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Tag: solo practitioner website

  • Options for Building a Website If You’re a Solo Practitioner With No Experience

    If you’ve never built a website before, you’re not behind—and you’re not alone.

    Most solo practitioners didn’t go to law school to learn hosting, themes, or page builders. The goal isn’t to become technical. It’s to get a clean, functional site online without creating stress or risk.

    Below are the three realistic options for solo practitioners with little or no website experience.

    Option 1: Website Builders (Fastest, Least Technical)

    Best for:
    ✔️ Brand-new solos
    ✔️ Lawyers who want something live quickly
    ✔️ Minimal customization needs

    Popular builders include Wix and Squarespace.

    Pros

    • No technical setup
    • Drag-and-drop editing
    • Hosting included
    • Templates designed for professionals

    Cons

    • Limited flexibility long-term
    • Harder to customize later
    • Can feel “boxed in” as your practice grows

    Good fit if:
    You want a simple, professional presence now and plan to revisit later.

    Option 2: WordPress With a Simple Theme (Most Common for Lawyers)

    Best for:
    ✔️ Lawyers who want flexibility
    ✔️ Anyone planning to grow or add content
    ✔️ Practitioners who want ownership and control

    WordPress powers a large percentage of law firm websites.

    Pros

    • Extremely flexible
    • Widely supported
    • Easy to update once set up
    • Scales with your practice

    Cons

    • Initial setup feels intimidating
    • Requires hosting and basic configuration
    • Too many options can overwhelm beginners

    Important note:
    Most solo lawyers don’t “build” WordPress sites from scratch—they install a clean theme and edit text.

    Good fit if:
    You want something solid now that won’t need replacing later.

    Option 3: Hire Someone to Set It Up (Lowest Effort, Higher Cost)

    Best for:
    ✔️ Lawyers who don’t want to touch tech
    ✔️ Busy solos who value time over cost
    ✔️ Anyone anxious about doing it wrong

    This could be:

    • A freelance web designer
    • A legal-focused website service
    • A trusted tech-savvy referral

    Pros

    • Minimal time investment
    • Fewer mistakes
    • Faster launch

    Cons

    • Higher upfront cost
    • Quality varies widely
    • Ongoing changes may still require help

    Key advice:
    Keep ownership of:

    • Your domain
    • Your hosting
    • Your login credentials

    What Most Solo Practitioners Should Do

    For many West Virginia solo lawyers, the safest path is:

    Start simple. Get something clean online. Improve later.

    A basic site that:

    • Loads quickly
    • Lists your services clearly
    • Makes it easy to call you

    …will outperform a half-finished “perfect” site every time.

    What You Don’t Need to Worry About (Yet)

    • SEO tactics
    • Blogging schedules
    • Advanced analytics
    • Marketing funnels

    Those come after you have a solid foundation.

  • The Only 5 Pages a Solo Practitioner Website Needs

    If you’re a solo practitioner in West Virginia, your website does not need to be fancy.

    It needs to be clear, trustworthy, and functional.

    Most solo lawyers overthink websites because they assume:

    • More pages = more credibility
    • More content = better marketing

    In reality, five well-done pages do more for client trust than a bloated site no one reads.

    The 5 Pages Every Solo Law Firm Website Needs

    1. Home Page — What You Do, Who You Help, Where You Practice

    Your homepage answers one question immediately:

    “Am I in the right place?”

    Must-have elements

    • Practice area(s) in plain English
    • Geographic focus (WV, counties, cities)
    • A clear phone number
    • A simple call to action (“Call for a consultation”)

    What to avoid

    • Long philosophical introductions
    • Law school credentials up top
    • Legal jargon

    Think clarity, not cleverness.

    2. About Page — Credibility Without the Autobiography

    Clients want reassurance, not your life story.

    Include

    • Your name and role
    • WV bar admission
    • Years in practice (if applicable)
    • A short, human explanation of how you approach cases

    Keep it grounded

    • One professional photo (not a stock image)
    • Straightforward tone
    • No exaggeration

    Trust comes from plain confidence, not hype.

    3. Practice Areas Page — Problems, Not Statutes

    This page should sound like how clients describe their issues, not how lawyers classify them.

    Good structure

    • One short section per practice area
    • Who you help
    • What problems you handle
    • What clients can expect

    Example:

    “I help individuals in West Virginia with uncontested divorces, custody agreements, and family-law matters that don’t require prolonged litigation.”

    4. Contact Page — Make It Easy to Call You

    This page should reduce friction, not add it.

    Must-have

    • Phone number (clickable on mobile)
    • Contact form (simple)
    • Counties or regions served
    • Office location or service area

    Optional

    • Office hours
    • “What to expect when you call”

    If a potential client can’t figure out how to contact you in 10 seconds, they move on.

    5. Disclaimer / Privacy Page — Quiet Professionalism

    This page doesn’t sell—but it signals competence.

    Include

    • Attorney advertising disclaimer (if applicable)
    • No attorney-client relationship disclaimer
    • Privacy policy for contact forms

    Clients may never read it, but its presence matters.