If you’re a solo attorney or run a small law firm, your website is one of the most important tools for building trust and attracting new clients. In many cases, it’s a potential client’s first impression of you—and it needs to be polished, professional, and easy to navigate.

But before you can launch a strong online presence, you have to make a critical decision: what technology should you use to build your site?

In this article, we’ll walk you through the different types of platforms that lawyers can use to build their legal website. Some platforms are designed for speed and simplicity. Others offer more control, but require more time and technical know-how.

This article, however, doesn’t compare and contrast specific website builders or tools (like GoDaddy vs. Wix vs. Squarespace). There are plenty of articles on the web that will help you evaluate specific options by cost and capabilities.

Any article comparing different website builders would be outdated soon after publication as more companies appear on the market and existing providers release new features.

Instead, we’ll cover the three main types of website platforms used by legal practices today:

• All-in-one website builders like Wix and Squarespace
• Traditional content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Drupal
• Modern static site setups powered by frameworks like Gatsby or Next.js with a headless CMS

You’ll learn what each platform offers and where it falls short, helping you to narrow down your options and make a more educated decision when selecting what technology to build your law firm website.

Key features law firms need in a website

No matter which platform you choose, your website needs to meet certain standards to be effective. A visually attractive website isn’t enough on its own. Your platform should support the features that make your website easy to use, search engine friendly, and built for client acquisition.

Here are the essential features every legal website should include:

• A modern, professional design that builds trust and credibility with website visitors.
• A mobile-first design so your site is user-friendly on phones and tablets
• Optimization for search engine visibility to help clients find you online
• The ability to add or update content, such as blog posts or FAQs, without needing developer support
• Integration with tools like Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, email marketing platforms, and live chat software
• Security features to ensure your website isn’t compromised by hackers

Some platforms offer these features out of the box. Others may require additional tools, plugins, or help from a developer. As you evaluate your options, it’s important to think not just about what you need today, but what your website may need a year or two from now.

Website builders

Website builders are platforms that let you design and launch a website without needing to write code or manage technical details. They’re designed to be beginner-friendly and fast to set up, which makes them a tempting option for solo attorneys or small law firms who want something simple.

Popular examples include Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy.

Pro

Website builders generally offer a drag-and-drop interface that you can use to build webpages. They’re generally user-friendly enough that someone non-technical can use the interface to build their own website from scratch.

They make templates available so you already have pre-built pages to customize. And with the advent of AI, many website builders are incorporating chat interfaces that make it even simpler to create a website.

Hosting and security are handled for you, as companies like Wix ensure your website will be free of malicious attacks, and updates are handled automatically without any action on your part.

Con

There are several downsides to traditional website builders, however. There is limited flexibility in design and functionality. While you can create a website without any technical skills, you’re working with a generic template or AI interface that will not produce something custom or unique.

Website builders such as Wix or Squarespace provide basic SEO tooling, but more advanced functionality is limited. They don’t provide you with access to the codebase of your website, which is often useful to make technical updates that can help with search engine visibility.

Another important issue to consider is integrations with other platforms may not be possible. You’re beholden to the capabilities of the platform. Your website builder may not offer an integration with a particular email marketing tool or CRM you use.

And lastly, migrating away from these website builders may be a challenge. Wix, for example, doesn’t offer a way to export your data. In order to migrate off the platform, you will need to rebuild your website from scratch.

Best for

Website builds are ideal for lawyers who view their website more as an online business card or brochure. They want an affordable way to get online and don’t plan to rely heavily on their website for SEO, blogging, or client acquisition. 

If you’re serious about using your website for client acquisition, however, a website builder is probably not the best option for you. You should seriously consider a content management system, which we talk about in the next section.

Content Management Systems (WordPress)

A content management system (CMS) is a platform that allows you to create, manage, and modify your website content without having to rely on developers. There are about as many CMS platforms as there are flavors of ice cream, but there is really only one to consider if you’re a solo attorney or small law firm–WordPress.

If you conduct a search for a “personal injury lawyer near me” or “family lawyer near me” anywhere in the United States, it is likely that most, if not all, of the websites you see on the first page of Google will be powered by WordPress.

WordPress is the most widely used content management system (CMS) in the world, and for good reason. It offers a flexible, scalable platform that gives you full control over your website’s design, content, and functionality.

Pro

Unlike website builders, WordPress is open-source software. This means you choose your own hosting provider and can customize almost every aspect of your site.

You have full control over your website’s content and design, as well the ability to fully optimize your site for search engines.

There are thousands of themes, including many specifically designed for law firms, which can be customized to suit your specific requirements. The plugin ecosystem is extensive as well. There is most likely a plugin that will support integration with any third party software.

As WordPress is the most popular CMS on the planet, there are a variety of relatively affordable designers and developers that specialize in WordPress.

