatsApp; keep case details out of the chat until you have spoken.
- Stay within Bar Council Rule 36: answer and book; do not cold-call.
The method and its limits are explained on the main tool page: How many calls can a receptionist handle? More for this industry in the CA, Legal & Consultants playbook.
FAQ
What is a receptionist at a law firm?
The person who answers the firm’s calls, greets clients, takes messages and books consultations. In bigger firms this role also manages the diary and incoming documents.
What are the typical duties of a receptionist at a law firm?
Answering and routing calls, taking intake details, scheduling consultations, receiving documents and couriers, and keeping client information confidential. A receptionist should never give legal advice.
Can a law firm in India use a virtual receptionist?
Yes, for answering, messages and bookings, within Bar Council Rule 36. Our law-firm guide covers what the receptionist can and cannot say.
Do solo advocates need a receptionist?
Not necessarily full-time. The calculator usually shows daytime volume is small; the gap is court hours and evenings, which forwarding can cover.
Sources
- Bar Council of India — Rule 36 (advertising and solicitation), as amended for websites
- Erlang (unit): Erlang B and Erlang C formulas
The tool gives an estimate from the numbers you enter. It is not a forecast, a quote, or legal, medical or financial advice.
Related
- CA, legal and consultants playbook
- Virtual receptionist for law firms in India
- Why don't lawyers answer the phone?
- How long do law firms take to get back to you?
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