How we scored them
| Criterion | What we looked for | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Clarity | Can you tell what the firm does and where within five seconds? | 0 to 3 |
| 2. Price transparency | Are SRA-listed service prices easy to find from the practice-area page? | 0 to 3 |
| 3. People | Do profiles show experience, qualifications and the work each person does? | 0 to 3 |
| 4. Mobile speed | Does the home page load quickly on a phone? | 0 to 3 |
| 5. Answer-first content | Do practice pages answer the client's question in the opening lines? | 0 to 3 |
| 6. Contact | Is calling or enquiring obvious on every page? | 0 to 3 |
| 7. Regulatory clarity | Is the SRA badge, SRA number and complaints page easy to find? | 0 to 3 |
Maximum score: 21.
How to use the scorecard
Open your website on a phone, not a desktop. Score each of the seven criteria from 0 to 3, then do the same for two competitors you lose work to. Most firms find the gap is not design but clarity: the competitor simply makes it easier to see what they do, what it costs and how to get in touch.
Total What it means
18 to 21
Strong. Keep it current
12 to 17
Good bones, clear gaps
Under 12
Visitors are probably leaving before they enquire
What the best sites have in common
They say what they do in one sentence
"Family law solicitors in Wimbledon, specialising in divorce and children matters" beats "A leading full-service law firm with a proud history".
They make prices a feature, not a footnote
The best conveyancing and probate pages put a price or range near the top and link to the full SRA price information, instead of burying a PDF in the footer.
They sell the people
Strong profiles say what the person actually does every week, not just their admission date.
They are built for the phone
Big tap targets, a sticky call button and short forms.
They answer questions
Pages titled with the client's question, such as "How long does probate take?", get read, ranked and quoted by AI tools.
What the weakest sites have in common
- Stock photos of gavels, scales and handshakes
- One "Services" page listing everything
- No prices anywhere, or prices only in a PDF
- The SRA badge as a static image, or missing
- Contact form with 12 required fields
Want your site scored?
Send us your address and we will score it against the same seven criteria.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good law firm website?
A clear statement of what the firm does and where, easy-to-find prices for SRA-listed services, detailed fee earner profiles, fast mobile pages and an obvious way to get in touch.
Should a small firm copy a big firm's website?
No. Large firms sell to businesses through reputation and relationships. A high street firm sells to individuals who want a price and a phone number. Copy the clarity, not the layout.
Where do the seven criteria come from?
The seven criteria come from what we see make the difference on law firm websites: clarity, price transparency, people, mobile speed, answer-first content, easy contact and visible regulatory information.
Related: Law firm website checklist · Solicitor website design · Designs