And since you have full access to the website’s code, you can continue to optimize your website for SEO and performance as your practice and website grows in size. 

Con

Because WordPress is open source and you are responsible for hosting, you will most likely need to hire designers, developers, and SEO specialists. Many attorneys often work with a marketing firm to launch their website, though you can always find a freelancer to help you.

You will also be responsible for security updates to WordPress, which can cause code to break and your website to crash. Marketing firms can handle these updates for a monthly fee.

Best for

WordPress is best suited for small to medium-size law firms that are serious about SEO, blogging, and building a strong online presence. If you want a website that can grow with your firm and support long-term marketing efforts, WordPress is often the most strategic choice.

Website Builders vs. Content Management Systems

In recent years, the lines have blurred between website builders and CMS’s. These days, website builders like Wix and SquareSpace have provided more support for managing content. 

It may not be as robust and customizable as WordPress, but a website builder’s content management capabilities should be thoroughly evaluated before making a decision on what platform to use.

And over the past decade, WordPress plugins, such as Elementor and Divi, have incorporated drag and drop functionality, making websites easier to create in WordPress.

As both website builders and WordPress release new features in the years to come that continue to create overlapping capabilities, it will be important to evaluate different options against your budget, how they integrate with third party platforms, and whether you view your website as a client acquisition tool or simple brochure website.

Static sites with a headless CMS

Static site generators like Gatsby and Next.js are part of a newer approach to web development. Instead of using a traditional content management system where the database, which stores your content, and the frontend code, which displays it in your browser, are tied together, this setup separates the content from the presentation.

You manage content using a “headless” CMS like Contentful, Sanity, or even WordPress (in headless mode), and the frontend is built with a modern framework that generates HTML pages.

This approach offers exceptional performance, flexibility, and security—but it’s not designed for DIY users. It’s best suited for firms working with a web developer or agency.

Pro

Arguably the best features of “going headless,” as it’s called, is its exceptional speed and performance. Your website will be lightning fast, which will improve the overall user experience and search engine visibility.

Static site generators offer complete control over design and content as you’re working with developers who can implement any design, and integration with any third party software is straightforward.

Since the frontend is separated from the database, security is less of an issue as attackers can’t access your content.

Con

It’s expensive. Developers who build static site generators cost more than WordPress developers. Initial development costs to build the site will be much more expensive and ongoing maintenance and updates will also be higher.

Best for

Law firms that are willing to invest in a high-performance, modern website—especially those with a technical partner or marketing team. It’s ideal for medium-to-large firms that want full design freedom, prioritize speed and security, and plan to build out more advanced features over time.

Choosing the right legal website platform for your firm

Choosing the right platform to build your website isn’t just about features — it’s about assessing your budget, growth plans, and more. Here are a few things to consider as you make your decision.

Your budget
If you’re looking for the lowest-cost option to get a basic site online, a website builder may be the quickest path. Just be aware of its limitations as your firm grows.

WordPress offers much more flexibility with moderate investment, while static sites typically require a larger upfront cost.

Your growth plans
If your marketing strategy includes blogging and regular content updates, WordPress or a static site with a headless CMS will give you the control and tools you need. These platforms are designed to grow with your firm and support long-term search engine visibility.

Your comfort with tech
If you want to manage your website yourself without technical help, a website builder or a user-friendly WordPress setup is likely your best bet. If you’re working with a developer or agency, a more customized WordPress experience or a static site generator opens up more possibilities.

Your timeline
Need to launch quickly? Website builders allow you to launch a website fairly quickly. WordPress can also be launched fairly quickly with a generic theme. Static sites, on the other hand, require more development time upfront.

Your priorities
Think about what matters most to you: cost, creating a highly customized website, or launching your website quickly. Each platform has different strengths.

Ultimately, the best platform is the one that supports your firm’s goals without getting in your way. You don’t need to get everything perfect at once, but choosing a platform can save you time, money, and frustration down the road.

Conclusion

Your website isn’t just a digital business card — it’s a tool for building trust, attracting clients, and growing your legal practice. Choosing the right platform lays the foundation for everything that comes after: your design, your content, your marketing strategy, and your ability to evolve over time.

Website builders are great for getting online quickly, but they can limit your growth. WordPress offers the best balance of usability and control for most small law firms. Static sites with a headless CMS provide unmatched speed and flexibility, but they’re best suited for large firms with a much larger budget.

There’s no single right answer to the best website platform — just the right fit for where you are and where you want to go.

If you’re still not sure which platform is right for your firm, Sheth Agency can help. We work with solo attorneys and small law firms to design and develop websites that look professional, load fast, and generate new clients. Reach out for a free consultation, and we can help you figure out the best approach for your goals.