Best Law Firm Website Builders: Set Your Practice Up for Success

Updated: April 8, 2024
|In Websites
|By Jordan Hobbs

Law Firm Website BuildersYou know that your law firm needs a website to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.

DIY website builders for law firms are a decent option for lawyers who want to create their own websites quickly and cheaply. But they aren’t the best option.

Alternatively, you can use a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, which is more involved but is also much more customizable and better in the long run. They’re also better at website marketing for lawyers.

Whether you’re leaning towards a straightforward website builder or contemplating a comprehensive content management system, your choice will significantly impact your firm’s online reputation and growth trajectory.

In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of various website builders, talk a bit about CMS’, and give you a roadmap to make the best decision for your law firm.

Want to jump right to our preferred (and recommended) option? Click here.

In This Article

The Attraction of DIY Website Builders

DIY website builders promise simplicity and speed for a low price.

These platforms are attractive for many lawyers, especially those just starting out or operating smaller practices that can’t afford a high law firm website design cost. They provide a quick way to establish an online presence without hiring a professional or having a large budget.

With user-friendly interfaces, drag-and-drop features, and pre-made templates, creating a website is just a few clicks away.

However, while these platforms seem like the perfect solution, they come with their own set of challenges, especially for professionals in the legal sector.

Limitations of DIY Website Builders for Law Firms

There are some obvious benefits to website builders, but there are just as many restrictions.

  • Generic Designs: Most DIY website builders offer templates. However, these are often generic and might not cater to a law firm’s specific needs or branding. You may end up with a website that’s perfectly serviceable but doesn’t stand out.
  • Limited Customization: While these platforms boast of customization, there’s a ceiling to how much you can modify. Advanced features or specific integrations that a law firm might need could be missing or require premium plans.
  • SEO Constraints: For any law firm, ranking highly on search engines is crucial. DIY website builders don’t offer the control over technical SEO that are pivotal for ranking for competitive legal keywords.
  • Scalability Issues: As a law firm grows, its website needs might evolve. DIY platforms are not infinitely scaleable like a CMS.
  • Ownership Concerns: Some platforms have clauses that don’t give complete ownership of the website content to the user. For law firms, this can be a significant concern, especially when considering the importance of client testimonials, case studies, and other proprietary content.

While DIY website builders are a quick and seemingly easy solution, law firm owners should weigh the immediate benefits against the potential long-term limitations.

Get More Traffic & Leads

Talk to a marketing expert

“My website continues to dominate all the top website searches in my industry and my business has grown 10 fold as a result.”

Micheal Oykhman
Oykhman Criminal Defence

Website Builders Vs. Content Management Systems (CMS)

Both website builders and content management systems (CMS) let you create and manage websites. But they cater to different needs and offer different degrees of flexibility.

Website builders are online platforms that offer a straightforward way to create a website without the need to write code or hire a developer. They come with drag-and-drop features and pre-designed templates, making getting your first website online a breeze.

While website builders are designed for simplicity and ease of use, they sacrifice flexibility and scaleability. Their pre-designed templates and built-in features can be limiting for those who want a unique or highly customized website.

Examples include Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly.

Content management systems (CMS) are software applications that allow users to build, manage, and modify law firm website content without needing to code from scratch. It offers more flexibility and control over the website’s design, functionality, and content.

On the other hand, a CMS like WordPress offers more flexibility in all areas. With access to thousands of plugins and themes, users can customize their sites to meet their law firm’s specific needs and preferences.

Because WordPress is used by over 43% of the internet, there are hundreds of thousands of plugins and guides out there. You can bet that a Google search can solve any problem you run into.

Examples include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are popular CMS platforms.

Setting up a CMS Like WordPress

One of the benefits of a website builder is how simple they are to use.

But we wanted to elaborate on our recommended option (WordPress) and highlight how easy it is to set up and use.

Here’s a quick step-by-step to getting started with WP.

1

Hosting & Domain

Begin by choosing a hosting provider and purchasing a domain name.

