Law Firm Website Design
A site that earns trust before the first call
I design and build websites for law firms, lawyers, and solo attorneys. Every practice area gets a page that answers the questions people bring to it. Every attorney gets a profile that reads like a person. Someone with a legal problem can request a consultation from a phone in a few taps. Search is planned into each page, so the firm shows up when people look for the help it offers. You work with the person who builds the site, from the first call through the updates years later.
How people choose a lawyer online
People start with their problem, then look hard at the lawyer who would handle it.
Most people hire a lawyer only a few times in their lives, and usually at a hard moment, like after a crash, during a divorce, when a parent dies, when a deal falls apart. Few of them know a lawyer to call. So they search, read, and compare, usually on a phone and often in the evening.
They start with the problem.
Many searches describe the trouble before they name a lawyer, like "what to do after a car accident," "how does probate work," "can my landlord keep my deposit." Others name the kind of lawyer and the place, like "personal injury lawyer Akron," "estate planning attorney near me." A firm with a clear page about that problem, written in everyday words, gets read. A firm that lists ten practice areas in one paragraph gets skipped.
They look for the person.
Hiring a lawyer means trusting one person with something that matters. Visitors want to know who will handle their matter, whether that lawyer has handled matters like it, and whether they'll understand what the lawyer tells them. Attorney profiles get read closely for that reason.
A referral still gets checked.
Referrals from friends, past clients, and other lawyers bring in much of a firm's work. Before calling, most people look up the firm and the lawyer they were told about. If the site is out of date, or that lawyer isn't on it, the referral can stall right there. So every attorney belongs on it.
They compare two or three firms.
People rarely call the first firm they find. They open a few sites side by side and judge them quickly. Does this firm handle my kind of case? Do the lawyers seem experienced and easy to talk to? What do other clients say? How do I reach them, and what happens when I do? The site that answers those questions first, and plainly, usually gets the call.
What law firm web design has to get right
Explain what the firm does, show who does it, give reasons to believe it, and make first contact easy.
A law firm’s website has four jobs. It has to explain what the firm does, show who does it, give people reasons to believe it, and make the first contact easy.
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Dog bites
- Estate planning
- Probate
- Family law
Sending this form doesn't make you a client.
A page for each practice area
Each kind of case gets its own page. A personal injury firm that handles car accidents, truck accidents, and dog bites gets a page for each, because someone bitten by a neighbor's dog searches for that and wants to read about that. A good practice area page covers:
Each of those pages can show up for its own searches. Ten practice areas squeezed onto one page give Google little to match and leave the reader hunting for the one paragraph about their problem.
- Who the page is for, in the reader's own terms
- What usually happens in this kind of matter, step by step
- What to do first, and what to avoid
- Common questions, answered plainly
- Which attorneys handle these matters, with links to their profiles
- How to request a consultation
Attorney profiles that read like people
A good profile starts with a real photo and a few sentences, in the lawyer's own voice, about how they work with clients. Then come the facts people check, like bar admissions, education, the year they were admitted, the kinds of matters they handle, and any recognition your state lets you mention. Each profile links to the practice area pages that attorney handles, and each of those pages links back.
Results, where your state allows them
Case results can be persuasive, and the rules for showing them vary by state. Many states require a note that past results don't guarantee a future outcome, and some limit how results can be presented. You decide which results go on the site and what the note says. I give every result the same format, so the facts are easy to scan and the required note sits right beside them.
Reviews and client words
People read reviews before they call a law firm, just as they would before hiring anyone else. Your Google reviews can appear on the site, and client testimonials can run on the pages they relate to, as far as your state's rules allow. A short review from someone whose case looked like the reader's can do more than a page of credentials. So I put reviews where people are deciding, not on a page of their own.
Answers before the call
Some questions people would rather not ask on a first call. How long does a case like mine take? What does a consultation cost? What if I can't afford a lawyer? A firm that answers them on its site earns trust before anyone picks up the phone. Those answers, in FAQ sections and short articles, also help the site show up when people ask Google or an AI tool the same questions.
An easy, careful consultation request
The request form asks only what the firm needs to reply, which is a name, a phone number or email address, the kind of matter, and a short description. The firm's phone number sits at the top of every page, one tap away on a phone. A short note beside the form tells people that sending it doesn't make them a client and asks them to hold back confidential details until the firm replies. Many firms run a conflict check before discussing a case, and the note sets that expectation without scaring anyone off.
Fast pages that work on a phone
Most people look for a lawyer on a phone, often in the evening, so I build and test every page on a phone first. I also test each page on a slow connection before launch. Pages load quickly, text is large enough to read without zooming, and buttons are easy to tap. Headings, image descriptions, and color contrast are set up so people who use screen readers or have low vision can use the site too. A page that loads slowly, or makes someone pinch and zoom, sends them back to the search results and on to the next firm.
Built around the advertising rules
A law firm's website counts as lawyer advertising. Every state sets its own rules, most of them based on the American Bar Association's model rules. They share a few themes. Nothing on the site can be false or misleading. A lawyer can't claim to be a "specialist" without the certification the state requires.
