Although you may be able to find a good photo in a Google search, chances are you can’t use the image on your law firm’s website without purchasing the license or, at the least, without having written permission from the photographer. Far too often, we hear from attorneys who have received a large bill from an image provider because they did not have the proper license to use the photo. While purchasing the original image may have only cost the firm seventy-five dollars, the bill for damages and licenses can wind up costing the practice thousands of dollars.

In developing websites for attorneys, we’re often asked what kinds of disclaimers should be included on a legal website. The answer to this question largely depends on the jurisdiction(s) of the firm and the local Rules of Professional Conduct. We recommend that all firms carefully comb through this information and all ethics opinions when developing a website to ensure compliance.  Some states require a label on all site pages indicating that the site is a form of “Attorney Advertising.” Others are less restrictive, mandating that disclaimers may only be needed on certain pages where the information presented may confuse visitors.

What is your favorite color? It’s a seemingly straightforward question that we’ve all been asked. Most people are quick to answer with a simple blue, green or red. When we pose this question to our clients during the design consultation, we often encounter a similar response from clients who haven’t really given it much thought and instead go with the norm. They explain that they want their site colors to be blue and gray or white and blue; they’ve taken their cues from competitors and assume that these colors must be optimal for performance.