Your website should be your hardest-working marketing asset—but for many law firms, it’s actually repelling potential clients. In Episode 32 of Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor, Allison Williams breaks down the five biggest website mistakes law firms make and how to fix them so your site becomes a true client-conversion machine.
In this blog, we’ll explore the pitfalls that might be quietly sabotaging your digital presence—and what you can do to turn things around.
1. Slow Load Times That Drive Visitors Away
A slow website is more than an inconvenience—it’s a conversion killer. When someone lands on your homepage and has to wait even a couple of seconds, frustration sets in. And frustrated visitors don’t become clients.
Allison explains that long load times have two major consequences:
- Visitors abandon your site before it even loads.
- Those who stay start their experience annoyed, which reduces the likelihood they’ll take action.
Large image files, uncompressed documents, and poorly optimized pages all contribute to this issue. Compressing media and cleaning up your site structure can dramatically improve user experience and reduce bounce rates.
2. Confusing or Missing Calls to Action
Every law firm website needs one clear call to action (CTA)—the single, most important action you want visitors to take.
Yet many websites clutter the page with multiple conflicting CTAs such as:
- Call now
- Email us
- Download our newsletter
As Allison emphasizes, a CTA should function as a “once in a lifetime request,” meaning if a visitor does only one thing, it should be the action you most want. A clear, well-placed CTA guides your visitors toward booking a consultation, contacting your office, or taking the next step in your client funnel.
3. Outdated Content That Hurts Credibility
Content that hasn’t been updated in years sends a message: this firm isn’t paying attention.
Even if your information is still accurate, visitors subconsciously judge the recency of your content as a measure of your relevance and authority. Allison reminds us that old content can always be refreshed. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—you just need to make your insights feel timely and aligned with what clients are searching for now.
Regular blog updates, refreshed practice area pages, and revisited FAQs all help keep your website competitive in today’s digital landscape.
4. Poor SEO Strategy and the Wrong Keywords
Search engine optimization is an area where DIY efforts often go wrong.
Using the wrong keywords—or using them incorrectly—means your ideal clients will never find your website. Allison notes that lawyers frequently describe their services in technical terms clients would never use.
For example, a consumer won’t search for “risk mitigation strategies in post-death transactions.” They’ll search for:
- estate planning attorney near me
- help writing a will
- avoid estate taxes
SEO is the bridge between what you call your services and what clients call them. Getting this wrong can cripple your marketing.
5. Weak or Vague Client Reviews
Client reviews are essential for building trust, but not all reviews are created equal.
Allison explains that many law firms focus solely on star ratings, but a 5-star rating alone isn’t enough. Detailed, descriptive reviews are far more persuasive. Prospective clients want to know:
- What was the experience like?
- How did the attorney help?
- What results were achieved?
Prompts can help clients write meaningful reviews without scripting their words. And yes—having one or two less-than-perfect reviews actually increases credibility.
Bring Your Website Back to Life
These five mistakes are common—but they’re also completely fixable. When your website loads quickly, guides visitors clearly, provides fresh content, uses smart SEO, and showcases compelling reviews, you set the stage for consistent, high-quality leads.
🎥 Watch Episode 32 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pix7PwT3TZY
🎧 Prefer audio? Listen here:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zNpph7Nqu6aQAm2jnOdKQ?si=d3tUypz5Sqm6SM1tizY2kQ
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-worst-5-website-mistakes-every-law-firm-must-avoid/id1497474051?i=1000714158753
If you’re ready to strengthen your digital presence and create a website that turns clicks into clients, book a discovery call with Law Firm Mentor. Your firm deserves a website that works as hard as you do.
Blog based on Episode 32 of Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor.