(aka Speed Dating for your law firm’s future)
In legal advertising, every lead is hard-earned. But once that phone rings, the real work begins—and those first few seconds of an intake call can determine whether your prospect becomes your client or someone else’s.
Judgment Starts Immediately
Science backs this up.
- In one study, researchers found that people can accurately judge others’ personality traits based on their voices alone—with accuracy rates as high as 70%.
- Another study revealed that people form impressions about a person’s intelligence, friendliness, and attractiveness solely from their voice.
That means before your intake team even has time to explain your services, the caller has already decided how they feel about you.
The Power of the First Sentence
The very first words that are shared set the tone for the entire conversation.
They should be:
- Warm – Show genuine care from the start.
- Inviting – Make them feel welcome.
- Positive – Create a sense of hope.
- Upbeat – Show you’re engaged and ready to help.
- Clear – Speak at a pace and volume that’s easy to understand.
- Attentive – Prove you’re fully focused on them.
- Confident – Inspire trust and reassurance.
What to Avoid at All Costs
Even if you have the best legal team in town, a poor first impression can derail a call before it begins. Watch out for:
- Speaking too quickly or making callers feel rushed.
- Sounding machine-like—robotic voices create emotional distance.
- Cold introductions—no warmth, no connection.
- Multi-tasking—your distraction is obvious.
- Sounding disinterested—your tone says you don’t care.
- Asking for repetition—signals poor listening.
- Bad connections—invest in quality phone systems.
Why It Matters for Law Firms
Your caller may be stressed, hurt, confused, or grieving. Their decision to hire you will be shaped by how safe, understood, and valued they feel within those opening moments.
Get it right, and you create a strong foundation for trust. Get it wrong, and you may lose the case before it starts. In today’s competitive market, every call is an opportunity and every second counts. No matter how much you invest in your media and marketing efforts, If you don’t convert, you won’t win. It’s those first few seconds of that intake call that can be the difference between a good year… and a great year.