Attorney-client privilege is the foundation of legal practice. Every conversation between a solicitor or attorney and their client must be confidential. When that conversation happens over the phone, the phone system carrying that call must be capable of protecting it. An unencrypted VoIP call is not protected. A call recording stored in a system without proper access controls is not protected. A voicemail sitting in a cloud inbox without encryption is not protected. Most law firms are running phone systems that were never designed with legal privilege in mind, and the exposure is real.
Telphi deploys VoIP phone systems for law firms and legal practices across the US, UK, and Canada. We configure legal-grade communication infrastructure with attorney-client privilege protection built in from the start. End-to-end encrypted calls, secure call recording with matter-based access controls, multi-office connectivity so attorneys across locations work as one firm, mobile VoIP for attorneys in court or working remotely, and AI-powered client intake automation that handles enquiries professionally without requiring a fee earner to pick up the phone. Our law firm clients reduce administrative time by an average of 40% and improve client intake conversion rates significantly.
Trusted by law firms, barristers chambers, legal aid practices, and in-house legal teams across the US, UK, and Canada.
Every business needs a reliable phone system. A law firm needs a phone system that actively protects attorney-client privilege on every call it carries.
Attorney-client privilege, or legal professional privilege in the UK, protects communications between a lawyer and their client from disclosure. A phone call between an attorney and a client is privileged. A recording of that call is privileged. A voicemail from a client describing their legal situation is privileged. If any of these communications are stored, accessed, or transmitted in a way that allows an unauthorized party to access them, the privilege may be compromised.
Most VoIP systems deployed in law firms are configured by general IT providers who understand telephony but do not specialize in legal compliance. The result is a phone system that works operationally but has gaps. Call recordings without access controls tied to matter assignment. Voicemails stored in shared cloud systems without encryption. Mobile calls made by attorneys using their personal phone apps with no call logging, no recording capability, and no connection to the firm's matter management system.
Telphi designs law firm VoIP systems around the specific requirements of legal practice. Privilege protection is not a feature we add after the fact. It is built into the system architecture before the first client call touches it.
Law firms use multiple communication systems to manage client relationships, coordinate across practice areas, and handle the operational demands of legal practice. Telphi deploys and integrates all of the following with attorney-client privilege protection built into every element.
Your main law firm phone system configured with attorney-client privilege protection as the primary design requirement. End-to-end call encryption using SRTP and TLS on every client call. Call recording with matter-based access controls so recordings are only accessible to fee earners and support staff assigned to the relevant matter. Voicemail handling with encryption aligned to your matter management system. Every call logged with matter reference, duration, and participant details for billing and compliance purposes. For multi-office law firms, Telphi configures a unified VoIP system across all office locations with internal extension dialling between offices, client call transfer between teams, and a single compliance framework covering the whole firm.
A client intake AI voice agent handles incoming enquiry calls automatically. Prospective clients call your main number, the AI gathers their initial details, assesses the nature of their matter, checks for conflict of interest triggers, and either books a consultation or routes their call to the right practice area team. The AI is available outside office hours so enquiries from prospective clients who call after hours get a professional response rather than voicemail. For law firms, intake conversion rate is directly linked to how quickly and professionally initial enquiries are handled.
Automated and manual SMS communication with clients through an encrypted channel that maintains privilege protection. Case status updates, appointment reminders for consultations and hearings, document request notifications, and billing reminders. All SMS communication is logged against the relevant matter in your case management system.
For law firms with offices in multiple cities or countries, Telphi configures unified VoIP connectivity across all locations. Attorneys in different offices work on the same phone system with full internal extension dialling. Client calls transfer between offices seamlessly. The firm presents a single professional telephone identity to clients regardless of which office or attorney is handling their matter.
Attorneys working in court, visiting clients, or working from home use the law firm's softphone app on their existing smartphone or laptop. They make and receive calls on the firm's number rather than their personal mobile. Client calls are logged and recorded against the relevant matter automatically. BYOD configuration keeps client call data separate from personal device data and allows the firm to revoke access immediately when an attorney leaves.
Every client call can be recorded automatically. The recording is stored encrypted and tagged with the matter reference. Access is controlled by matter assignment so only the matter team can access those recordings. Partners and compliance officers can access all recordings for supervision purposes. This framework mirrors the access control approach your firm already applies to matter documents and correspondence.
