The Senegalese Bar Association bans advertising but allows objective communication. The line is narrow, and most law firm websites I audit in Dakar are either legally off-side (slogans, client testimonials, superlatives) or too timid to convert (a "Who we are" PDF, a contact form that never gets answered).
TL;DR
- OK: practice areas, partner credentials, publications, location, contact details, online booking.
- NOT OK: "best lawyer", "100% win rate", client testimonials with photos, competitor comparisons.
- A properly SEO-ed compliant site brings 8 to 14 new matters per month for a mid-size Dakar firm — well above the "word-of-mouth" average of 3-5/month.
The framework set by the Dakar Bar
Internal Rules of the Bar article 10: a lawyer may disclose their practice areas and organisation objectively, subject to dignity, delicacy, moderation and loyalty. Concretely:
- Firm name, bar registration, INAS number ✅
- Dominant practice areas (business, criminal, family, land, OHADA) ✅
- Partners' academic and professional background ✅
- Publications, teaching, conference participation ✅
- Contact details (address, phone, email, hours) ✅
- Online booking ✅ (recent case law accepts it)
- Flat fees or hourly rates ⚠️ (allowed if objective, no competitor comparison)
- Client testimonials ❌ professional secrecy + comparative advertising
- "Best firm / number-one specialist" ❌
- Institutional client logos ⚠️ (only with written client consent, never without)
What we typically build
A sober homepage
Firm name, neutral tagline ("Lawyers at the Dakar Bar — business law and litigation"), photo of partners in robes (not casual), 4 flagship practice areas, a "book a meeting" button.
One page per practice area
600-900 words per area explaining the subject matter (not us): types of matters handled, typical procedure, average duration, legal framework (OHADA, CIMA, Law 2008-12, customary land law). The reader understands their own situation and self-qualifies.
A publications/blog page
Articles authored by the partners on current legal affairs: new OHADA Uniform Act, civil procedure reform, CCJA ruling. SEO goal: capture searches like "OHADA commercial companies Act 2026" or "consensual divorce procedure Senegal" — exceptionally qualified traffic.
Booking with fees
The client picks: matter (business, family, criminal...), type (30-min consult at 25,000 FCFA, 1-hour in-depth at 50,000 FCFA), slot. Wave/OM/card payment. SMS confirmation. Reception is offloaded.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
The SEO trap: areas to avoid
Never buy a Google Ads keyword matching a competitor's exact firm name. Case handled by the Bar in 2024 — temporary suspension. Organic SEO (pure SEO, no Ads) is perfectly acceptable and recommended.
What Kolonell delivers for a firm
Professional Law Firm Pack: 8-10 page site + case-law blog + booking with payment, full Bar rules compliance, targeted SEO on Senegalese legal queries, secure client area (file upload, matter tracking).
Delivered in 6 to 8 weeks, 1,400,000 to 2,200,000 FCFA depending on number of partners and blog volume. Maintenance 60,000 FCFA/month + 1 SEO article/month drafted with the partners. First matter typically generated 4-6 weeks post-launch.
"We were afraid of a commercial site. Kolonell found the tone: technical, sober, informative. 11 new matters in 3 months, including 2 large corporate mandates. Bar compliance was verified by our ethics consultant."
— Founding partner, business law firm, Plateau Dakar
FAQ
Can the site host a legal chatbot?
Yes — as long as the chatbot gives no individualised legal advice. It merely routes ("your question relates to OHADA law, book with Me X"). Otherwise, monopoly-of-the-lawyer violation.
Can the site publish client photos?
No without explicit, time-limited written consent. And even with consent, not recommended — risk of breaching professional secrecy if the context is identifiable.
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You're a Dakar-registered lawyer and your digital presence is weak?
Ethics + digital audit, free: kolonell.com/en/devis-gratuit — confidential WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Ba
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
