Redesigning a Legal Website with Evolving Client Needs

Creating a Scalable, User-Centered Experience from a Mid-Project Pivot

This project involved a full redesign of a family law firm’s website based in Raleigh, NC. The existing site was outdated, rigidly templated, and difficult to update, every small change required direct PHP edits. The firm wanted a modern, highly customizable platform that felt professional and human, supported long-form legal content, and preserved their strong search visibility.

About halfway through the project, the client gathered new feedback from internal stakeholders and decided to revise most of the site direction. Instead of going back to the drawing board, I integrated this feedback directly into the design and build process, keeping the launch moving forward while still improving the UX.

Laptop displaying Parenting Coordinators page from website
Duration
  • 5-week build with 2 additional weeks for revisions.
  • Final product delivered 2 days ahead of schedule
Role
  • Lead Developer & UX Designer
  • UX Strategy & Rapid Prototyping
  • SEO Transition & Mentorship
  • Content Architecture & CMS Flexibility
Scope
  • 48-page site & 100+ blog post migration
  • 5 social-media-driven landing pages
  • Fully rebuilt site architecture and navigation
Tech & Tools
  • WordPress site with custom PHP
  • Figma, Mouseflow, SEMrush, Google AnalyticsFigma (sitemap, wireframes, CTA flows)

Discovery & Research

The redesign began with an audit of the existing site. Pages were bloated, difficult to navigate, and inconsistent on mobile devices. The client had also collected user complaints, mostly about confusing navigation and poor readability. I reviewed these pain points alongside analytics data to identify key areas for improvement.

We also met weekly during the planning phase to discuss aesthetic preferences, competitor positioning, and functional goals, particularly the need to support specialized services such as Parenting Coordination.

User Pain Points Identified During Audit

  • Bloated page layouts with too much white space and disorganized content
  • Poor mobile responsiveness across key practice area pages
  • Navigation structure was unclear, especially for new users
  • Legal content was difficult to scan due to dense paragraphs
  • Lack of CTA visibility and inconsistent placement
  • Users expressed confusion over finding specific services
  • SEO performance at risk due to outdated code structure and poor accessibility

Sitemap - Before & After

Before and after image (text only) of website sitemap

Understanding Their Users

User Persona - Kristen D.

Initial Mid-Fi Wireframe

Figma mid-fi wireframe image in grey & white, with black text.
Side-by-side mid-fi of the original page mockup and new page mockup with call-outs on improvements and hang-ups.

Wireframing and UX Strategy

I created responsive wireframes in Figma to align user flow with practice area priorities. Blog categories were restructured for clarity and SEO performance, and CTAs were repositioned to feel more intuitive and actionable across devices.

During this stage, we also made subtle branding updates—introducing a new color palette and type hierarchy to improve visual cohesion and accessibility while keeping the tone professional and approachable.

Basic image of the call-to-action path.

Accessibility & SEO Preservation

Preserving SEO performance was a top priority. The original site ranked well due to long-standing content and backlinks, so we ensured URLs were preserved and category structures were mapped 1:1 where possible.

I mentored the SEO content writer on strategies to retain ranking signals during the migration. Together, we updated internal links, added schema markup, and applied heading and image alt-text improvements to meet WCAG standards.

We also increased body font size, restructured layouts to reduce cognitive load, and implemented accessibility best practices site-wide.

Page Speed Insights Before

Image of Page Speed insights showing SEO, performance, accessibility, and best practices metrics before the site revamp.

Post-Launch Page Speed Insights

Image of Page Speed insights showing SEO, performance, accessibility, and best practices metrics after the site update with significant improvements.
Image of website internal page after all changes have been made showing all improvements.

Adapting to Mid-Project Change

Two-thirds of the way through development, the client shared new internal feedback that led to a significant change in direction. While the core goals remained, the structure, layout, and messaging needed to pivot.

Rather than loop back to the design team, I employed rapid prototyping techniques to revise the layout based on their new requests. This included:

• Reorganizing how practice areas were segmented

• Adjusting header structures for clarity and scannability

• Rebuilding multiple pages in a new visual format

To keep things streamlined, I created a collaborative Monday board and custom Excel tracker so stakeholders could follow progress, view open tasks, and sign off quickly.

Outcomes

Improved Page Performance & UX

92

Overall Performance

86

Accessibility

100

Best Practices

92

SEO

Site loaded 2.8x faster on mobile after image and script optimization

SEO Stability Preserved

Smooth transition of all 100+ blog posts with zero ranking drop

Optimized blog taxonomy and internal link structures

Higher Engagement & Clarity

Clearer practice area segmentation reduced confusion about services

Landing pages with tailored messaging helped improve lead capture for social ad campaigns

Personal Growth

Despite significant mid-project scope changes, the website launched with a modern, user-friendly design that aligned with the client’s evolving goals. My role extended into UX leadership, mentorship, and advocacy for best practices—ensuring a stable, scalable solution to meet the firm’s present and future needs.

UX Advocacy Through Changing Requirements

This project taught me how to gracefully balance changing stakeholder needs with core UX principles. Even when priorities shifted mid-build, I kept usability, structure, and accessibility at the center.

Mentorship in Motion

Guiding the SEO/content writer on best practices was rewarding—it helped align content, design, and user behavior around shared goals.

Rapid, Collaborative Problem-Solving

Staying calm and focused under time pressure helped the client meet their goals without sacrificing quality. In the end, they launched a site that not only looked modern but worked better—for them and their users.

Adapting to Shifting Demands

Working long hours under pressure taught me resilience and effective prioritization, balancing client satisfaction with project feasibility.

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