Hennessey Digital has released its 2025 benchmark report on law firm lead form response times, revealing a notable increase in the responsiveness of personal injury law firms. The data shows that 74% of these firms are now responding to online leads within 7 days, a significant rise from 59% in 2021.
The report highlights that 25% of personal injury law firms are now able to reply to inquiries in under 5 minutes, nearly doubling from 13% just two years ago. However, it remains concerning that 26% of firms do not respond to online leads at all, which represents a significant missed opportunity for engaging potential clients.
While email continues to be a common communication method for responding to legal inquiries, the report notes that phone calls and text messages have seen increased usage, indicating a shift in how clients prefer to connect with legal professionals.
Jason Hennessey, Founder and CEO of Hennessey Digital, remarked on the evolution of technology in facilitating business connections, emphasizing that despite advances like artificial intelligence, the importance of personalization and genuine human interaction remains paramount in the legal field.
The 2025 report also features the “Outreach All-Stars,” a list of the 423 fastest-responding law firms in the U.S. that respond to online leads in under 10 minutes. Additionally, it includes insights on the top 10 responding cities, national and local benchmarks, trends in website and lead form responses, and common errors firms can easily rectify.
Cindy Kerber Spellman, Senior Director of Marketing at Hennessey Digital, explained that the study originated from a prior examination of a particular law firm’s digital marketing performance gaps. The comprehensive data gathered has been invaluable for law firms aiming to optimize their intake processes, enhance client conversion rates, and ultimately improve their marketing return on investment while better serving their communities.
Access to the full study and the list of Outreach All-Stars can be obtained at Hennessey Digital’s website.
The findings from this report reflect a positive shift towards greater responsiveness within the legal industry, indicating a trend of improvement in client engagement and service delivery, which can ultimately benefit both lawyers and the communities they serve.