Law Firm Website Requirements: Disclaimers, Attorney Advertising and Intake Forms

What are the core law firm website requirements?

The core law firm website requirements come from your state's version of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, mainly Rules 7.1 to 7.3, plus general laws on privacy and accessibility. In short: don't mislead, identify who is responsible, be careful how you invite contact, and protect what prospective clients tell you.

This page is a practical checklist for the components that carry those rules: the footer, the results block, the bio template and the intake form. It isn't legal advice. Rules vary by state and change over time, so treat each item as something to confirm with counsel. For the wider design picture, see our hub on law firm website design.

What does an attorney advertising disclaimer need to say?

An attorney advertising disclaimer needs to say what your state requires, which may be nothing beyond the general rules or may include specific wording such as "Attorney Advertising". Most firms also add a general disclaimer that the site provides information, not legal advice, and that using it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship.

1. Responsible lawyer or firm. Rule 7.2 requires the name and contact information of at least one lawyer or law firm responsible for the content. Put it in the footer.
2. General disclaimer. "This website provides general information, not legal advice. Using it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship."
3. Advertising label, if required. Check whether your state requires a label, and where on a website it must appear.
4. Jurisdiction statement. Where your lawyers are licensed, so visitors elsewhere understand the limits.
5. Last reviewed date. Not usually required, but it helps your team keep the wording current.

Place these in a footer component that appears on every page. A separate "Disclaimer" page is fine for the long version, but the essentials should be visible without a click.

How does ABA Rule 7.2 affect a law firm website?

ABA Rule 7.2 affects a law firm website in three main ways: it allows advertising, it limits how you claim to be a specialist, and it restricts paying others for recommendations. The specialist rule matters most for design, because words like "specialist" and "certified" tend to appear in headlines, bios and badges.

If you buy leads from directories or marketing platforms, have counsel review the arrangement as well as the web page. That's outside design, but it often surfaces during a website project.

How should results and testimonials be presented?

Results and testimonials should be presented with context and, where your state requires it, a disclaimer that past results don't guarantee a similar outcome. Rule 7.1's comments explain that even truthful results can mislead if they create unjustified expectations, so a headline settlement figure with no description of the matter is the riskiest pattern on most law firm sites.

1. 1

   Describe the matter, not just the number

   Matter type, the client's situation in general terms and what the firm did. Keep identifying details out unless the client consented in writing.

2. 2

   Attach the disclaimer to the component

   Build results as a CMS component that always renders its disclaimer, so nobody can publish one without it.

3. 3

   Check testimonial rules

   Some states restrict testimonials or require specific statements. Record written consent for every quote you publish.

4. 4

   Review on a schedule

   Remove outdated results and check that awards are current and correctly named.

What should a law firm intake form disclaimer say?

A law firm intake form disclaimer should say that submitting the form doesn't create an attorney-client relationship, that the firm hasn't agreed to represent the person, and that they shouldn't send confidential information until the firm confirms it can help. ABA Formal Opinion 10-457 discusses how website inquiries can create duties to prospective clients under Rule 1.18, which is why the wording and placement matter.

1. Place the notice directly above the submit button, not behind a link.
2. Consider a required checkbox acknowledging the notice, if counsel recommends it.
3. Collect the minimum: name, contact details and parties involved for a conflict check.
4. Limit the free-text field and say what not to include.
5. Confirm next steps on the thank-you screen: who responds, when, and how.
6. Secure the submission: encrypted transport, restricted inbox or intake system, no tracking pixels on the form page.

Do law firm websites need privacy and accessibility compliance?

Law firm websites need a privacy policy that explains what the site collects, especially through forms, chat and analytics, and they should meet accessibility standards so every client can use them. Privacy laws such as California's apply based on who your visitors are and your firm's size, not on your profession. Accessibility expectations apply to law firms like any business serving the public.

• Privacy policy covering forms, chat, cookies and analytics, linked in the footer and near each form.
• Cookie consent where your visitors' laws require it, such as for EU or UK visitors.
• Accessibility to WCAG 2.2 AA as a working target: contrast, keyboard access, form labels and alt text. Our guides to ADA website compliance and website accessibility compliance explain the standards.
• Security on form handling and any client portal login.

How do you build law firm website requirements into the design?

Build law firm website requirements into the design by turning each rule into a reusable component that editors can't skip. Disclaimers live in the footer, results and form templates. Bio templates have fixed fields for admissions and certifications. The CMS restricts who can edit compliance wording, and every change is reviewed.

Other regulated sectors use the same approach. Our guides to crypto website compliance and B2B website trust pages show how disclosures become components, and our list of must-have law firm website pages covers where each page fits in the sitemap.