Solicitor answering service cost
What does an answering service for a law firm cost?
An honest comparison of the four ways UK firms cover their phones, with typical published prices (October 2026, ex VAT).
The options
Four ways to cover the phones.
| Option | Typical cost a month | What you get | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-house receptionist | £2,400 – £2,900 (salary about £25k–£29k plus employer costs) | A person who knows the firm | Office hours only; holiday and sickness cover |
| Human answering service | £99 – £300+ for about 30–100 calls, then per call or per minute | Shared receptionists take a message | 90-day to 12-month minimums; bills rise with volume |
| Self-service AI receptionist | £39 – £249 | A general AI that answers and takes a message | You set it up yourself; rarely legal-specific; per-minute overage |
| Stak for Solicitors | £297 – £497 (+ £499 setup on Professional) | Set up for you for legal calls: matter type, urgency, consultation booking, follow-up texts, monthly report | Monthly rolling, no long contract |
Ranges are from providers' published UK price pages and UK salary data (Indeed, Reed), checked October 2026. Prices change; check with each provider.
The real sum
Price per month matters less than one missed client.
A single new private client matter (a will and probate, a house sale) is often worth more than a year of answering. The question is how many of those calls go to voicemail today.