Most attorneys find a law firm website designer the same way they find anything else — a Google search, a referral, or an ad that caught their eye at the right moment. The problem is that web design is an industry where it is very easy to look credible before you have done any work.
This guide gives you a clear framework for evaluating any law firm website designer before you commit — so you hire someone who actually understands the legal industry, not just someone who can build a decent-looking website for any business.
Why “General” Web Designers Fall Short for Law Firms
A general web designer can build you a website. What they cannot do is make decisions informed by how legal clients think, what drives someone to contact an attorney online, or what the best practice area page structure looks like for a personal injury firm versus an estate planning firm.
These are not small details. They are the difference between a website that looks good in a portfolio screenshot and a website that generates consultation requests.
When a generalist builds a law firm website, they apply the same design principles they use for restaurants, gyms, and e-commerce stores. The result is a site that is visually acceptable but structurally wrong for the legal market.
A specialist law firm website designer brings something different: a deep understanding of legal client psychology, the types of searches attorneys need to rank for, and the specific trust signals that make someone pick up the phone and call.
7 Questions to Ask Any Law Firm Website Designer
Before you hire anyone, ask these questions directly. The answers will tell you everything you need to know.
1. Do you work exclusively with law firms, or do you take all clients?
This is the most important question. A designer who works exclusively with attorneys understands your market. A generalist does not — regardless of how good their portfolio looks.
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but you should know the answer before you proceed. If the answer is “we take all clients,” ask them to show you specifically how their process differs for legal clients.
2. Can I see examples of law firm websites you have built that are currently ranking on Google?
Anyone can show you a screenshot of a law firm website they built. What you want to see is evidence that those websites actually perform — that they rank for relevant keywords and generate traffic from potential clients.
Ask for specific URLs, then Google the firm’s practice area and city. If their website does not appear in the first few results, the designer’s SEO claims should be taken with significant skepticism.
3. What does your SEO setup include, and what does it not include?
This question reveals more about a designer than almost any other. Every reputable law firm website designer should include basic on-page SEO as standard: title tags, meta descriptions, schema markup, image optimization, Google Search Console setup, and a proper sitemap.
If a designer quotes you a website without mentioning SEO at all, that is a serious red flag. If they say “we do not handle SEO, you will need to hire someone separately for that,” understand that you are buying a website that is not built to rank from day one — and the cost of fixing that later is significant.
4. Will I own my website completely when it is done?
The answer should always be yes. Some agencies build websites on proprietary platforms that they control. If you stop paying them, your website goes offline. This is an unacceptable arrangement for any business, but particularly for a law firm where your website is a critical part of client intake.
Make sure the website is built on WordPress (or another standard open-source CMS), that you own the domain, and that you can take your website to a different host or agency at any time without penalty.
5. What does the process look like from start to finish, and how much of my time will it require?
You are an attorney. Your time is your most valuable asset. A good law firm website designer has a clear, structured process that requires as little of your time as possible — a single intake call, a feedback round, and a launch review. If a designer asks you to write all of your own content, attend multiple weekly calls, or manage technical tasks yourself, the process is not designed for busy attorneys.
6. What happens after launch? Is there ongoing support?
A website is not a one-time project. After launch, you will need content updates, security patches, occasional design changes, and technical support. Ask specifically what post-launch support looks like, how quickly they respond to requests, and whether ongoing maintenance is available and at what cost.
7. What is your pricing structure, and is everything included in that price?
Flat-rate, fixed pricing is almost always better than hourly billing for a project like a website. Hourly billing means you have no idea what the final cost will be until the project is over.
Ask for an itemized quote. Make sure you understand what is included (design, development, content, SEO setup, revisions) and what will cost extra. Reputable designers quote everything upfront — there should be no surprises on the final invoice.
Red Flags to Watch For
Beyond the questions above, these are the warning signs that should give you pause when evaluating any law firm website designer:
No law firm-specific portfolio. If a designer cannot show you multiple examples of attorney websites they have built, they do not specialize in legal — regardless of what their website says.
Vague SEO promises. “We will help you rank on Google” without specifics about what that means in practice is a meaningless claim. Ask exactly what SEO work is included, what is not, and what results previous clients have seen.
Long contracts with no exit clause. A 12 or 24-month contract for ongoing services is standard in some parts of the industry. Make sure you understand what happens if you want to leave before the contract ends — and whether you keep your website when you do.
Outdated portfolio work. Web design standards move fast. If the most recent work in a designer’s portfolio is from three or four years ago, their current output may not meet today’s standards for speed, mobile responsiveness, or user experience.
No clear process or timeline. “We will get started and keep you updated” is not a process. A professional law firm website designer has a defined scope, timeline, and set of deliverables. If a designer cannot tell you clearly how long your website will take and what happens at each stage, expect delays and confusion.
What a Strong Law Firm Website Designer Looks Like
The best law firm website designers share a few common characteristics:
They work primarily or exclusively with attorneys and law firms. They have a portfolio of real law firm websites that rank on Google. They quote flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees. They include SEO setup as standard, not as an add-on. They build on WordPress, giving you full ownership and portability. They have a clear, structured process that respects your time. They offer post-launch support so you are not left managing technical issues alone.
What We Do at Attorney Website Designers
At Attorney Website Designers, we build custom law firm websites exclusively for attorneys across the USA. We do not take generalist clients — every project we work on is for a law firm, which means every decision we make is informed by what actually works in the legal market.
Our pricing is flat-rate and transparent, starting at $997. Every website we build includes on-page SEO setup, mobile-first development, and 30 days of post-launch support. You own your website completely from day one.
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Attorney Website Designers builds custom law firm websites exclusively for attorneys across the USA.
