The verdict in three sentences
A New York law firm should sign a website contract only once scope, ownership and acceptance are written down page by page, not described in a pitch deck. The clauses behind most disputes are the domain and hosting account holder, the definition of done and what happens when the support period ends. Kolonell works on fixed terms (USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery by bank transfer, 3 to 4 weeks, 3 months of support), which keeps the contract short and easy for your own counsel to check.
What does a New York agency contract usually cover, and what is missing?
In Manhattan and Brooklyn, legal marketing agencies and generalist studios usually send a master services agreement plus a statement of work (SOW). The 2026 ballpark, drawn from public agency pricing pages and minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles, is USD 15,000 to 60,000 for a law firm site from a specialised legal marketing agency, USD 8,000 to 25,000 from a smaller studio, and USD 70 to 150 per hour for an experienced freelancer on Upwork or Codeable. These documents are often written by the vendor for the vendor: the SOW lists deliverables generously and leaves acceptance vague.
| Clause | Typical NYC agency wording | What to ask for | Kolonell terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Registered on the client's behalf in the agency account | Registrar account in the firm's name, agency as delegate only | Written into the quote: firm's account, delegated access |
| Hosting | Bundled on the agency's server, monthly fee | Hosting contract in the firm's name, admin credentials at handover | Account holder and host stated in the quote |
| Code and design files | Licence to use, agency keeps its proprietary framework | Assignment of site-specific code and designs on final payment | Confirm in writing in the quote, as with any vendor |
| Copy | Supplied by the firm, any delay moves the schedule | Who writes, who approves, Rule 7.1 review by a partner | Native English copywriting included, final sign-off by the firm |
| Payment | 30/40/30 or monthly retainer | Milestones tied to accepted deliverables | 50 % at kickoff, 50 % at delivery, bank transfer |
| Timeline | 8 to 16 weeks, estimated | Dated milestones, client delays carved out | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Acceptance | Deemed accepted after 5 business days | Written test list: forms, mobile, accessibility, disclaimers | Acceptance checklist agreed in the quote |
| Support | 30 days of bug fixing | Length, response time, exclusions | 3 months after launch, maintenance afterwards on quote |
Which acceptance criteria should a law firm write into the contract?
Acceptance is the moment that triggers your second payment, so it must rest on a checkable list, not on a feeling. For a New York firm, the minimum list covers:
- every contact form reaches the right inbox and shows a notice that submitting it does not create an attorney-client relationship;
- advertising labels and prior-results disclaimers appear on the relevant pages;
- the site renders correctly on iPhone, Android and common desktop browsers;
- keyboard navigation, contrast and alt text meet the WCAG 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA target;
- the cookie banner blocks analytics until the visitor consents;
- the number of revision rounds is fixed (two is a common baseline) and any extra round is priced in advance.
On the regulatory side, the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.1 in particular, govern attorney advertising, including labelling of certain communications and disclaimers about past results. The US has no general federal privacy law; in New York, the SHIELD Act requires reasonable safeguards for the private information of state residents, which directly concerns forms where a prospect describes their matter. On accessibility, New York federal courts are among the venues where ADA Title III website lawsuits are filed most often. This is not legal advice.
What does the contract cost over three years?
Comparing build prices alone skews the decision. The table below applies the same maintenance and change hypotheses to all three options.
| Line (USD) | NYC legal marketing agency | NYC freelancer | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | 25,000 | 9,000 | 4,900 |
| Support included | 30 days | Billed hourly | 3 months |
| Hosting and maintenance (hypothesis: USD 200 per month over 36 months) | 7,200 | 7,200 | 7,200 |
| Changes in years 2 and 3 (same hypothesis) | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| 3-year total | 35,200 | 19,200 | 15,100 |
| Paid at signature | 7,500 to 12,500 | 2,700 to 4,500 | 2,450 |
The three tiers are detailed in the international website offer. Custom applications, such as a client portal, online booking with payment or an integration with your case-management software, are quoted on request.
When is a New York agency the better choice?
Kolonell does not hold on-site meetings and does not do photo or video shoots. If your partners want in-person workshops in your Midtown office, or attorney headshots shot in the conference room, a local agency fits better. It also fits if procurement requires a New York-based vendor with a cyber liability certificate of insurance, if you want one supplier for the site, paid campaigns and a monthly SEO retainer, or if the project depends on a heavy case-management integration from day one.
Which questions should you ask before signing?
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- In whose name will the domain and hosting account be registered, and when do we get admin credentials?
- Which test list triggers the final payment, and how many revision rounds are included?
- Who writes the copy, and who checks it against bar advertising rules?
- What exactly does support cover, for how long, and at what rate afterwards?
- Which accessibility target applies, and how will it be tested?
- What data do the forms collect, and where is it stored?
For a written estimate on your scope, use the free quote page. Our team, based in Dakar (GMT), works New York mornings, 4 to 5 hours ahead depending on the season.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Daniel R., managing partner of a seven-lawyer immigration practice in Midtown, receives an agency proposal at USD 27,500: 40 % at signature (USD 11,000), 12 weeks, acceptance deemed after five days. He compares it with Kolonell Premium at USD 8,900 for a complete bilingual English and French site: USD 4,450 at kickoff, USD 4,450 at delivery, 4 weeks. The build gap is USD 18,600. He has a 14-point acceptance list added to the quote; two misrouted forms are fixed before the second transfer. The 6 hours of review by a partner billing USD 450 an hour (USD 2,700) weigh the same in both options.
FAQ
Should the firm own the domain name?
Yes, it is the single most important clause. A domain held in a vendor's account can block a migration for weeks, while renewing a domain yourself usually costs under USD 50 a year.
What payment schedule is reasonable?
New York agencies often ask for 30 to 50 % at signature. At Kolonell it is 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery by bank transfer, so USD 1,450 then USD 1,450 for the Starter tier at USD 2,900.
How many revision rounds should we plan?
Two rounds per stage is a common baseline. Beyond that, get a per-round price written into the contract to avoid a surprise invoice of several thousand dollars.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
Maintenance becomes a quoted service, like ongoing SEO. Set the expected response time and the quoting format for changes at signature.
Should the contract mention accessibility?
Yes, write in the WCAG 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA target and the test method. Your lawyers review the contract, since ADA Title III risk is real in New York.
Let's scope your project. Send us your page list and acceptance requirements and we will reply with a USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 tier, written terms and delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
Mohamed Bah
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.
