A law firm receptionist interacts with clients, composes correspondence, handles case files, and bills clients. They should have excellent communication skills and be comfortable with technology. They may also handle billing and act as a paralegal.
In a law firm, a law firm receptionist interacts with clients, composes correspondence, handles case files, and bills those who used the firm’s services. As the face of the law firm, the receptionist is expected to perform other duties such as keeping her work area clean to represent the firm positively. If the receptionist also has paralegal certification, she can provide more direct support to members of the office.
A law firm receptionist is typically the first person a client encounters when entering, calling, or emailing the law firm. Thereafter, the receptionist should answer or forward calls or other correspondence, greet the customer, and provide as much information as possible. She can also direct clients to drinks in the lobby, escort them to the attorney’s office, or tell the client how long the wait will be to see the attorney if the client doesn’t have an appointment. Excellent social and verbal communication skills are essential for these tasks.
Another task that a law firm receptionist often completes is correspondence drafting. Some of the correspondence is quite simple, like responding to an email about availability or attorney fees. Other correspondence is much more complex, such as letters to other attorneys or courts. For such correspondence, the receptionist must have a proper understanding of terminology and legal regulations.
In some law firms, it is also the duty of the law firm receptionist to create, maintain, and retrieve case files for the attorneys. This is usually done electronically through databases in order to increase efficiency and save office space so legal receptionists have to be comfortable using computers and related technology. If an attorney needs specific documents printed and assembled for reference and use outside the office, the receptionist will accommodate those needs as well. She should be able to do this quickly, as if the attorney needed to rush to an emergency court hearing. Much of the information contained in customer files is confidential; therefore, a law firm receptionist should be able to keep files secure through software programs or other mechanisms such as a drawer, locker, or secure padlocks.
Some attorneys also expect a law firm receptionist to handle aspects of billing. This includes providing receipts and invoices, notifying customers of pending charges, informing customers of accepted payment methods, and setting up and monitoring bank or other company accounts. If the receptionist discovers a billing error, she must take steps to correct the error, such as issuing a refund check or offering the customer credit.
Similar to other receptionists, a law firm receptionist is expected to complete “other duties as assigned”. For general tasks, this could mean something like getting a cup of coffee for an important client or putting up some office decorations for the holidays. In some cases, law firm receptionists also act as paralegals, in which case they provide more direct support to the attorney, often accompanying the attorney to court and conducting lead case research.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