Law firm VoIP analytics give practice managers and partners visibility across the firm. Calls by practice area, by matter, by fee earner, and by time of day. Response times for incoming client calls. After-hours call volumes. Missed call rates by team. For law firms managing utilization and client service standards, this data supports better decisions about staffing and call routing.
Privilege protection in a law firm VoIP system requires specific technical controls that most general VoIP deployments do not include. Here is exactly what Telphi configures in every law firm deployment.
Every call between an attorney and a client is encrypted using SRTP for the voice data and TLS for the signalling layer. Encryption applies to calls from office phones, softphone apps, and any conference bridge used for multi-party legal discussions. An unencrypted call between an attorney and a client passing over the internet is potentially vulnerable to interception. SRTP and TLS make any intercepted traffic unreadable to a third party.
Call recordings, call logs, and voicemails are tagged with matter references and access is controlled by matter assignment. A fee earner can access recordings for their own matters. They cannot access recordings for matters they are not assigned to. Partners have firm-wide access for supervision. External administrators cannot access call content without explicit logged authorization.
Conference calls between attorneys and clients are hosted on the firm's encrypted VoIP infrastructure rather than consumer conferencing platforms. Conference recordings are stored and controlled under the same matter-based access framework as individual call recordings.
Telphi configures your law firm VoIP system to support compliance with professional conduct rules specific to your jurisdiction. UK Solicitors Regulation Authority requirements. American Bar Association model rules. Bar Council rules for barristers. The specific configuration varies by jurisdiction and Telphi advises on the applicable requirements before deployment.
For law firms handling client data of UK and European individuals, Telphi configures data retention periods for call recordings in line with your matter retention policy, implements right to erasure capability, configures data processing agreements with VoIP platform vendors, and documents the data protection controls for your Data Protection Officer.
Every law firm VoIP deployment follows a process designed around the professional and compliance requirements of legal practice. Here is exactly how it works.
We document every phone number across all offices, every call routing rule, your current call recording setup and compliance status, how attorneys access the phone system when working remotely or in court, and how your current system integrates with your case management software. At the end you receive a written assessment identifying gaps, a platform recommendation, and a full implementation plan.
Great for: Managing partners, practice managers, and IT managers who need a complete picture of their current communication infrastructure and a clear business case for upgrading it.
We design the full VoIP system configuration. Call routing by practice area and fee earner. Call recording with matter-based access controls. Mobile VoIP configuration. AI client intake agent design. Integration specifications for your case management system. GDPR data retention configuration. Professional conduct compliance configuration for your jurisdiction. You review and approve the full design before implementation begins.
Great for: Law firms that need their phone system designed around the professional and compliance requirements of legal practice, not adapted from a generic business VoIP configuration.
We deploy the configured system, connect it to your case management software, port your existing phone numbers across all offices, train your fee earners and support staff, and execute the cutover. Old and new systems run in parallel so there is no gap in client call handling during transition.
Great for: Law firms that need a fully managed deployment with zero disruption to client communication and complete training for all staff before go-live.
After deployment, we provide ongoing support, monitor system performance, update configurations as your firm grows or opens new offices, advise on professional conduct requirements as regulations evolve, and conduct annual security reviews. For firms that undergo regulatory inspections, we provide technical documentation demonstrating that your communication infrastructure meets the required standards.
Great for: Law firms that want a long-term communication infrastructure partner who understands the legal sector.
An AI client intake agent that answers immediately, gathers initial details professionally, and books a consultation turns calls that would previously have gone to voicemail into booked appointments. For law firms where new client acquisition is a priority, this alone justifies the investment in a properly configured phone system.
An attorney in a court building, at a client's offices, or working from home accesses the firm's complete phone system through the softphone app. They make calls on the firm's number. Client calls to their extension reach them wherever they are. Calls are logged and recorded against the matter.
Attorneys at different offices reach each other on internal extensions. Client calls transfer between offices without the client being asked to redial. The firm's phone presence is unified across all locations. Practice area teams spread across multiple offices coordinate as if they share the same floor.
A properly configured and documented law firm VoIP system gives you the evidence to answer questions from regulatory inspections or professional conduct matters. Call recording coverage rates, access control logs, encryption certification, data retention compliance, and GDPR configuration documentation all exist and are accessible when you need them.
