{"id":6472,"date":"2018-04-09T23:00:59","date_gmt":"2018-04-09T23:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/?post_type=blog-post&p=6472"},"modified":"2026-02-27T23:48:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T23:48:46","slug":"lawyers-respond-faster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/lawyers-respond-faster\/","title":{"rendered":"How Lawyers Can Respond to Enquiries Faster and Get More Clients"},"content":{"rendered":"

How do clients decide whether they\u2019d like to hire a lawyer? <\/span>According to the <\/span>2022 Legal Trends Report<\/span><\/i><\/a>,<\/span><\/i> response time is the second-most important factor in choosing a law firm.<\/span> This shouldn\u2019t be surprising\u2014often, if your client is looking for legal assistance, they\u2019ll likely want it sooner rather than later. <\/span><\/p>\n

The amount of time it takes for you to respond to a potential client can make a huge difference in your ability to secure their business. <\/span><\/p>\n

As <\/span>The National Law Review<\/span><\/i><\/a> puts it: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith the availability of email, text messaging, and social media communications, client demands for lawyers are higher than ever. Clients expect their lawyers or legal team to respond within seconds.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In today\u2019s demanding market your clients have more choices than they can handle, and they expect you court to them immediately. Law offices that respond quickly and through modern and convenient means will win client business and loyalty far more frequently than those who fail to modernise and adapt.<\/p>\n

So, if the bottom line is fast response, exactly how fast do you need to respond? The answer may surprise you. Responding to an inquiry from a potential client 30 minutes after they contact you versus five minutes<\/a> after they contact you means you are 100 times less likely to secure them.<\/p>\n

That means it\u2019s important to have a system in place that can support rapid responses. From using app messaging and SMS, to implementing an automated client response system, to hiring staff who can respond to potential clients quickly, here are the top ways lawyers can secure more new clients with quicker responses:<\/p>\n

1. Consider texting<\/h3>\n

Everyone texts, including your clients. More and more people are becoming smartphone-dependent\u2014<\/span>an estimated <\/span>93%<\/span><\/a> of the UK population own or have access to a smartphone.<\/span><\/p>\n

If this trend continues, law offices that still depend on calling and leaving voicemails will soon be left behind. Texting with your clients makes it easy for you to communicate quickly and on a device that\u2019s most convenient to your client. Clients can send quick texts with updates that may affect their case, and if needed, you can respond quickly as well.<\/p>\n

Bulk text messaging services like <\/span>TextMagic<\/span><\/a> allow users to send texts from their business, so that your clients will see your law firm\u2019s name or your business number as a sender instead of your personal details. Such software also allows you to schedule texts and send them right from your email, desktop software, or mobile app.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Give your staff the tools to be efficient<\/h3>\n

Depending on the size of your law firm and the number of clients you have, you may not be able to respond directly to your clients’ messages. However, with the right tools and processes, your staff can give your clients and potential clients the quick responses they\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

For example, text messaging services, as mentioned above, can help you and your staff respond to client enquiries quickly and efficiently, ensuring no message slips through the cracks. In addition to providing quick responses via text, you may also want to send reminders and updates via text. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Send an appointment reminder to a client the day before their meeting<\/li>\n
  2. Follow up on your last meeting to see if a client has questions<\/li>\n
  3. Notify your client via text when there\u2019s an update to their case<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    3. Make sure your website is mobile friendly<\/h3>\n

    Is your website mobile friendly? To help you find out, here\u2019s a quick checklist<\/a>:<\/p>\n