2

Install WordPress

Most hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation feature.

3

Choose a Theme

Select from thousands of free or premium themes that influence the overall design of your website.

4

Install Plugins

Enhance the functionality of your law firm’s website by adding plugins for SEO, security, e-commerce, and more.

5

Customize & Publish

Use the WordPress dashboard to add content, customize design elements, and publish your site.

Introduction to Page Builders and Their Role

Page builders bridge the gap between website builders and CMS. They are plugins or extensions for CMS platforms, especially WordPress, that offer drag-and-drop functionality.

With page builders like Elementor or WPBakery, you can design complex layouts without writing code, combining the ease of website builders with the robustness of a CMS.

A Word on WordPress.org

WordPress.org casts a long shadow over its competitors. Its dominance is a testament to its adaptability, robustness, and user-centric approach.

Powering over 43% of the web — from personal blogs to enterprise-level websites — its value is undeniable. Because it’s open-source, it’s attracted a vast community of developers and enthusiasts, making it the go-to choice for websites. The built-in community means there’s a plethora of user support, plug-ins (over 53,000 free plugins available), and technical experts out there.

The platform’s flexibility to cater to almost any kind of website need, whether a simple blog or a complex e-commerce site, has further cemented itself as the main player.

And you don’t sacrifice much of the ease of use that a website builder like Squarespace provides as long as you use a page builder like Elementor or Gutenberg (more on that later).

Advantages of Using WordPress Over Simple Website Builders

We’ve gone over most of this, but to solidify the point. Here are the main benefits of WordPress.

  • Customizability: WordPress offers unparalleled customization options. With thousands of themes and plugins, one can tailor their website to the minutest detail.
  • Scalability: As your business or audience grows, WordPress can grow with you. Whether you’re adding new functionalities or expanding your content, WordPress can handle it with ease.
  • Community Support: Being open-source, WordPress boasts a massive community. This means a plethora of tutorials, forums, and developers ready to assist or offer solutions.
  • SEO-Friendly: WordPress, with plugins like Yoast SEO, offers comprehensive SEO tools, making it easier to optimize your site for search engines.
  • Ownership and Control: Unlike many website builders, where you’re bound by platform-specific rules, with WordPress, you have complete ownership and control over your content, design, and data.

Related – Law Firm Marketing Strategy: Learn about the top law firm marketing strategies.

Our Choice: WordPress + Elementor

When it comes to building a dynamic, user-friendly, and professional website, our top recommendation is the combination of WordPress CMS and the Elementor page builder.

Our Platform is built with this combination, making for a highly customizable and tailored website. Find out more below.

We specifically advocate for WordPress.org, which is a self-hosted, free, and open-source CMS platform. Then there’s WordPress.com. While the latter is more convenient, it has limitations much like common website builders.

WordPress.org gives you full control over your website, allowing you to customize just about every aspect of your website with essential plugins for any law firm website.

Unlike website builders like Wix, WordPress is not a page builder. Instead, you can download one of thousands of themes and use it alongside a page builder like Elementor.

The Elementor plugin lets you create professional web page layouts, essentially mimicking the features of a website builder.

We recommend Elementor because:

  • Drag-and-Drop Builder: Elementor has a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making it easy even for those without any coding knowledge to design stunning web pages.
  • Highly Customizable: With Elementor, the design possibilities are nearly endless. It offers a plethora of widgets, templates, and design options, allowing for intricate and unique page designs.
  • Performance Optimized: Websites built with Elementor are not only visually appealing but also optimized for speed and performance.
  • Integration with WordPress: Elementor seamlessly integrates with WordPress, enhancing the CMS’s capabilities and allowing for more advanced design functionalities.
  • Responsive Design: In an age where mobile browsing is prevalent, Elementor ensures that your website looks and functions impeccably across all devices.

With Elementor, you can easily tweak your pages and instantly view a live preview to make sure your changes align with your vision. It offers widgets for essential components like text sections, image galleries, buttons, and more.

