A law firm’s website is often the first interaction between a firm and a potential client or referral source. Law firm websites should serve as a digital foot in the door to establish credibility and communicate value propositions, yet many websites fall short. Instead of furthering business development goals, lackluster websites can frustrate users, reduce credibility and quietly drive visitors away.

The good news is that most website issues are fixable. By understanding where websites commonly fail and taking a strategic approach to improvement, firms can transform underperforming sites into effective marketing tools.

1. Confusing or Cluttered Design

A common issue with law firm websites is design that includes too much information at once. Overly complex homepages, dense blocks of text and competing calls to action make it difficult for users to understand where they need to go.

Why it fails:

• Too many navigation options
• Long paragraphs without visual breaks
• Inconsistent layouts across site pages
• Multiple messages competing for attention

How to fix it:

• Simplify navigation to focus on key sections, such as About, Services, Attorneys, Thought Leadership and Contact Info
• Use white space, headings and bold text to improve readability
• Create a page layout template and adhere to those guidelines
• Limit each page to one primary goal

A clean layout helps guide visitors, improving both usability and engagement.

2. Outdated Visual Appearance

Outdated website appearances can also negatively impact firm credibility and undermine trust. Fonts, imagery and layouts that appear dated signal that a firm is out of touch or inattentive to detail, even if that perception is not accurate.

Why it fails:

• Extensive usage of stock images or “dated” fonts such as Times New Roman
• Low-resolution photos or attorney headshots
• Inconsistent branding
• Design trends from previous decades

How to fix it:

• Refresh typography with modern, readable fonts, such as Lato or Georgia
• Replace dated stock photos and low-resolution headshots with professional photography
• Ensure consistent usage of firm colors and branding
• Update page layouts to align with current web standards

A visual refresh does not require a full rebrand. The strategic updating of high-impact items can significantly improve perception and credibility.

3. Poor Mobile Experience

As of 2025, almost 63% of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. If a law firm website is difficult to navigate on a phone or tablet, it is failing a large portion of its audience.

Why it fails:

• Navigation that does not adapt to smaller screens
• Text that is too small to read
• Forms that are difficult/impossible to complete on mobile

How to fix it:

• Utilize a responsive design that adapts to all screen sizes
• Test pages on multiple devices for readability and format
• Simplify forms and calls to action based on mobile ability

Catering to mobile users is no longer optional. These aspects directly affect search visibility and user trust.

4. Lacking Page Maintenance

Broken links, outdated pages and poor internal structure can create friction for users and signal neglect to search engines. A site that looks unfinished or poorly maintained can damage credibility.

Why it fails:

• Old content that is no longer updated
• Missing redirects after site updates
• Poor internal linking between related pages

How to fix it:

• Regularly conduct link audits, ensuring high-volume pages are being adequately maintained and updated
• Properly redirect outdated URLs
• Strengthen internal linking between practice areas, attorney bios and related thought leadership

Sound internal structure improves a website’s navigation, user confidence and SEO performance.

5. Slow Load Times and Technical Issues

Website performance issues can lead to higher bounce rates and reduced user engagement, frustrating users and negatively impacting the site’s search engine rankings.

Why it fails:

• An abundance of large image files
• Outdated hosting service
• Excessive back-end plugins

How to fix it:

• Resize images appropriately and compress large files
• Ensure the site’s hosting plan is adequately equipped to support traffic
• Regularly audit and remove outdated or unnecessary plugins

Technical health is the foundation for a positive user experience and web success.

Turning a Failing Website into a Positive Asset

A law firm website should support business development, reinforce credibility and make it easy for users to engage. By addressing common issues like design clutter, outdated imagery, mobile usability, weak structure and poor performance, firms can drastically improve their perception without starting from scratch.

Regular audits, thoughtful updates and a user-focused approach can help ensure the website acts as a reliable business development tool that grows alongside the firm.