Why Expensive Designs often Fail and How Smart Lawyers Can Fix It

In law, we’re trained to believe that you get what you pay for. But when it comes to law firm websites, the opposite is often true. Some of the most expensive sites perform the worst—especially when they rely on proprietary systems that lock you into a single vendor. Conrad Saam documents one instance when moving to a bespoke approach resulted in a 44% drop in website traffic.

Instead of paying for “elite” proprietary platforms that only your designer understands, most firms are far better off with Word Press, the open-source powerhouse that quietly runs over 40% of the internet—including The New York Times and countless major law firms

WordPress isn’t just cheap—it’s fast, flexible, secure, and supported by a global developer community that keeps improving it daily. Contrast that with boutique digital agencies that charge $10,000 to $50,000 (or more) for custom websites that may look polished but often:

  • Require you to contact the agency for every minor update,
  • Use obscure or proprietary code that other developers won’t touch
  • Ignore essential SEO principles.

What Lawyers Should Prioritize Instead

1. SEO Beats Eye Candy

A beautiful website is meaningless if no one sees it. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) drives traffic—and most clients begin their search for a lawyer on Google.

You don’t need a $25,000 design to rank on search engines. You need:

  • Fast load times
  • Clear and keyword-focused headlines
  • Useful, original content, published regularly
  • Mobile Optimization

Tools like Yoast SEO, RankMath, or Google Search Console integrate easily into WordPress and help you improve visibility without hiring an SEO “guru.”

Pro tip: Spend your budget on a skilled legal copywriter, not a homepage video that slows your site.

2. Control, Don’t Depend

Custom “bespoke” sites often make you dependent on a single agency for every small change.

Pro tip: Investing $18 in a WordPress guidebook can save thousands of dollars in consulting fees.

3. Security Strength in Numbers

WordPress’s open ecosystem means continuous updates and peer-reviewed plugins.

Pro tip: Enable automatic minor updates and weekly cloud backups to minimize risk.

4. Clients Want Speed, Clarity and Confidence

Prospective clients care less about animations and more about answers:

  • What kind of law do you practice?
  • Are you any good?
  • How can I contact you?

Pro tip: A site that loads in under 3 seconds is golden.

Final Thought: Make Smart, Not Showy, Choices

There’s nothing wrong with investing in marketing—but make sure your investment earns attention, not just admiration.