Web design for solicitors — what you actually need

Why do so many solicitor websites look the same?

Because most of them are built from the same handful of legal website templates. Same stock photo of a handshake. Same navy blue colour scheme. Same wall of text about "delivering excellence in legal services since 1987".

None of that helps a potential client decide to pick up the phone. People looking for a solicitor want three things:

• Do you handle my specific problem? — conveyancing, family law, personal injury, whatever it is
• Are you nearby? — or at least cover my area
• Can I trust you? — reviews, real photos, clear pricing where possible

If your website doesn't answer those three questions within ten seconds, people leave. They don't scroll through your firm's history. They hit the back button and click the next result.

What pages does a solicitor's website actually need?

Forget the 30-page corporate site your current agency is quoting you for. Here's what actually matters:

• Homepage — who you are, what areas of law you cover, where you're based. Keep it short.
• Individual service pages — one page per practice area. "Conveyancing in Manchester." "Family law solicitors in Bolton." These are the pages that rank on Google. A single "Our Services" page listing everything won't cut it.
• About page — real photos of real people. Not stock images. Clients want to know who they'll be speaking to.
• Contact page — phone number, email, address, opening hours, a simple form. Make it easy.
• Reviews or testimonials — Google reviews embedded or quoted. Social proof matters more in legal services than almost any other industry.

That's five to ten pages. Not thirty. Each one with a clear purpose.

Why do individual service pages matter so much?

Because nobody searches "solicitor". They search "conveyancing solicitor near me" or "divorce lawyer Manchester" or "personal injury claim Salford".

Each of those searches needs its own page to land on. A page that talks specifically about that service, in that area, with relevant details. Google can't rank your homepage for twenty different legal services. It needs dedicated pages to match specific searches.

This is the single biggest mistake we see on solicitor websites. One generic services page trying to cover everything. It ranks for nothing.

Does your solicitor website need a blog?

It can help, but only if you do it right. Writing about things people actually search for — "how long does conveyancing take", "what happens at a child custody hearing", "can I claim for a slip at work" — brings in traffic from people who might need your services.

Writing about changes to obscure legislation that nobody outside the legal profession cares about? That's a waste of your time. Write for your clients, not your peers.

You don't need to publish every week either. Four or five genuinely useful articles will do more than fifty thin ones.

What about compliance and SRA requirements?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires certain information on your website. Your SRA number, complaints procedure, professional indemnity details, and pricing transparency for certain services. These aren't optional.

A good web designer will know this. If they don't ask about SRA compliance during the build process, that's a red flag. You need someone who understands the sector, not just someone who can make things look pretty.

How important is mobile for solicitors?

Critical. Over 60% of legal service searches happen on mobile. Someone's had a car accident. Someone's just been served divorce papers. Someone needs a solicitor right now. They're on their phone.

If your site is slow, hard to navigate, or the phone number isn't tappable on mobile, you've lost that enquiry. They'll call the next firm on Google instead. Your site needs to load in under three seconds and the contact details need to be front and centre.

What about Google Business Profile?

Your Google Business Profile is just as important as your website for local searches. Make sure your name, address, and phone number match exactly between your website and your Google listing. Get reviews on Google — not just on your own site. Respond to them, even the good ones.

Your website and your Google Business Profile work together. The website gives Google detailed information about your services. The profile puts you on the map — literally. You need both.

How much should a solicitor pay for a website?

Between £500 and £2,000 for a well-built, SEO-ready site with individual service pages and proper local optimisation. You don't need to spend £10,000. You especially don't need a "legal sector specialist agency" charging premium rates for the same template they sell to every other firm.

What you do need is someone who understands local SEO, builds fast sites, and knows the basics of SRA compliance. The rest is straightforward.

Everything above is built into one of our template starting points: see the Solicitors template, with the town in the headline, one block per practice area and the fees on the page rather than on request.