Rockville Law Firm Legal Directories Consultant

Comparing the Top Online Directories for Law Firms

For law firms seeking to enhance their online presence and attract new clients, listing on top legal directories is a strategic move. Legal directories provide valuable platforms where potential clients can find and evaluate attorneys based on their experience, ratings, and reviews. This comparison of the leading legal directories will help you understand their features, benefits, and how they can help your firm gain visibility and credibility.

Our Top Picks For Legal Directories

• FindLaw.com
• Justia.com
• Superlawyers.com
• Elitelawyer.com
• Nolo.com

FindLaw.com

FindLaw.com has been around for almost 30 years. As part of the Internet Brands umbrella, FindLaw is one of the most recognized names in directory marketing.

Features:

• Attorney Profiles: Detailed profiles that include professional biographies, practice areas, and client reviews.
• Strong Domain Score: FindLaw has one of the highest domain scores in the legal industry with very strong backlink value.

Pros:

• Client Trust: Client reviews and professional profiles build credibility.
• Large Legal Directory: Findlaw.com gets tens of millions of visitors a year

Cons:

• Oversaturation: Many attorneys must compete for the same digital real estate on FindLaw's platform.
• Cost: FindLaw can be a good tool to drive business for law firms, but it comes at a steep price.
• Long-Term Contracts: Unlike Google Ads, which allows for monthly adjustments to the amount spent, when you sign up with most legal directories, you must adhere to a minimum term of 12 months. As a consultant, I typically support these contracts in the first year as you need time to show results.

Our Recommendation: FindLaw.com can be a good addition to your marketing portfolio if you have the right strategy and consultant managing your program. We recommend buying their premium top listings for the practice areas you are looking to attract. We do advise you to do your research prior to making any type of long-term commitment.

Justia.com

Justia.com is another major legal directory. It was started by the same team that started FindLaw, and it has become one of the most trafficked directories in the legal space.

Features:

• Attorney Profiles: Free and premium profiles with information about practice areas, education, and contact details.
• Client Reviews: Allows clients to review attorneys.
• Legal Information: Extensive library of legal articles and guides.

Pros:

• Free Listings: Basic profiles are free, making it accessible for all attorneys.
• Visibility: Strong SEO performance on the directory enhances discoverability.
• Legal Resources: Valuable content attracts potential clients seeking legal information.

Cons:

• Layout: The layout of the directory is subpar, and it is not very user-friendly. For paid ads, it can be a challenge to get top-level visibility across this directory.
• Cost: The advertising on Justia is expensive, although it is not as high as some other directories.

Our Recommendation: The platinum ads on Justia are a good option in the directory advertising space. This will guarantee that your firm has the #1 position in Justia's directory for a practice area in a specific geographical region. If you have the budget, this could be a great buy for your law firm.

SuperLawyers.com

Super Lawyers is a rating service that recognizes attorneys who have achieved successes in their careers and are known among their peers for the level of service they provide for their clients. It is one of the most respected directories among legal professionals and potential clients, as only 5% of attorneys in each state can be selected as Super Lawyers each year.

Features:

• Selection Process: Rigorous selection process based on peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research.
• Attorney Profiles: Detailed profiles of selected attorneys.
• Magazine and Online Listings: Attorneys are featured in the Super Lawyers magazine and online directory.
• Visibility: Featured attorneys gain significant exposure.

Pros:

• Prestige: Being listed as a Super Lawyer can enhance an attorney's professional reputation.
• Client Trust: Recognition builds trust with potential clients.
• Marketing: Features in the magazine and online directory increase visibility.

Cons:

• Exclusivity: Only 5% of attorneys are selected in each state every year to be on the Super Lawyers list, limiting who can and cannot participate.
• Long-Term Contracts: Similar to FindLaw.com, the minimum contract term is 12 months, so it is important to know what you are buying prior to making a long-term commitment

Our Recommendation: For major metro areas, Superlawyers.com is a good directory. If you have been selected in your state, we recommend getting a profile and top listings pending availability.

EliteLawyer.com

Elite Lawyer is a directory and rating service that recognizes attorneys who have a high level of skill and are known to provide high-quality legal services for their clients. Attorneys who qualify for the Elite Lawyer award can demonstrate that they are respected in their fields, and clients can use the Elite Lawyer directory to find attorneys who are ready to meet their needs.

Features:

• Demanding Criteria: Elite Lawyer only recognizes attorneys who meet certain qualifications. They will need to be involved in legal associations, have received honors or credentials, maintain a clean record, and have a high level of experience.
• Detailed Attorney Directory: People who receive the Elite Lawyer award are listed in a searchable directory that makes it easy for clients to find them and understand the benefits they can provide.

Pros:

• Recognition: The Elite Lawyer award is a mark of distinction for attorneys who have the skills needed to address their clients' legal issues successfully.
• Physical Awards: Attorneys who receive the Elite Lawyer award can also display trophies or plaques that highlight their accomplishments.
• SEO Benefits: Listings in the Elite Lawyer directory can link to an attorney's website, helping people find them in online searches.
• Social Media: The Elite Lawyer badge, which can be added to websites and social media profiles, shows that an attorney is highly accomplished in their field.

Cons:

• Experience Required: Elite Lawyer recognizes attorneys with high levels of experience, and the award may not be available to younger lawyers or those who are early in their careers.

Our Recommendation: Elite Lawyer is a great choice for demonstrating your qualifications and making sure people can find you when they are searching for legal help. If you are eligible for the Elite Lawyer award, paying the fee for a full directory listing can provide many benefits.

Nolo.com

Nolo provides legal resources and services, including a directory that helps clients find attorneys and legal information. Their model is different from the other directories in the sense that you can pay directly for leads, not just digital real estate.

Features:

• Attorney Profiles: Basic and enhanced profiles with information about practice areas and contact details.
• Legal Articles: Extensive library of legal articles and guides.
• Lead Generation: Nolo's directory helps generate leads for attorneys.
• SEO Services: Marketing solutions to improve online visibility.

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: Offers affordable marketing solutions for attorneys.
• Lead Generation: Helps connect potential clients with attorneys.
• Content Resources: Legal articles attract and educate potential clients.

Cons:

• Lead Quality: Many of the leads that come from Nolo have historically been subpar. They traditionally provide more leads than the other vendors, but those leads may not be as valuable.
• Conversion Rate: Most law firms convert NOLO leads at a rate of 8-10%. That means that 90%+ of the leads they speak to do not become clients.

Our recommendation: NOLO can be great if you have a volume practice and want to maximize the number of leads you receive. If you are looking for a high conversion rate, this is probably not the directory for you.