Plugins are like accessories—and Coco Chanel said it best: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.”
Your website will work best with simplicity and intentionality. We love plugins because they add features without requiring bulky or tricky custom code. But the danger zone is very real.
Look, we love a swanky necklace and a sleek smartwatch as much as the next person. But too many accessories will weigh you down. And your website can’t win you clients if it’s struggling under the weight of a closet’s worth of your grandma’s costume jewelry.
So, here’s what lawyers need to know about WordPress plugins and how they can impact your firm.
What is a WordPress plugin and why does it matter?
Think of plugins like accessories for your website. Your WordPress site provides the foundational code, and a plugin enhances its functionality by adding extra features.
This is a major reason we like WordPress—it’s customizable in a way DIY website builders are not.
Plugins matter because they help you be flexible and be custom. You can use them to build a user-friendly site without bulky, costly custom code. Your set of plugins may be totally unique compared to your competitors, depending on the needs of your business.
Plugins can either be action hooks or filter hooks. Action hooks add new functionality based on an action, and filter hooks change data before it reaches your visitor.
Here are some examples of plugins:
- Contact forms to capture and streamline client inquiries
- SEO tools to help improve visibility
- Security enhancements like firewalls
What does a plugin offer my firm?
Plugins allow you to tailor your site without requiring a developer for every little change. They simplify and organize the processes you rely on, integrating each into one place: your WordPress hub.
Think of this like Legos. Plug and play and get full functionality for your firm using blocks (someone else’s code).
Customize your client inquiry process. Maybe your clientele skews younger and they want live chat capability. Maybe they’re mostly older, and they prefer in-person appointments. Plugins can help on both counts.
Protect your data and your clients’ data. Get firewall protection, encryption, and automated backups to protect your business.
Get built-in SEO tips. Some plugins, like Yoast, give you immediate feedback inside your WordPress site with SEO improvement suggestions. It couldn’t be any easier.
Automation. While you can’t just ignore your plugins forever, they can help simplify repetitive tasks for you. For example, a backup plugin will keep your data safe with no extra effort on your part.
Plugins add functionality to your site. You might love the aesthetics of your design, but plugins can take your site from pretty to powerful.
What do plugins require of my firm?
To enjoy the significant advantages provided by plugins, you have to be responsible. Plugins are not a set-and-forget solution.
Plugins require ongoing management to ensure your site remains secure and speedy.
We recommend that firms regularly audit their plugins. Every plugin should be up to date, pulling its weight, and performing well. This is one reason firms choose to work with an agency that specializes in WordPress and will take responsibility for managing your plugin security and updates.
A word of warning: Automatic updates aren’t always the best option.
Why law firms need to be selective about which plugins they install
Plugins add valuable features to your site—but please, only add the plugins that actually serve you. Before you implement one, test a new plugin in a staging environment before you apply it to your live site.
With every plugin, you’re adding:
- Regular maintenance tasks
- Possible security risks
- Inevitable problem-solving when something breaks
Choose plugins that are well supported by the developers, with a history of successful use by other website owners. Look for a recent date in the “Last Updated” date in the Directory, as well as a high number of people currently using it. You can also look up the plugin for a history of vulnerabilities.
Choose plugins that add the most value to your business, without duplicating features. Too many plugins can slow down your site–and load speed is a key SEO factor.
Here are three ways to expect plugins to impact your workflow:
✓ Update them regularly: Outdated or unsupported plugins can expose your site to hackers. An agency can help you do this so the update doesn’t disrupt your site functionality.
✓ Prune regularly: Too many plugins (or poorly coded plugins) can slow down your site.
✓ Prepare to problem solve: Some plugins don’t play well together. Compatibility conflicts can lead to broken features or crashes.
Plugin suggestions for law firms
There’s no ideal set of plugins for law firms. You should speak with an advisor and use the plugins that are specific to your client management process and marketing workflow.
Plugins live in the WordPress Plugin Directory, which you can browse at your leisure.
Here are some suggestions in three key categories to jumpstart your research:
Security and compliance plugins for law firms:
- Wordfence: Provides firewall protection and malware scanning
- Sucuri Security: Helps prevent hacking attempts and DDoS attacks
- UpdraftPlus: Automates backups to protect your data
Wordfence is especially popular, according to WordPress developers on Reddit:
SEO and performance optimization plugins for law firms:
- Yoast SEO: Assists with optimizing content for search engines
- WP Rocket: Improves site speed with caching and performance tweaks
- Imagify: Compresses images to reduce load times without sacrificing quality
Yoast and Imagify made the list of this Redditor’s top plugins:
Client engagement and lead generation plugins for law firms:
- Gravity Forms: Creates advanced, customizable contact forms
- Calendly: Simplifies appointment scheduling for consultations
- LiveChat: Enables real-time chat for client inquiries
But wait! One very important caveat: Plugins are not a substitute for a well-coded website. Ultimately, you want to own your code and reduce reliance on third-party tools or DIY builders.
The most efficient and budget-friendly option is a well-coded design for your core website, plus a few thoughtfully chosen plugins. An experienced agency can give you both, including ongoing management and optimization.
Review and next steps
Plugins are powerful tools, but they require careful selection and ongoing maintenance. We don’t cover installing or configuring plugins in this primer, but we can help you with this.
By choosing wisely and working with an expert 👋🏼, law firms can benefit from a secure and high-performing website that serves both their clients and their business effectively.