Every practice area has specific workflow requirements for how a phone system needs to work. Telphi has deployed VoIP for law firms across all of the following practice areas with the specific routing, recording, and compliance requirements of each built into the configuration.
Multi-jurisdiction practice support, transaction team connectivity, secure communications for M&A matters, and board-level communication security.
Matter-based call recording, court deadline reminder integration, secure client communication, and multi-party conference call infrastructure.
Ultra-secure client communication with maximum privilege protection, emergency out-of-hours routing for custody matters, and sensitive call handling protocols.
Sensitive matter call handling, court date reminder automation, secure communication for high-conflict matters, and mediation call infrastructure.
High-volume client intake automation, case status SMS updates, and settlement communication tracking.
Secure client call recording, tribunal date reminder automation, and matter-based access controls for sensitive employment matters.
Transaction-linked call logging, client update automation, completion date reminder SMS, and high-volume call handling during busy transaction periods.
"We had attorneys making client calls on personal mobiles with no record of those calls in our systems. Telphi fixed that completely. Every client call is now logged and recorded against the matter and our compliance framework can actually be evidenced."
James Whitfield
Managing Partner, Meridian Law Group
United States
"Our barristers are in five different court buildings on any given day and we needed them all connected to chambers without carrying a separate phone. Telphi's mobile VoIP setup gives every barrister a chambers line on their own device and the clerks have full visibility of availability and call handling."
Richard Chambers
Senior Clerk, Temple Court Chambers
United Kingdom
"We were losing instructions because calls went to voicemail at busy times. The AI intake agent answers every call immediately and books consultations directly. Our conversion rate on new enquiries is up 35% and our receptionists are finally able to focus on existing clients."
Catherine Marsh
Practice Manager, Oakfield Injury Law
United Kingdom
Your law firm VoIP system works most effectively when it integrates with your other communication tools and case management infrastructure. Telphi connects all of the following to your law firm phone system.
The core encrypted phone system covering all your office locations and remote attorneys.
Automated client intake, matter routing, and after-hours enquiry handling.
Case status updates, appointment reminders, document request notifications, and court date reminders.
Cloud-based phone system replacing your on-premise PBX with a fully managed hosted alternative.
Softphone app for attorneys working in court or remotely with matter-based BYOD configuration.
Matter-based call reporting, fee earner call analytics, and compliance monitoring.
Video conferencing and messaging integrated with your VoIP system for multi-party legal meetings.
Not if the VoIP system is correctly configured. A VoIP call encrypted with SRTP and TLS is as confidential as any other secure communication channel. The risk arises when VoIP calls are unencrypted, when call recordings are stored without access controls, or when attorneys use consumer apps with no confidentiality controls. Telphi configures every element of the law firm VoIP system specifically to maintain privilege protection on all client communications.
Yes. Recording a privileged communication does not waive privilege as long as the recording is kept confidential under appropriate controls. Telphi configures matter-based access controls so client call recordings are only accessible to fee earners and support staff on the relevant matter. The recording is as privileged as the original call.
Attorneys working outside the office access the firm's phone system through the softphone app on their smartphone or laptop. Client calls to their extension reach them wherever they are. They make outbound calls on the firm's number rather than their personal number. All calls are logged and recorded against the relevant matter.
No. A unified law firm VoIP system covers all your office locations from one platform. Attorneys in different offices use internal extensions to reach each other. Client calls transfer between offices without disconnecting. The firm has one phone system, one compliance framework, one call recording system, and one admin portal covering all locations.
The AI client intake agent integrates with your conflict checking system or practice management software to flag potential conflicts during intake. When a potential conflict is identified, the AI routes the call to a human fee earner for review rather than proceeding. Telphi configures the integration during the system design phase.
Professional conduct rules vary by jurisdiction. In the UK, the SRA and Bar Council have requirements around client communication records and confidential information handling. In the US, ABA Model Rules and state bar rules set standards for client communication confidentiality. Telphi assesses the requirements specific to your firm's practice locations and builds the relevant compliance configuration into your VoIP system design.
Your client conversations are some of the most sensitive communications that exist. The phone system carrying them should be built to protect them. A generic VoIP system designed for a retail business or a contact center has not been designed with attorney-client privilege in mind. Telphi has. Fill in the form below and a Telphi law firm VoIP specialist will reach out within one business day. No commitment required. Just a straight conversation about your current phone setup, your practice areas, and what a properly configured law firm VoIP system would change for your firm.