Some states want a label such as "Attorney Advertising," or a disclaimer on certain pages. You know the rules your firm practices under. I build the site around them, point out anything that may need a second look, and you approve every word before it goes live.
Want a page like this for each practice area?
Tell me about your firmLegal topics, written in plain words
Written for the client, checked by the attorney.
Lawyers write precisely, for courts and for other lawyers. Clients need something else, a clear explanation of what is happening and what comes next. The pages on your site are written for the client.
I write the first draft of every page from the call, your discovery answers, and the sites your clients compare you to. Each practice area page explains the process in everyday words, defines a legal term the first time it appears, and stays general enough that nobody could mistake it for advice on their own case. Your attorneys check every page for accuracy and add what only they know. The writing stays off their desks, and the legal judgment stays with them.
Clear writing helps with search too. One person searches “statute of limitations,” and the next searches “how long do I have to file a claim.” A page that uses both, and explains one with the other, can match both searches and helps the reader either way.
Law firm websites I've built
A law firm, then the case studies that show what a site can do.
I’ve built websites for Slater & Zurz, a personal injury law firm in Ohio, and for Dog Bites Ohio. Each card opens the project page.
Slater & Zurz LLP
3 yearsOf search work, then a new main websiteI rebuilt the firm's practice-area sites on one template, handled the search work and upkeep across all of them and the main site for three years, and set up Google listings for the firm and for each attorney. In 2017 I designed and built a new main website. The firm wanted visitors to meet attorneys who were approachable as well as capable, so the site used real photos of the team and kept the menus simple, so a visitor could find the right attorney quickly.
See the project
Maconachy Stradley Insurance
An agency's website, built in 2015 when a new partner joined the business.
Read the case study
Teledata
New owners and a new logo, then two websites built from that same logo.
Read the case study
AVSAB
A society's website, with member renewals and a directory of its consultants.
Read the case study
Medrock Pharmacy
A logo and website, built to grow with the pharmacy from one location to three.
Read the case study
Family Value Flooring
A new name for a long-established store, and one website for two locations.
Read the case study
Therm-A-Guard
A product for electric utilities, with buyer answers and an online store.
Read the case study"Becoming a partner in my business, I knew that we needed to update our website. I completed an extensive search of local website designers and decided that Josh was the best fit. He never missed a deadline, and incorporated everything that I wanted into the website. It has been six months since its completion, and he continues to support me with updates that need to be made and answers all of my questions promptly. I would have spent considerably more money going with a large advertising firm, but I am confident that I got a better product and better service by using Josh. I strongly recommend Josh to anyone in need of an upgraded website."
Local SEO for law firms
A spot on the map comes from the profile, the office pages, the directories, and reviews.
Most legal searches have a place in them, even when nobody types it. Someone who searches “divorce lawyer” on a phone sees a map of nearby firms first. Local SEO, short for local search engine optimization, is the work of earning a spot on that map and in the results below it. For a firm, it comes down to five things.
A Google Business Profile for each office
Your Google Business Profile is the free listing that puts your firm on Google Maps, with your hours, phone number, reviews, and a link to your site. The primary category carries the most weight, so it names your main practice, such as "personal injury attorney," "family law attorney," or "estate planning attorney." Each office where you meet clients gets its own profile. Google also allows separate profiles for individual attorneys who see clients. That can help, and it can also split your reviews, so it's worth deciding with care.
A page for each office
Every office gets a page on the site with its address, hours, directions, the attorneys who work there, and the practice areas it handles. Each office's profile links to that office's page, so someone who finds your Columbus office on the map lands on the Columbus page. The page also gives Google a clear match for searches that name the city, like "divorce lawyer Columbus." A profile needs a real office. Google doesn't accept virtual offices or mail drops, and a profile at one can be suspended.
Legal directories
People also find lawyers through Avvo, Justia, FindLaw, Martindale-Hubbell, and your state bar's lawyer directory, and Google reads those listings as well. The firm's name, address, and phone number should match on every one of them and on your site, and each attorney's listing should point to the right profile page. Old listings with a past address or phone number are common, and they can send a caller to the wrong place, and finding and fixing them is part of local SEO.
AI answers
More people now ask ChatGPT or Google's AI Overviews questions like "do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident" or "who handles dog bite cases near me." Those tools lean on sites that answer questions clearly and describe the firm clearly, including who it is, what it practices, and where. Clear practice area pages, FAQ sections, and structured data (code that describes the firm, its attorneys, and its offices for search engines and AI tools) give them what they need.
Reviews, within the ethics rules
Reviews help a firm rank on the map and help people choose it. Ask every client when their matter closes, with a direct link to your review form in the closing letter or email. Offering anything in exchange for a review breaks Google's rules, and your state's ethics rules may forbid it too.
Replies need the most care. Even when a review is unfair, a reply can't reveal anything about the client's matter. The American Bar Association addressed this in a 2021 ethics opinion. A common approach is a short, polite reply that says the firm doesn't discuss client matters online and invites the person to call.
What the project asks of your firm
One call, discovery at your own pace, and each attorney reviews only their own pages.
