Short answer
A small law firm can use $1,000–$5,000 as an initial planning estimate for professionally written website content. A smaller site with a few straightforward pages may cost less; a larger site with several practice areas, locations, or substantial attorney interviews may cost more. These are planning estimates, not quoted market averages, and the actual price depends on scope and writer. Budget separately for attorney review, ongoing updates, and website hosting or software.
What changes the content budget?
The main cost driver is the amount of original work—not simply the number of pages. A writer may need to interview attorneys, understand the firm’s services, review existing materials, and organize information before drafting. Clear source materials and prompt feedback can reduce that work.
Scope also matters. A basic site might include a home page, firm overview, contact page, and a few practice-area pages. A firm with multiple offices or distinct services may need more pages, research, and review. Pages written for different audiences should explain the relevant service clearly rather than repeat generic text with only a few words changed.
Ask what the quote covers. One writer’s “page” may include research, revisions, and search-friendly structure; another’s may cover only a first draft. Confirm whether the price includes interviews, editing, metadata, revisions, and content entry into the website.
What are reasonable planning ranges?
The table below uses illustrative estimates for budgeting, not published industry averages. The figures assume professional writing and a defined scope. They do not include custom photography, extensive research, or attorney time.
| Content scope | Planning estimate | What it might include |
|---|---|---|
| Lean launch | $500–$1,500 | A few core pages, based on firm-provided notes and one review round |
| Small-firm site | $1,500–$5,000 | Several core and practice-area pages, intake or interview work, and revisions |
| Larger or more involved site | $5,000–$10,000+ | More practice areas or locations, deeper research, and a more involved approval process |
| Ongoing updates | $100–$500 per month | A limited amount of editing, new content, or page maintenance, depending on the agreement |
Use these as starting points for comparing proposals, not as a promise that every project fits a range. A short page can still take substantial work if the writer must develop the messaging from scratch. A longer page can cost less per page when the firm supplies organized, usable source material.
What should a first website include?
Prioritize pages that help a prospective client understand what the firm does and how to take the next step. A small firm might start with:
- Home page: A clear description of the firm, its services, and how to contact it.
- Firm or attorney page: Relevant background and a straightforward introduction to the people clients may work with.
- Practice-area pages: One useful page for each core service the firm wants to explain.
- Contact page: Phone, location or service area, hours if useful, and a simple inquiry path.
- Frequently asked questions: Only include questions the firm can answer accurately and keep current.
Do not add pages just to make the site look larger. A concise, accurate page is more useful than several repetitive pages. Have the firm review every draft, especially descriptions of services, claims about experience, and statements about outcomes. Content should describe the firm accurately and avoid promises it cannot support.
How much should you reserve for updates?
Content is not a one-time task. Staff changes, office details, services, and contact information can become outdated. Set aside time or money for periodic checks, even if the firm does not publish new articles regularly.
A practical approach is to review key pages on a schedule and whenever something changes. For firms that want ongoing writing, agree on a monthly scope before signing: for example, a set number of edits or drafts, a defined approval process, and a clear price for work beyond the package. If a monthly writing arrangement is not worthwhile, use a small annual allowance for occasional edits instead.
Also account for attorney review. A writer can prepare clear copy, but the firm should confirm that the content reflects its actual services and communication practices. Decide in advance who gives final approval so revisions do not drift between multiple reviewers.
Keep website and content costs separate
A website quote may cover design and technical services without including copywriting. Ask whether the proposal includes content strategy, writing, revisions, and loading text into the site. Also confirm who owns the content and whether the firm can export or reuse it if it changes providers.
For perspective, LegalWebDesigns offers website design with $0 setup, with domain, hosting, and SSL included, plus practice management software and AI intake for $49 per month or $490 per year. The firm owns its site and data, and there are no contracts. That subscription price is separate from any outside content-writing budget; confirm what writing or editing, if any, is included before planning around a website package.
What to do next
- List the pages the firm needs now, grouped by core and optional pages.
- Gather existing bios, service descriptions, office details, and frequently asked questions.
- Request itemized proposals that state page scope, interviews, revisions, and content entry.
- Assign one attorney or partner to review drafts and approve final copy.
- Compare ongoing website costs separately; review the pricing page before setting the total budget.
For many small firms, $1,000–$5,000 is a useful initial content-planning range, with a separate allowance for future updates. Refine that estimate after defining the pages, review process, and writing support the firm actually needs.
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