How to Handle Online Leads Who Want Legal Advice Through Your Web Chat Widget

Web visitors commonly try to use the live chat widget on lawyers' websites to get free legal advice. As part of our legal answering service, Smith.ai Live Chat offers a "legal disclaimer" option and live, expert receptionists to turn questioners and tire kickers into qualified leads.

In this short article, we explain how to set proper expectations on your website chat widget with a legal disclaimer, and then how our receptionists can expertly turn web visitors seeking advice into new leads, and even book them for consults right on your calendar. Let's dig in:

Include a Legal Disclaimer in Your Web Chat Greeting

Smith.ai Live Web Chat has an optional legal disclaimer field, and we recommend that you use it. In a friendly and straightforward manner, let your web visitors know that web chat:

1. Does not constitute legal advice, and
2. Does not establish a client-attorney relationship
   

Here are three examples of law firms with simple and effective legal disclaimers built into the first screen of their Smith.ai chat widgets:

D'Orazio Peterson LLP

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Nicol Law Offices

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Birken Law Office

Use these as inspiration to create your own simple yet effective legal disclaimer.

Have Our Chat Receptionists Divert Legal Questions and Turn Leads into New Consults

Even when you have the best disclaimer in your widget greeting, it’s inevitable: Some people won’t read it, or won't understand that their question, however simple it may be, may still constitute a request for legal advice. Let us assure you: Our receptionists are experts at handling this situation. Give us a clear set of instructions on pre-screening and booking consultations, and we'll turn a legal query into a qualified lead with a booked consultation, instantly synced with your calendar and your potential client's, too.

Just let us know:

• What services you are willing to provide
• What your rates are
• Who we can refer leads to if they don't fit your criteria

That's it! The Smith.ai chat receptionist will politely decline to answer, saying they are not qualified to offer legal counsel. Then they'll screen the lead to make sure it’s a good fit for your business and schedule a consultation on your calendar. Your new potential client will be relieved to have an appointment booked and you can properly address their legal issue in the allotted time. Crisis averted with no work from you.

Interested in Live Website Chat?

Just one booked client can pay for a year (or more) of Smith.ai’s Live Web Chat service. Live chat works for you to capture, screen, and more quality leads from your website. Sign up for a free consultation with our team or get started risk-free with our 14-day money-back guarantee.