The holiday season offers a much-needed opportunity to rest and connect with loved ones. For busy lawyers, however, stepping away from the office can feel like a challenge. Your clients rely on you, and the work doesn’t stop just because the calendar says it’s time for a break.

Proper planning is the key to a truly restorative holiday. By taking a few strategic steps, you can ensure your clients feel supported and your team can enjoy their well-deserved time off. This guide will walk you through preparing your firm for the holidays, allowing you to protect your time without sacrificing client trust or new opportunities.

Set Expectations by Communicating Your Availability

Clear communication is the foundation of a strong client relationship. When clients know your holiday schedule in advance, they can plan accordingly and will be more understanding of any delays. Proactive updates show respect for your clients’ time and reinforce their trust in your firm.

Start by updating your hours and availability across all your communication channels.

  • Website: Place a clear banner or notice on your homepage with your holiday hours and closure dates.
  • Social Media: Pin a post to the top of your LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social profiles detailing your holiday schedule.
  • Email Signatures: Add a brief line to every employee’s email signature indicating the upcoming office closures.

Update Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile is often the first place potential clients look for information. An outdated profile can lead to frustration and lost opportunities. Ensure your listing is accurate to provide a seamless experience for anyone searching for your firm during the holidays.

Log in to your Google Business Profile and update the following:

  • Special Hours: Use the “special hours” feature to mark specific dates your office will be closed or have reduced hours.
  • Posts: Create a post announcing your holiday schedule and providing instructions for urgent matters. This keeps potential clients informed and demonstrates your firm’s organization.

Prepare Your Team for Time Off

Your team works hard all year and deserves to fully disconnect. To make this possible, it’s essential to have clear internal protocols for holiday closures.

  • Set Up Out-of-Office Replies: Instruct every team member to activate a detailed out-of-office message for their email. This message should state the dates they are away and provide a designated contact for urgent issues.
  • Designate an Emergency Contact: Decide who will be the point of contact for any true emergencies that may arise while the office is closed. Make sure this person’s contact information is included in all out-of-office messages and on your website.

Update Your Call Script

When your office closes for a holiday, the phone doesn’t take a break. Clients and potential clients will still call, looking for updates, reassurance, or just to know when you’ll be back. Simply letting these calls go to voicemail or leaving an outdated greeting can make your absence feel like a “blackout” – and risks eroding trust you’ve worked hard to build.

This is where holiday scripting becomes essential.

  • Update Your Script with Key Information: Clearly state your firms name, mention the holiday closure and exact reopening date. Provide alternative contact options (emergency line, email, or case portal). Thank callers for their understanding and wish them a happy holiday.
  • Set Clear Expectations for Callers: Answer common questions like “Are you open today?”, “When will you reopen?”, “Who can I reach if it’s urgent?”. Let callers know when and how messages will be returned.

LEX Reception Clients: Your Holiday Script

Our dedicated Client Services Team collaborates with you to craft your personalized holiday script. They guide you in developing a message flow that accurately reflects your business tone, specifies your holiday hours, and provides any crucial instructions for callers.

Once finalized and saved within your account, this script automatically activates on all dates you’ve designated as closures in the app. This ensures your customers consistently receive clear, professional communication that aligns perfectly with your operational schedule and service expectations.

Find out more about how to build and change your script here.

Ensure Every Call Is Answered

Missed calls mean missed opportunities. If your firm doesn’t have a full-time receptionist, the holidays are an ideal time to consider a legal answering service. This ensures that every call is answered by a live, professional person, 24/7.