For the same reason that the Florida statute requires business owners to have public information, the Florida Bar also requires lawyers to have their information updated and public on the Florida Bar's website.
Having a public website (i.e., adequately updated with the information of the lawyer and the law firm) becomes one of the best ways to demonstrate to your clients that you are who you say you are.
We see cases of private websites that counterfeit the lawyer's brand with phone numbers and money stolen from clients who counterfeit the lawyer. Google today is very good at detecting this type of practice.
There are many reasons not to have a WHOIS private. According to SEM Rush, a publication that focuses on SEO best practices, having your website be Florida Bar compliant also helps your Google ranking. Google will not promote websites that have duplicate content.
Other issues to consider:
- Domains
- SSL
- Hosting
- IT security service upgrades to your website
The domain with privacy is considered a high risk of fraud and is maintained in many systems. To check if your domain has privacy, visit the ICANN WHOIS search page and insert your domain there.
If you need our advice on making your law firm or trademark practice better, please consult one of our legal web specialists who can provide you with a free consultation at no charge.
If you would like to have a completely free consultation, schedule a meeting, and one of our web legal specialists will call you at the appointed time.
