Every law firm needs a good website so that it can thrive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing legal landscape.

Unfortunately, 14% of law firms across all sizes in the US do not have a website, according to a 2019 survey by the American Bar Association (ABA). Moreover, only 57% of solo practitioners use a website to reach potential clients online.

If your legal office doesn’t have a web portal or any online presence, below are some of the top reasons why your law firm needs a good website:

1. It Helps Clients Find You

Many law firms are seeking customers to offer their services. Consequently, your clients are also searching online for the right attorney to defend them in court.

According to a Google Consumer Survey, roughly 96 percent of legal consumers looking for legal advice use search engines. Consequently, about 74 percent of them later contact the law firm through phone, says a FindLaw survey in 2014.

The keywords “personal injury lawyer” and “car accident lawyer” each have a search volume of around 50,000 per month based on the Google Adwords tool. The combined lawyer-related keywords may reach millions a month, which is a lot of missed opportunities if people can’t find you online.

2. Websites Compliment Social Media

Aside from the lack of resources, many solo firms with no website usually rely on social media to promote their services. However, social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are not enough to convey what you can do for your clients and why they should choose you specifically.

You need a website to work as a front store to display all of your legal services and expertise. It also adds a layer of professionalism since you take the effort to build a website that showcases your experience in the legal arena.

Additionally, your website can also be used as the centerpiece of your online marketing campaign. Think of it as your online calling card, but with tons of functionality. To dominate your online marketing campaign, you can also pay per click (PPC) and online advertising to your strategy.

3.Builds Trust and Reputation

Running a website that outlines your law firm’s accomplishments and track records can help you build trust with your clients. Furthermore, if you provide relevant content that can help your readers and clients in their endeavors, it can boost your reputation.

Some law firm websites are even offering “free legal advice” to educate their potential clients. Moreover, some law counseling websites also tend to answer legal questions that can help their readers make decisions related to their case.

Blogging is also an essential tool for businesses to communicate with the people they serve. According to the same ABA report, only 31-percent of law firm websites have a blog page. In short, there is plenty of room to grow your leads while building your firm’s influence in the legal niche.

4. Calling Is Not for Everyone

Some legal customers are not comfortable calling a law office right away. There are plenty of reasons for this behavior, such as they are too shy or they want to keep the nature of the case confidential. Fortunately, you can create different communication channels on your website to address this issue.

You can install a contact form wherein clients can provide some details of the case during their initial contact with your firm. Other communication channels include live chat box, email, and even customer support.

Think of your website as a salesperson and customer service representative in one. Unlike its human counterparts, a website can fulfill these roles 24/7 for a fraction of the cost you will have to pay an employee.

5. Cuts Through the Competition

As we said earlier, most law firms that have websites are large legal consultancies with hundreds of employees. Meanwhile, small and medium law offices with web portals tend to be fewer. If you want to separate yourself from your competition, especially in a specific area, building a professional website is the way to go.

Additionally, law firms with websites tend to have better branding than those with none. They can also quickly spread their value proposition and message to potential legal consumers online.

Creating a website evens the competition and gives you a fighting chance with bigger and more popular law firms.

7 Elements That Your Law Firm Website Needs to Have

Whether you want a complex or simple website, it all depends on you. However, there are certain things and information that a law firm website has to have. When building your legal consultation website, it needs the following elements:

• The law firm’s address and contact info so people can easily reach out to you.
• The practice areas your offices such as estate planning lawyer and immigration lawyer
• The names and profiles of the attorneys that practice under your wing
• The qualification of your lawyers and their track record
• The jurisdictions where they mostly practice
• Testimonials from past clients to build trust in your legal consumers
• Blog page so you can slowly build your reputation as an authoritative figure in this niche

You may also want to consider designing a website that is mobile-friendly and can be easily viewed from smartphones and other handheld devices. Moreover, be as transparent as you can to your clients and manage their expectations.

Meanwhile, when creating content for your law firm website, make sure not to use jargon and other complex legal terms. Instead, use simple words to explain the process of the law and how you can help them. Remember to put yourself in the shoes of your client and communicate using their perspective.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of other reasons why your law firm needs a good website, especially in this day and age. Ultimately, a website is a business asset that can help you market and connect with your customer base. Whether you have a small or big law firm, you need a website to edge out the competition and bring justice closer to those who need it the most.

Looking to grow your business? Read ”10 Things You Have to Do to Set up Your Website for SEO” to learn more.