Legal product reviews and business guidance from industry experts.
Chapter 1/6
Law Firm Website Design
4 min read
You know you need a law firm website. It’s what comes next that isn’t always clear.
A great website helps your law firm stand out. It increases brand exposure, draws in your ideal client, and provides value to clients and potential clients.
This guide will help you define a purpose for your law firm’s website, consider your value proposition, and learn basics about functionality, accessibility, and structure. We’ll also give you tips on using content marketing to increase exposure and the power of the call-to-action (CTA) and lead magnets. You’ll learn the importance of website design principles, where to start, and how to find help.
By understanding the importance of a high-quality law firm website, how to build a website that’s accessible and useful, plus the basic elements you need for success, you can convert your visitors into leads for your firm.
Potential clients seek ?legal services online every day. For your law firm to draw in new clients and remain successful, a strong web presence is a must. The cornerstone of your web presence is your website. It’s the place to show your authority and expertise, as well as drive traffic and interest for your law firm.
Most customers, when buying goods and services, conduct online research first. This is true for both eCommerce and service providers. Potential clients want to make an informed decision when choosing an attorney. Your website is one of the first places they’ll visit to see if you’re the right choice.
What is the goal of your website? You need to know your website’s goal before you even think about colors, picture, or design.
There was a time when websites for lawyers were essentially glorified online business cards. Today’s legal websites, though, serve many purposes. They share information about who you are, showcase your service areas, and offer potential clients a way to reach out for those services. Beyond that, your website should communicate what makes your value proposition—what makes your firm unique—to your target client.
A value proposition defines the unique benefit you deliver to your clients that other attorneys don’t. It outlines the reasons your client should choose you and should ring throughout your law firm website design.
If you don’t know your unique value proposition, follow these steps.
Many potential clients head to Google to search for information before they ever think about hiring a lawyer. Your website can provide these leads with information they need as they navigate their issues. Your website should deliver different information to potential clients based on where they are in the decision-making process.
We’ll cover this more in Chapter 5, but your website should have a way of turning the right visitors into clients.
Many firms are now using their websites as a place to connect with clients—beyond simply relaying generic information—and to conduct business. Your website could give clients access to a client portal where they can see their case’s status, review documents, and exchange notes and ideas with your team. Some firms are using their site to develop a client library of helpful resources. You can also have clients visit your website to review and pay invoices and schedule appointments.
If the examples above scare you, instead you could securely collect preliminary information from clients. For example, clients come to your site to complete questionnaires that populate your practice management software and potentially create an engagement letter. One firm developed a place on their website for clients to review and manage their commercial leases.
The possibilities are endless. The point, however, is that your website needs a purpose. For more on this, check out Episode #431 of our Podcast, What’s Your Website Goal?.
Now that you’ve thought about the goal/s for your website, let’s explore basic design principles you’ll use in building your site.
Download the Full Guide to Law Firm Website Design
With this guide, you’ll have the tools to create strategic goals for your site. You’ll get web design basics and ways to enhance your content to attract and convert potential clients, driving more of the right traffic to your website.
