HeyCounsel Newsletter

Choosing the Right Path for Your Firm's Website

Author

Brian Scherer
February 01, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Happy Saturday HeyCounsel members! We’re getting closer to a big launch that we’re really excited for, so stayed tuned for some internal announcements in the slack channel. We also had a few epic events this past week (including a community chat session with Spellbook and a HeyCounsel only panel to discuss flat fee and subscription models. Check out both recordings and recaps via our #05-events channel!

In this edition. A tribal law attorney is needed for an easement negotiation in New Mexico; A thread on recommended automation experts; and, for the folks charging subscriptions, what are you normally charging?

Choosing the Right Path for Your Firm's Website

There was a time when building a firm website was a straightforward process.  You hired a web developer and hoped for the best.  There weren’t that many options on the technical side of things, so no matter who you used it was expensive.  Today, there are still developers who will charge you a hefty sum to do your website, but the landscape has changed completely.

With the rapid evolution of technology, especially on the AI side of things, firm owners are faced with two paths:  build the website themselves with modern tools, or try to find professionals to do it for you among a sea of ‘experts’.

How Important Is Your Website Anyway?

In the modern digital age, it is non-negotiable that you have a website.  It acts as the digital front door for your firm.  Your online presence is the first impression that most people will have of your firm, given that 64% of legal consumers look for help by starting with a search engine.  When examining which path to take it is important to remember that technical needs like SEO and AEO (AI search engine optimization) are just as important as aesthetics given this reality.  With that in mind let’s look at DIY versus the professional route.

The DIY Approach: Powerful Tools For Quick Launches

If money is attracted to speed, there are few things faster than the new AI-powered do-it-yourself options.  Platforms like Wix, Hostinger, and Squarespace allow you to create a functional website without coding expertise.  They offer intuitive features that generate layouts, content, and optimize for SEO set-ups.  Throw in pre-made templates and you can have a professional website up and running in a matter of minutes.

This approach is nimble and functional.  You maintain full control of the process with real-time updates without having to wait on anyone else.  This is ideal for firms that are still exploring which niche to settle in and require multiple iterations of their practice areas.  It is also a good fit for firms that have established funnels of business and only need a website for verification by prospective clients.   

The negatives of this approach are that it can take time to learn how to use the platform, which can distract lawyers from their core business activities.  Customization options are limited and the UI can look cookie cutter if your prospective clients are knowledgeable on the tech side of things.  There is also the problem of scaling.  These platforms are not well suited to handle the needs of a firm if it starts to scale and requires more complex websites with several pages and subpages, and consistent updates on a weekly or monthly basis.

If you are tech-savvy, need to move fast, and have a clear vision, these DIY options can get you in the game quickly and allow you to compete with legacy firms as these tools democratize web design.  Just be aware you may have to hire experts in the future as your firm grows. 

Investing In Tailored Excellence

Enlisting a web design agency or freelancer shifts the burden directly to the professionals.  If you are in a crowded market, taking this approach can give you a competitive edge and help you stand out in a sea of sameness.

Hiring an agency does not limit you strictly to just building your website.  A full-service provider can assist you with strategy, development, ongoing maintenance, and marketing help in addition to custom design. They will know how to  incorporate best practices like optimized tracking, SEO foundations, and analytic insights to drive traffic from day one.  The most glaring drawback of this strategy is cost.  Agencies are expensive, sometimes requiring long-term commitments for a service that can take months before it starts generating leads (especially on the organic and SEO side of things).

If you have budget constraints, you can still get professional help by going the freelancer route.  Freelancers offer similar expertise at a lower cost, typically 40%-60% less than their agency counterparts for the same services.  The bottleneck here, however, is vetting.  There are thousands of people claiming expertise in this field and it is very difficult to find someone who is a good fit.

However, if you have complex website needs, like multi-page sites with custom functionalities, the professional path is the way to go if it can fit within your budget.  It will save you time, reduce your stress, and allow you to focus on client acquisition.  Finding the right partner in this area can make all the difference.

Every Firm Is Different

There is no “right” answer.  At the end of the day you have to weigh your budget, timeline, and technical comfort to make the best decision for your situation.  It can be helpful to hear how other similarly situated lawyers have handled this exact situation.  Check out these threads where our community has started to tackle these issues here and here.  

If you have solved this problem for your firm, feel free to post your experience in these threads.  It could help your fellow lawyers save a lot of heartache.

📆 Upcoming Events

  1. GC AI Product Demo and Q&A (2/3/26) - Registration Link

  2. Put LinkedIn on Autopilot! (2/5/26) - Registration Link - See what’s possible in a very short time frame when you turn your content marketing over to the experts.

  3. Legal transaction checklists (with Triple Checklist) (2/10/26) - Registration Link 

  4. A new take on version control. I’ve been following Version Story for a while and wanted to get them in front of ya’ll! (2/12/26). Registration Link

  5. Hiring with LateralHub. A good place to start is Lateral Hub. Check out our demo and Q&A with their founder. (2/19/26). Registration Link

  6. Gavel’s founder Dorna Moini is coming to chat about Gavel Exec and answer questions! (Big fan of Dorna 🙂). (2/24/26). Registration Link

🌟 /Threads

🚀 New client opportunities this week

Here are a few of our favorite opportunities that have popped up this week. Want the full list? Head to our #03-opportunities channel!

  1. Civil litigator needed to help Florida Charity in dispute with auction house.

  2. Need Florida family law lawyer to help with non-party subpoena response.

  3. Tribal Law attorney needed to negotiate easement in New Mexico.

  4. Miami Federal Lawyer needed for SEC enforcement defense.

If you enjoyed today's newsletter please forward it to someone who you think would be a great fit for our community.  We can accomplish more together than we can apart!

Til next time,

Brian

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