AI receptionist for criminal defense lawyers.Answers the 2 a.m. arrest call.
Avowis answers calls to your criminal defense practice, day or night. It takes a short, general note of what the call is about, such as a DUI arrest or an upcoming court date, a good time to talk and the caller's name, then texts you the message. It never gives legal advice or says the firm will take the case: your team calls back, decides and confirms a time to talk.
Free trial: 14 days or 100 call minutes, whichever comes first.
Keep your business number Answers you approve Your team confirms appointment times
The calls you can’t take. Answered while you work.
Criminal defense calls come when people are scared: the night of an arrest, the morning after a bond hearing, the day a summons shows up in the mail. Often it's a parent or partner on the phone, because the person charged is still in custody. You're in court most mornings with your phone off, and a family that can't reach you keeps dialing down the list.
A mother calling because her son was arrested for DUI last night
It takes a brief note such as "son arrested for DUI, held at county jail", asks once whether a day or time suits her and takes her name. It tells her not to go into the details of what happened on the call, and texts you the message.
"The detective wants me to come in and talk. Should I?"
It doesn't advise either way. It tells the caller an attorney will call back to talk it through, notes in a line what the call is about and passes it on.
A caller who starts explaining everything that happened that night
It tells them not to share confidential details on the call and keeps the message to a short description of the matter. The full story is for the attorney.
"Do you handle domestic violence charges?" or "How much is your retainer?"
It answers which charges you handle from the practice areas you've approved. It never quotes a retainer or fee, and says the team will go through that when they call back.
Good with callers. Clear for your team.
An example call to a criminal defense business, start to finish.
Honest from the first helloEvery call opens by saying it’s the automated assistant and that the call may be transcribed.
You’re always in the loopA short text with the request, and the full transcript in your inbox.
Leaves the decisions to youYour team confirms times and follows up on pricing when you call back.
Criminal Defense receptionistIllustrative call · names are made up
Example
Avowis
Thanks for calling Castillo Defense Law. This is the automated assistant, and this call may be transcribed. How can I help you today?
Caller
Hi, my husband was arrested tonight. They're saying it's a DUI and he's at the county jail. Can you tell me what's going to happen to him?
Avowis
I'm sorry, that's a hard call to make. I can't give legal advice or say what will happen, but I can pass a message to the attorneys. Please don't share confidential details on this call. Is there a day or time that suits you best?
Caller
Any time tomorrow. I'll have my phone on me all day.
Avowis
Got it, any time tomorrow. And may I have your name?
Caller
Renee Marshall. His name is Darnell Marshall.
Avowis
Thanks, Renee. I've passed your message to the Castillo Defense Law team, and someone will get back to you at this number.
Details from this callNew message from Renee Marshall
Husband, Darnell Marshall, arrested tonight for DUI, held at county jail
Asked what will happen next
Any time tomorrow
Call back on the number they called from
You get a short text alert with the caller’s request and a link. The full transcript is in your Avowis inbox.
What it takes care of. And what it leaves to you.
Details it collects
What the call is about in a few words (an arrest, a court date, a warrant, a charge they've been told about)
The name of the person charged, if a family member is calling and offers it
A day or time that suits them for a call back, if they have one
Their name, and a callback number if their caller ID is hidden
It will
Answers calls day and night, up to your plan's number of simultaneous calls, and tells callers it's an automated assistant and the call may be transcribed
Takes a brief reason for the call
Asks when suits the caller, and passes that on for your team to confirm
Answers questions about your business only from what you approve, and says the team will confirm anything else
Texts you each message and keeps the full transcript in your dashboard
Can transfer callers who ask for a person to your phone, if you turn that on
If it can't take a call, offers the caller voicemail and sends it to you
It won’t
Confirm or hold an appointment time. Your team confirms
State a price, rate or estimate. Your team follows up on pricing
Give a callback or arrival time. Your team decides when
Record the conversation. You get a written transcript instead (a voicemail is recorded so you can play it)
No legal advice
The receptionist is not a lawyer. It never gives legal advice, never says whether someone has a case and never promises the firm will take the matter. It asks callers not to share confidential details on the call and takes only a brief description. Anyone in danger is told to call 911.
Your business. In your own words.
You teach it in plain words during setup, and it only uses answers you approve. For a criminal defense business, start with these.
01
The charges you take and the ones you don't: DUI, drug possession, domestic violence, theft, juvenile, federal cases, expungements
02
The courts and counties you appear in
03
Whether overnight calls should be answered by the receptionist or forwarded to your cell
04
Your office address and hours, and the languages you and your staff speak
A few good questions.
What criminal defense firms ask before the first hello.
Will it tell a caller whether to talk to the police?
No. It never gives legal advice on anything, including whether to talk to police, take a plea or turn themselves in. It says an attorney will call back and passes the question on.
Will callers end up describing the offense on the phone?
It tells callers not to share confidential details and takes only a brief, general description of the matter, like "DUI arrest" or "court date on the 14th". It doesn't run intake or conflict checks. Your team gets the story when they call back.
What happens with arrest calls in the middle of the night?
It answers. If someone is in danger, it tells them to call 911. Otherwise it takes the message and texts it to you, with the transcript in your dashboard. If you'd rather take those calls yourself, you can forward after-hours calls to your cell instead.
Is it a lawyer? Will it tell families we're taking the case?
It's an automated assistant, not a lawyer, and it says so at the start of every call. It never promises the firm will take the matter. You decide that after you call back.
Does it quote retainers or bail amounts?
No. It never states a fee, retainer or bail amount. Callers are told the team will go through costs when they call back.
Can it reach me when I'm at the courthouse?
If you turn on live transfer, it rings the one phone you choose when a caller asks for a person. If you're in a hearing and don't pick up, the caller is told the team will call them back.