Elementor has hundreds of design templates tailored for WordPress that provide a foundation, allowing you to launch new web pages quickly. And they’re entirely adaptable, letting you customize them to match your brand’s style.

Given WordPress’s popularity, it’s complemented by a rich array of plugins. Pairing this with Elementor means you can tap into a plethora of features and customization avenues that are often absent in standard website builders.

Alternate Website Builder Options for Attorneys

JurisPage Platform

The JurisPage platform includes a beautiful website built in WordPress + Elementor.

Pricing: One-time fee of $5,995 + $295/mo

  • Professional Website Design: Get a professional law firm website designed for you.
  • Integrated Tools: Connects with all of the legal tech you already use.
  • SEO Ready: Built with SEO in mind.
  • Reporting + Analytics: Get real-time information on your website’s traffic.
jurispage platform

Clio Grow

Clio Grow is a website builder made specifically for law firms.

Pricing: $129/mo.

  • Streamlined Intake: Simplifies client onboarding processes.
  • Automation: Offers workflow and email automation.
  • Online Payments: Facilitates seamless financial transactions.
  • Detailed Reporting: Provides insights for better decision-making.
clio grow

Webflow

webflow

Webflow is a page builder offering more customization than competitors.

Pricing: Starts at $14/mo for Basic.

  • Visual Design: Enables code-free, visual web design in a user-friendly interface.
  • Responsive Design: Simplifies the creation of mobile-responsive websites.
  • Live Prototyping: Allows real-time design updates and previews.
  • No Plugins Needed: Offers built-in functionalities, eliminating the need for external plugins.
webflow

Squarespace

Squarespace is a drag-and-drop website builder with sleek templates.

Pricing: Starts at $32/mo for Business.

  • User-Friendly: Simplifies website creation for law firms.
  • Integrated Tools: Connects with scheduling software for easy bookings.
  • Professional Templates: Offers professional designs for a credible presence.
  • Content Sharing: Enables easy blogging for news and updates.
squarespace

The Importance of a Professional Lawyer Website

Your website is more than just a spot on the internet.

It’s often the first thing clients see, setting the tone for their experience with your firm. A well-designed website builds trust and showcases your firm’s expertise, especially in a crowded market. In many ways, your website can be the make-or-break factor in client decisions.

To be professional, it needs to work well, be easy to use, and have quality content. That’s where we come in. Our team at JurisPage knows the ins and outs of both the legal world and the digital space.

With us, you’re not just getting a good-looking site. You’re getting a website that works hard for your firm, attracting and connecting with potential clients.

JurisPage

Leave the web to us.

We help ambitious law firms attract new clients with SEO, Google Ads, Website Design, and Content Marketing.

Kickstart

Drive clicks and conversions with Google Ads

We help entrepreneurial law firms attract high-quality sales leads and gain premium placement in the search results with Google Ads.

  • We design mobile-friendly landing pages for your firm.
  • We develop your Google Ads strategy and configure the campaign.
  • We launch, optimize, and improve your campaign's performance.
Learn More →

Elevate

Gain top SEO rankings in Google

Rise to the top with an all-in-one website design and Search Engine Optimization program to help you Elevate your rankings, increase your traffic, and drive more qualified leads to your website.

  • We design your firm an SEO-engineered WordPress website.
  • We develop and implement your campaign's SEO strategy.
  • We provide performance reports you can actually understand.
Learn More →

Legal Marketing 360

An all-in-one digital marketing package

The all-in-one digital marketing program for law firms & attorneys. Focus on building your firm and we’ll deliver a steady stream of new prospects who are ready to buy. It’s that easy.

  • We create a professional, user-friendly website and increase your rankings in Google's search results with SEO & content.
  • We develop your Google Ads strategy, perform keyword research, and configure your campaign.
  • We create articles that keep your audience coming back for more.
Learn More →

Not Sure Which Package You Need?

No problem. Get in Touch for a free consultation.