Internet marketing strategy decision advice needed

Here is an opportunity for some of my classmates/colleagues to apply their IMS learning to an actual decision that my corporation needs to make. In exchange, I get the benefit of objective input from well-educated but unbiased third parties. I own a law firm, DeLuca & Associates. It is one of the highest volume consumer bankruptcy firms in the country. We have about a million dollar annual advertising budget including television and a heavy internet presence. We were discussing adding a “book your own appointment calendar” that integrates directly with a live Outlook calendar. Thereby, new clients can book their own appointments directly on the website with a continually updating calendar system that is simultaneously being used by staff to book consultations made via telephone. The concern is not so much the $25K price tag to build this functionality into the website and link it to a live calendar, but whether we would lose initial consultations by not having the human interaction. Many new clients are set up for consultations because they speak to knowledgeable staff members that alleviate their fears about the bankruptcy process and answer some basic questions. My concern is that potential new clients may not be as inclined to feel accountable for keeping their appointment when they book the appointment online as opposed to speaking with an employee. Second, we lose the additional opportunity via telephone to reiterate the value of our services and our ability to competently represent them. The upside is that it cuts down on client interactions and employee time spent on the phones. In turn, employee resources may be used in other areas. Second, it provides the potential client an additional avenue to get into our office for an appointmnt. Third, many people like the efficiency of booking the appointment right there and then instead of having to make an additional phone call. Finally, some potential clients feel uncomfortable about talking to anyone about filing for bankruptcy and the internet calendaring option provides additional privacy and comfort. The basic question is whether my firm will likely lose consultations by not having the human interaction, or will individuals be just as likely to make the appointment and keep it via online appointment calendar. Any thoughts, opinions, ideas, or suggestions are welcome. Thank you for any input. I've been going back and forth on this one for two weeks now.