I've posted previously on some ways to set up a small office phone system inexpensively, but most lawyers these days spend most of their time on cell phones. And that means that the lawyer may be at the number other than the one you're calling, and means two sets of voice mails, which while theoretically accessible from multiple locations, as a practical matter, isn't, or at the very least requires multiple steps and coordinating with office staff to make sure you're current on who has called for you. (It also requires that you check your voice mail, which is something I'm really bad at).
I got on the waiting list for a Google Voice number when they came out several weeks ago, but it took a while to get off the waiting list and get a number. GV bills itself as the telephonic equivalent of Tolkien's "one ring", capable as it is of ruling all other numbers, of finding them and binding them, as the inscription says. You give out the "master" number and it forwards to whichever phones you've told it to. A caveat: you cannot at present use an existing number, so you can't just designate your cell number as your GV number, as would be most convenient. You have to select a new number, and they may or may not have a local number for you, but I didn't really mind - I have been using a out of town number as my fax number through eFax for some time. And you can search for words or numbers, which allows you to select a number that closely matches one you already have, or spells "tuna" or whatever message you want. (It also has immense capabilities as for as customizing where phone calls are sent, but I won't get into that - at present for the most part I just manually update it as to where I'm at, so all numbers forward to office when I'm there, and home when I'm not (cell service in the country is not real good - we learned when building our house that their is a "phone tree" in the back yard and to have a decent connection you have to stand under it - so it is a significant benefit in the Smith household to be able to redirect my mother's calls to the house phone so I don't have to go stand in the rain to talk).
GV gives you a single phone number that rings all (or some, or specified of) your phones, but the other useful features include saving your voicemail online, and transcribing your voicemail to text. I particularly like this because I can check my voice mail online or on my phone's inbox, which is far faster than calling it up on the phone. Other features include the ability to listen in on messages while they are being left (not something I think I'd use, but it's there for telemarketers or, worse, fundraising calls from your alma maters. When you have degrees from three schools, the calls never stop.) And the ability to make low cost international calls is something that could come in very handy on trips. You can record also record custom greetings for your favorite callers (here's your opportunity to ratchet up the level of obsequiousness for calls from judicial chambers) or block annoying callers by marking them as spam.
The first step for using the service (once you have the necessary forwarding numbers entered, is to give the new number out so your incoming calls are routed through GV. Rather than send e-mails out to thousands of people, I started in a low key way, by adding it to my e-mail signature block as the "master" number, and telling (well, asking, really) my paralegal and my wife to use it instead of my cell number. I don't like listing it as a "Google Voice" number, and I decided against listing it as a "direct" number, because to most of us that has a distinct meaning - it just skips the receptionist and rings your office directly, and this is far more than that - it is an after hours number as well.
I have just started using the service, and can't really opine yet as to whether it's all it is said to be, but it has such enormous potential for letting attorneys stay more up to date with their communications, and save time doing it, that I wanted to raise it. If you are starting a new office, or switching firms (rare, but it sometimes happens) I would certainly consider using a GV number as a "master" number and push to the background the "office" number. It is safer than giving out a mobile number on a signature block, which some of us do, but which presents some drawbacks and privacy issues. While it may take a while to customize the product to your liking, the flexibility is something that I suspect will become very helpful very quickly.
If any readers have any experience withor opinions regarding GV, please post and give us the benefit of your advice.
