24/7 answering
Nights, weekends and holidays, plus overflow when your front desk is on another line.
Never miss aclient callagain.
Sidebar answers your firm's calls day and night. It runs a real intake, books the consultation, and sends you every new case by text, email or Slack.
Each receptionist is set up for your firm: your practice areas, your intake questions, your routing.
Free for 14 days. Then one flat monthly price, no per-call fees.
Call screening
Spam, sales pitches and wrong numbers never reach your team.
A real legal intake
The questions your intake staff would ask, in your order, with every answer written down.
Consultation booking
New clients get a time on your calendar before they hang up.
10 languages
Callers can talk in the language they're most comfortable in. You get the summary in English.
Every call at once
Five people calling at 9 a.m. on a Monday all get answered. Nobody waits on hold.
1
Tell us how your firm works
Practice areas, intake questions, who gets transferred and when.
2
Forward your calls
After hours, overflow or every call. You keep your number.
3
Get every new case
A summary, the recording and the transcript after each call, by text, email or Slack.
Stop reading. Call it.
Talk to the same receptionist firms use. Pretend you were just rear-ended and see what it asks you.
Sample call
SIDEBAR Sidebar Law, this is Chloe. How can I help?
CALLER Yeah, hi, I was rear-ended on the 405 about an hour ago.
SIDEBAR I'm sorry to hear that. Are you somewhere safe right now?
CALLER Yeah I pulled off, the other guy admitted fault.
SIDEBAR Good. I'd like to set you up with one of our PI attorneys first thing tomorrow — can I get your name and the best number to reach you on?
After every call
What you get when the caller hangs up.
A written summary of the intake, plus the recording and the transcript. It arrives by text, email or Slack, so you can call the client back before they call anyone else.
This one is a sample. The questions on your calls follow your firm's intake.
Car accident, rear-ended
Marisol R.
- When and where
- Tonight around 9:40 PM, on the 101 near Tully Road
- Injuries
- Neck and lower back pain. Seen in the ER and released.
- Police report
- Yes, an officer came to the scene
- Other driver
- Admitted fault. Insurance information exchanged.
- Insurance contact
- An adjuster called once. Nothing signed.
- Already has a lawyer
- No
Next step: Consultation booked for Monday at 9:30 AM. Confirmation texted to the caller.
Receptionist
Answering service
Sidebar
Availability
40 hrs / wk
Business hours
24 / 7 / 365
Concurrent calls
1
Limited
Unlimited
Answer time
Varies
30–90 sec
< 1 sec
Legal intake
If trained
Generic scripts
Built for your firm
10 languages
Extra cost
Extra cost
Included
Transcripts & recordings
—
Extra
Included
Setup time
2–4 weeks
1–2 weeks
48 hours
Monthly cost
$3,500–5,000
$800–2,000
One flat price, no per-call fees
Clio
MyCase
Lawmatics
Calendly
Google Calendar
Slack
Zapier
Clio
MyCase
Lawmatics
Calendly
Google Calendar
Slack
Zapier
Who's behind it
I'm Michael. I built Sidebar, I set up every firm myself, and I read the call logs.
I'm based in the Bay Area, so if your office is local I'll come set it up in person. If something sounds off on a call, you're talking to me, not a support queue.
Will callers know it's AI?
We tell callers they're speaking with the firm's virtual assistant. The voice is natural, handles interruptions, and follows a legal intake the way a trained receptionist would.
How fast can I be live?
Within 48 hours. You tell us your practice areas, intake questions and how calls should be routed, and we set everything up. Nothing technical on your end.
Does it work with my existing phone number?
Yes. You keep your current number and forward calls to your Sidebar line, all of them or only after hours and overflow. Or use a dedicated local or toll-free number we provide.
What happens if a caller needs a real person?
Sidebar can warm-transfer to you or your staff based on your routing rules. Court clerks and opposing counsel can be flagged for immediate transfer. You set the escalation rules.
How much does it cost?
One flat monthly price based on your call volume, with no per-call fees. You'll get the number on your setup call, before your trial starts.
Is there a contract?
No. The first 14 days are free, then it's month-to-month. Cancel anytime.
Is my data secure?
All calls are encrypted in transit and at rest. Transcripts and recordings are stored securely and accessible only to your firm.