Every hour an attorney spends on the website is an hour away from clients, so the process asks for as few of those hours as possible.
- 1You
A 20 to 30 minute call
You talk with me for 20 to 30 minutes and name one person at the firm to gather photos and approvals.
- 2You
Discovery, at your own pace
Then comes discovery: you answer my questions in writing, at your own pace, while I research your practice areas and the firms your clients compare you to. By the end, I know your firm well enough to write in its voice.
- 3Me
Drafts of every page
I write the practice area pages and attorney profiles in draft.
- 4Attorneys
Each attorney reviews
Each attorney reviews their own profile and the pages for the matters they handle.
only their own pages - 5Firm
Your review of the finished site
Then the firm reviews the finished site and tells me what to change.
- 6Me
I handle the rest
I handle the rest, including the plan, the design, the build, the search setup, and the launch.
the heavy lifting is mine
After launch, a website care plan covers hosting, updates, backups, and security. When the firm adds an attorney, opens an office, or updates a bio, the request goes to the person who built the site.
Ready to talk it through?
Send a requestQuestions law firms ask
Still have a question?
Ask me directlyWhat do law firm website design services include?
Law firm website design services include writing the practice area pages and attorney profiles, designing and building the site, setting up consultation forms, and the search work that helps people nearby find the firm. With me, the writing is part of the project. I draft each page from our call, your discovery answers, and your current bios. Your attorneys check the drafts for accuracy and tone, and nothing goes live until the firm approves it.
How do I choose a law firm website design company?
Choose a law firm website design company that has built sites for law firms, writes for clients in plain words, plans local search into the site, and knows the advertising rules lawyers work under. Ask to see its law firm work and who would do it. With me, it's one person. I rebuilt Slater & Zurz's practice-area sites on one template and handled their search work and upkeep for three years.
How much does a law firm website cost?
The cost of a law firm website depends on the number of practice areas, attorneys, and offices, and on how much writing and search work the site needs. With me, the price pays for the work and the person doing it, not for layers of staff. We talk through the cost on our call.
How can I build a website for my law firm?
To build a website for your law firm, plan a page for each practice area, write attorney profiles, add a consultation form to every page, and set up a Google Business Profile for each office. Check every page against your state's advertising rules before it goes live. Most firms hand the build to a designer and spend their own time on review, since every attorney hour on the website is an hour away from clients.
What are law firm website best practices?
Law firm website best practices include a plain-words page for each kind of matter, attorney profiles with real photos, a consultation form on every page, and the disclaimers your state requires. Pages should load fast on a phone, since many people look for a lawyer on a phone, often in the evening. And each practice area page should answer the questions people bring to it before they call.
What are good law firm website design examples?
Good law firm website design examples open with the problems the firm handles, show a real photo of every attorney, and make a consultation request easy from any page. Slater & Zurz, a personal injury firm in Akron, Ohio, is one I built, along with Dog Bites Ohio. The portfolio groups law and insurance projects together.
Will the site follow my state's lawyer advertising rules?
The site follows your state's lawyer advertising rules because it's built around them. You tell me the rules your firm practices under, and I build in what they call for, such as a disclaimer beside case results, an advertising label where your state requires one, and a note on the contact form. I also point out claims that may need a second look, like the word "specialist." Your firm signs off on every word, the same as with any other advertising.
Can the site show case results and client reviews?
The site can show case results and client reviews where your state allows them. Results go on the site in a consistent format, with the disclaimer your rules require. Google reviews and client testimonials can appear on the pages they relate to. You choose what runs and approve the wording around it.
Can people request a consultation through the site?
Yes, people can request a consultation through the site. Every page has a short request form and the firm's phone number, one tap away on a phone. Each request goes straight to the inbox you choose, and every form is tested on phones and desktops before launch.
Is the contact form safe for confidential information?
The contact form is safe in transit. The site runs on a secure connection, so what someone types is encrypted on its way to the firm. Even so, most firms ask people to hold back confidential details until the firm has run a conflict check and replied. A short note beside the form says so.
Can the site help a firm show up in more than one city?
The site can help a firm show up in more than one city where the firm has a real office. Each office gets its own Google Business Profile and its own page on the site, with the attorneys and practice areas there. Showing up in a city where you have no office is harder. A page about your work for clients in that city can help, as long as it's specific and true.
Can you redesign my firm's current site without losing what it has earned?
Yes, I can redesign your firm's current site without losing what it has earned. Before anything changes, I find the pages that bring in visits from Google and the pages other sites link to. Those pages keep their value on the new site, and every old address forwards visitors to its new page. Your current site stays up until launch day.
Do you build websites for solo attorneys and small firms?
Yes, I build websites for solo attorneys and small firms. A solo practice needs what a larger firm needs. That means a clear page for each kind of matter, a profile that shows who you are, and an easy way to request a consultation. The site is sized to the firm. A solo attorney with three practice areas gets a focused site, and a firm with several offices gets a page for each one.
Start your firm's new website.
Send a few lines about your firm, like what you practice, where your clients are, and which matters you want more of. A link to your current site helps. You’ll hear back from me with a time for a short call. The first step is the form.