Features of a Professional Lawyer’s Website
STAND OUT AMONG A SEA OF LAW FIRMS
See Our Work – Lawyer Websites
Nowadays, almost everyone searches the internet to find the right legal professional to solve their problems. You can get the address of a lawyer’s website from acquaintances, family members, friends, search engines, actually from anyone, anywhere. When looking for legal advice or assistance, people almost always turn to the internet.
It is crucial for a lawyer’s website to inspire trust in visitors at first glance. If the initial impression doesn’t create empathy and trust, it’s easy for the visitor to continue their search on another, “more professional” law firm website.
The primary and most important goal of creating a professional lawyer’s website is for the lawyer, legal expert, and their client to get a clear, elegant, and at the same time easy-to-use website that instantly inspires trust in visitors and potential clients.
Guidelines for Lawyer, Law Firm, and Joint Law Firm Websites
Creation of websites for lawyers. Lawyers, law firms, and joint law firms, according to the Advertising, Promotion, and Website Regulation that came into effect on October 27, 2018, must inform and update the Croatian Bar Association (HOK) about the content and provider of their website. The full text of the Regulation and Guidelines are available at the links.
Glossary of Terms by HOK
ADVERTISING – Any true and objective public information in advertising media about a lawyer’s professional activity, a joint office, or a law firm.
PROMOTION – A form of communication where a lawyer, joint office, or law firm aims to convince potential clients of the usefulness of their services by presenting true and objective facts about their legal practice.
ADVERTISING MEDIUM OR MEDIA – Print, television, radio, internet (websites and social media), brochures, and any other means through which lawyers and joint offices or law firms advertise or promote themselves.
LAWYER’S WEBSITE – A website for a lawyer.
JOINT OFFICE OR LAW FIRM’S WEBSITE – A website for a joint office or law firm.
LAWYER’S WEBSITE – A collective term for both a lawyer’s website and a joint office or law firm’s website.
From the Regulation on Lawyer and Law Firm Websites, we highlight:
01 A lawyer’s website may include the following information:
- name and surname, academic title, and photo or portrait of the lawyer
- factual curriculum vitae of the lawyer
- address of the lawyer’s business office and the address and name of the legal practice organization in which the lawyer works
- areas of law the lawyer practices
- employment history from the lawyer’s work book
- foreign languages in which professional communication with the lawyer is possible
- list of scientific articles the lawyer is an author or co-author of
- list of professional articles the lawyer is an author or co-author of
- “scroll” window with texts of scientific articles the lawyer is an author or co-author of
- “scroll” window with texts of professional articles the lawyer is an author or co-author of
- factual list and “scroll” window with lawyer offices the lawyer has contractual ties with
- factual list and “scroll” window with international lawyer associations the lawyer is a member of
- factual list and “scroll” window with other professional associations in the field of law the lawyer is a member of
02 A law firm’s website may include the following information:
- name and addresses of all business offices of the law firm
- year of establishment of the law firm and any changes in the organizational forms of the firm
- integral list of areas of law practiced by the lawyers working in the firm
- number, list, and status of lawyers and trainees in the firm
- all relevant information about each lawyer and legal trainee working in the firm as required by Article 7 of this Regulation.
03 On a lawyer’s website, the following is NOT allowed:
- maintaining a visitor book (list)
- having a publicly available visitor counter
- compiling a list of visitors’ email addresses
- any redirection or linking to other websites or elements of other websites, except for the Croatian Bar Association website
- creating areas of the screen for advertising (“banners”)
- publishing cases the lawyer has worked on, is working on, or plans to work on
- publishing clients the lawyer has represented, is representing, or plans to represent
- publishing any offers regarding legal service fees
- structuring the website in an inappropriate or excessive way that deviates from its informational purpose
- violating the provisions of the Lawyer’s Act, any other applicable laws, the Croatian Bar Association Statute, the Lawyer’s Code, and this Regulation
STAND OUT AMONG A SEA OF LAW FIRMS
See Our Work – Lawyer Websites
Structure of a Lawyer’s Website
As we mentioned, lawyer websites are relatively simple in their structure, but there are enough elements that can distinguish them. Fortunately, there are examples of exceptionally well-crafted lawyer websites in Croatia on the internet, though there are also examples at the other extreme :-). Below, we list the most common structures and website organization presented through several models or packages.
Lawyer Website Creation Packages and Prices
01 BASIC Model
- + This model usually does not include text writing and no professional photography from the web agency
- + Minimum number of working hours up to 24 working hours
02 STANDARD Model
- + This model includes professional photography of the law firm
- + This model can include a personal presentation of the legal professionals and other pages (CVs, awards, references)
- + Text writing included
- + Greater customization of the website design
- + Minimum number of working hours is up to 40 working hours
03 PREMIUM Model
- + Professional photography included
- + Writing of texts and content included
- + Detailed sections for each lawyer in the firm
- + Integration of a blog, news, or articles
- + Video content if required
- + Large degree of website design customization
- + Minimum number of working hours is up to 80 working hours
