Frequently Asked Questions About Leaving FindLaw

Yes. In almost every case, your domain name belongs to you—even if your website is hosted by FindLaw. We’ll help transfer or repoint the domain to your new website once everything is ready to launch. Your email service is typically unaffected by the transition.

Many firms subscribe to products beyond the website, such as directory listings, Local Search, Google Ads management, review management, or social media services.

I’m happy to review your FindLaw Insights reports and help you determine which products are generating value and which ones may not be worth the cost. Those reports can be difficult to interpret, but once you understand where your leads are actually coming from, it’s much easier to make informed decisions.

Yes. In most cases, we begin by recreating your existing website so that no important content is lost. From there, we can improve the design, reorganize your navigation, expand practice area pages, add FAQ content, improve AI visibility, or keep the overall look familiar if that’s your preference.

If there are things you like—or dislike—about your current website, or examples of other firms’ websites you admire, those are always helpful during the planning process.

The goal is exactly the opposite. Every website transition is carefully planned to preserve existing URLs whenever possible and implement proper redirects where needed. That helps search engines understand that your content has simply moved—not disappeared.

No one can guarantee rankings because Google and AI search results change constantly. What I can do is build your new website with long-term stability in mind, using clean code, proper site architecture, structured FAQ content, schema markup, and content designed for both traditional search engines and AI-powered search.

Many firms ultimately see better performance after moving away from older, proprietary website platforms.

Not at all. I handle the technical work from start to finish. When the site is finished, you’ll own it completely and have full access if you ever want to make changes yourself.

If you’d rather never touch it, that’s perfectly fine too. I’m always available to help with updates whenever you need them.

Absolutely. I’ve helped hundreds of firms transition away from FindLaw over the past 18 years, and many are happy to share their experience with attorneys considering the same move.

You can also read testimonials here: swell-sites.com/testimonials

Usually, nothing. Most law firms already have email hosted separately through Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or another provider. In those cases, changing your website has no effect on email.

If FindLaw currently manages your email—which is relatively uncommon—we’ll help migrate you to a modern platform before making any changes so there is no interruption.

Yes—but it’s optional. Unlike many legal marketing companies, I don’t require long-term contracts.

Some firms simply want a modern website they own and rarely need updates. Others prefer ongoing help with content, SEO, AI optimization, or new practice area pages.

Support is available whenever you need it, typically on an hourly basis or through a simple monthly maintenance arrangement.

Start with a free consultation. I’ll review your current website, explain what’s working, identify opportunities for improvement, and answer any questions about transitioning away from FindLaw.

There’s no obligation and no sales pressure—just practical advice based on your specific situation.

Most projects are completed in two to four weeks, depending on the size of the website and how quickly we receive any updated information or photos.

If you’re working toward a contract expiration or another deadline, we can often prioritize your project. The goal is to have the new website completely ready before the old one comes offline, so there is little to no interruption.

Most FindLaw replacement websites fall between $2,500 and $6,000, depending on the amount of content, number of practice areas, and any custom functionality. That’s a one-time project—not a long-term contract.

You’ll own the website, your content, and your hosting account. Typical ongoing costs are simply domain registration (about $15 per year) and web hosting (roughly $75–150 per year), both of which remain under your control.

No. In fact, I generally recommend building the replacement website while your FindLaw site is still active. Once everything has been reviewed, tested, and approved, we schedule the launch to make the transition as seamless as possible.

I’ve helped law firms through this process for nearly two decades and have managed hundreds of FindLaw transitions with little to no downtime.

Yes—and I’ll tell you if I think you shouldn’t. Not every FindLaw product is a bad investment. Some firms receive excellent value from directory listings, paid advertising, or other services. Others are paying thousands of dollars each month for products that haven’t been meaningfully updated in years.

Rather than assuming everything should be canceled, I’ll review what you’re paying for, explain what appears to be working, and help you make an informed decision based on the data.

Most older legal websites—including many built years ago by large legal marketing companies—were designed primarily for traditional Google search.

Today, AI-powered search engines look for clear topical organization, comprehensive answers, FAQ content, structured data, and signals that demonstrate expertise.

When I rebuild a website, I’m not just replacing the design. I’m reorganizing the content so it’s easier for both people and AI systems to understand what your firm does and when your attorneys should be recommended.