Creating a compelling, client-converting website isn't just about ticking a box—it's about building trust, showcasing your expertise, and making it easy for potential clients to choose you over the competition. But how much should you expect to spend on a law firm website in 2025? The answer varies widely, depending on your goals, firm size, and how hands-on you want to be.
In this guide, we'll break down the real-world costs, hidden fees, and smart investments that can make or break your online presence. We’ve talked to other firms and experts in the web design industry to make sure we have the most up to date pricing and insights into the true cost of a website.
The cost of law firm websites: What you need to know
Let’s start with the basics. A law firm website isn't just a digital business card. It's your 24/7 receptionist, intake coordinator, and brand ambassador. Depending on your needs and budget, the cost can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. After talking to our own clients, we’ve see four different approaches that come with different price ranges that we’ve broken down here:
1. DIY options: ($15 - $100/month + your time)
If you're a solo practitioner or a small firm just starting out, DIY website builders like Squarespace, RocketSpark or Wix offer affordable plans. These platforms provide pre-designed templates that you can customize with your branding and content.
- Who it's for: New firms or those on a very tight budget.
- What you get: Expect to get a templated site with 1-4 pages covering the essentials of your business.
- Who builds it: It’s all you!
2. Entry-level site ($2,500 - $10,000)
Entry level sites are an excellent choice for newer firms looking to stand out from local competition. You can expect to get a site custom built on a platform like those DIY website builders we mentioned above.
- Who it's for: Solo practitioners, new firms, or those on a tight budget.
- What you get: A clean, professional, but fairly basic website. Think 5-10 pages covering the essentials like your services, who you are, and how to contact you. It's usually built using a well-designed template that's customized with your firm brand. It's functional, mobile-friendly, and helps you get found online for simple searches.
- Build style: Typically built on platforms such as Wordpress or Webflow, or on the DIY options like Wix/Squarespace if you're comfortable doing some of the work yourself.
- Who builds it: Often a freelance designer or a smaller agency offering "starter" packages.
3. Mid-range: The growing firm's website ($8,000 - $25,000)
- Who it's for: Small to mid-size firms that are growing and need a more robust online presence. Most firms will fall in this range.
- What you get: A more customized and comprehensive site with more pages (10-30+) to detail practice areas, attorney bios, and perhaps a blog. The design goes beyond a simple template, incorporating more unique elements that truly reflect your firm's brand. It focuses on a better user experience and can include features like client testimonials.
- Build style: Usually a custom-designed site, meaning it starts with a strong strategic foundation but gets significant design and functionality tweaks.
- Who builds it: Often mid-size agencies that specialize in professional service websites, or highly experienced freelancers.
4. High-end: The bespoke online presence (often $20,000 - $100,000+)
- Who it's for: Established mid-size to very large firms, or those in highly competitive legal markets.
- What you get: A completely unique, custom-built website designed from the ground up to perfectly match your firm's identity and strategic goals. This means a significant number of pages (30-100+), advanced features like client portals or complex integrations, and a well researched user experience. It's built for maximum impact, lead generation, and brand authority.
- Build style: Fully custom development (not relying on themes), or a very heavily customized, enterprise-level WordPress build.
- Who builds it: Specialized legal marketing agencies or full-service digital agencies with dedicated teams for design, development, content, and marketing strategy.
Hidden costs: what’s not in the sticker price
Beyond the initial design and development, there are ongoing expenses to consider:
- Domain registration: This is typically $10–$20 per year.
- Web hosting: Can range from $50 to $3,000+ annually, depending on the hosting provider and the level of service. Make sure you check with your agency or freelancer for up front costs on hosting, as this can quickly balloon and become a significant investment.
- Website maintenance: Regular updates, backups, and security patches can cost several hundred dollars per year. Think about what you are wanting, whether you want regular updates, or to be able to change the website yourself. Ask your freelancer or agency about this and what will likely be involved.
- Content updates and SEO services: Hiring professionals to keep your content fresh and optimized for search engines can add to your expenses. Some of this you may be able to do yourself. SEO and content packages often start from $1,000/month and go up from there.
- Premium plugins & software licenses: When using a platform such as WordPress, you may end up relying on third-party plugins and apps for security, forms, SEO and other features of the site that may come included in other platforms.
Choosing the right path: DIY vs. professional development
If you’re on a budget, or just starting out, deciding how to build your website is a critical first step. Your choice will impact your budget, time investment, technical involvement, and the site's ultimate scalability and customization.
Here's a breakdown to help you navigate the options:
1. DIY website builders (e.g., Squarespace, RocketSpark, Wix)
What they are: Platforms offering drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-designed templates, allowing website creation without needing to code.
- Pros:
- Lowest upfront cost: Often the most budget-friendly initial option.
- Speed to launch: Basic sites can be live relatively quickly.
- User-friendly: Designed for non-technical users.
- All-in-one: Typically include hosting, security basics, and sometimes domain registration.
- Cons:
- Design limitations: While improving, customization is often restricted to template parameters.
- Scalability issues: May struggle with complex features, large e-commerce needs, or deep integrations as your firm grows.
- SEO constraints: Basic SEO tools are available, but advanced optimization can be limited.
- "Template look": Risk of looking generic if not carefully customized.
- Time investment: While user-friendly, requires your time for design, content input, and learning the platform.
Best for: Solo practitioners, very small firms with simple informational needs, those on a tight budget needing a quick online presence, or those testing a new venture.
Recommendations:
- Rocketspark (NZ-Based & International): A popular New Zealand company known for its incredibly easy-to-use platform and excellent customer support.
- Squarespace (International): Famous for its beautiful, design-centric templates that create a polished and professional look with minimal effort.
- Wix (International): A great option for beginners due to its drag-and-drop interface and a very wide range of features and apps.
2. Freelancers & small agencies
What they are: Independent professionals or small groups of professionals (designers, developers, SEO specialists) hired on a project basis.
- Pros:
- Cost-effectiveness (Potentially): Can be more affordable than a full service agency for specific tasks or well-defined projects.
- Specialized skills: You can hire for the exact skill set you need (e.g., a WordPress expert, a graphic designer).
- Flexibility: Often more adaptable to smaller, specific scopes of work.
- Cons:
- Variable quality & reliability: Skill levels and professionalism can differ significantly. Thorough vetting is crucial.
- Limited scope: One freelancer rarely possesses all skills (design, development, SEO, content strategy). You might need to hire multiple.
- Project management: Success often depends on your ability to manage the freelancer and project scope.
- Availability/bus factor: Reliance on one person can be risky if they become unavailable or overwhelmed.
Best for: Firms with clear, specific needs (e.g., a website refresh, SEO setup), those comfortable managing projects, or needing a particular niche skill that complements an existing setup.
- Unicorn Factory (NZ-Based): A curated platform specifically for connecting with top freelance talent based in New Zealand.
- Upwork (International): One of the largest global platforms where you can find and hire freelancers with a huge range of skills, from web development to copywriting.
- Fiverr (International): Well-known for its "gig-based" model, making it easy to hire talent for smaller, specific, and well-defined tasks.
- Webflow Experts Board (International): An easy way to find Webflow based experts ready to take on new projects.
3. Professional web design agencies
- What they are: Companies with a team of specialists (designers, developers, strategists, project managers, SEO experts) offering comprehensive web solutions.
- Pros:
- Custom & strategic solutions: Websites are tailored to specific business goals, brand identity, and target audience.
- Comprehensive expertise: Access to a diverse team covering all aspects of web presence, including UX/UI, SEO, and ongoing maintenance.
- Scalability & quality: Built for growth, often using robust platforms and best practices ensuring higher quality and longevity.
- Accountability & project management: Professional processes, dedicated points of contact, and clear deliverables.
- Cons:
- Highest cost: The most expensive option due to the breadth of expertise and service.
- Longer timelines: Custom work and strategic planning take more time.
Best for: Established firms, businesses seeking a unique, high-performing online presence, those requiring complex functionalities, integration with other systems, and a long-term strategic digital partner.
Recommendations:
We are happy to recommend some of our favourite NZ based agencies for your next legal project. These agencies are based in New Zealand, but help customers all over the globe, of all different sizes.
- Not Another Studio (NZ-Based): A creative agency focused on building distinctive brands through clever design and strategy.
- N4 Studio (NZ-Based): A full-service agency offering web design, development, and digital marketing solutions.
- Edition Group (NZ-Based): A full-service agency helping technology-led companies grow faster and position themselves for success.
Looking for inspiration?
We’ve collected 20 of the best law firm websites to help give you some inspiration and guidance for your own site!
Key considerations when choosing how to get your website built:
- Your time: How much time can you realistically dedicate to building and maintaining the site?
- Technical comfort: Are you willing to learn new platforms, or do you prefer to outsource technical aspects?
- Long-term goals: Will your chosen solution support your firm's growth and evolving needs in 3-5 years?
- Uniqueness vs. cost: How important is a completely unique design versus a more standardized, cost-effective approach?
Ultimately, the "right" path aligns with your firm's specific resources, immediate needs, and future aspirations.
Making the most of your investment
To ensure your website delivers value, consider the following strategies:
- Define clear goals: Understand what you want your website to achieve, whether it's attracting new clients, providing information, or facilitating online consultations.
- Focus on user experience: Ensure your website is easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and provides a seamless experience for visitors.
- Invest in SEO: Optimize your website for search engines to increase visibility and attract organic traffic.If you’re looking to improve your law firms SEO efforts, check out our SEO for lawyers article to get some useful tips and tricks.
- Regularly update content: Keep your website content current and relevant to maintain engagement and improve SEO rankings.
- Monitor performance: Use analytics tools to track visitor behavior and make data-driven improvements to your website.
Building a website that works for you
Your law firm's website is more than just an online presence. It's a critical component of your business strategy. Investing in a website that reflects your firm's values, expertise, and professionalism can significantly impact your success. Whether you choose a DIY approach or hire professionals, focus on creating a website that serves your clients effectively and supports your firm's growth.
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