The verdict in three sentences
In Cork, a solicitors' practice rebuilding its website can choose between a Cork or Dublin agency, a freelancer, or a remote studio with fixed prices. Kolonell's grid (2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR) includes a project manager reachable on Irish time, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support, which is enough for most firms of 2 to 15 lawyers. The local agency keeps the edge as soon as the project needs meetings in your South Mall offices, a video shoot or multi-year brand support.
What does a Cork law firm website actually need to do?
Before comparing suppliers, fix the scope. A Cork firm working in conveyancing, probate, employment law or commercial litigation for the multinationals around the harbour and Little Island does not need the same pages as a personal injury practice. In practice, the site should give each practice area its own page, reassure on regulation (Law Society of Ireland, professional indemnity), filter enquiries through a qualified form and stay fast on mobile.
| Firm need | Starter (2 700 EUR) | Growth (4 500 EUR) | Premium (8 200 EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative number of pages | Compact site with a few key pages | One page per practice area | Complete, richer structure |
| Contact forms | Simple form | Forms qualified by matter type | Forms qualified by practice area |
| Languages | English | English | Bilingual English and French |
| Native English copywriting | Included | Included | Included |
| Delivery time | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months |
| Client portal or booking with payment | Quoted on request | Quoted on request | Quoted on request |
Details are on the international website offer. An Irish-language version is not included: if you need one, it is quoted separately.
Cork agency, freelancer or remote studio: how do they compare?
| Criterion | Local agency (Cork, Dublin) | Freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time zone | Same | Variable | Team on GMT: same time in winter, 1 hour behind in summer |
| In-person meetings | Yes | Sometimes, if the freelancer is in Cork | No, video calls |
| On-site photo or video | Often, as an option | Rarely | Not offered |
| Price of a law firm site | 6 000 to 25 000 EUR | 2 000 to 6 500 EUR | 2 700 to 8 200 EUR, fixed price |
| Ownership of domain and code | Depends on contract | Often not formalised | In the firm's name |
| Continuity if your contact leaves | Good | Weak | Dedicated project manager and team |
| Timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
These ranges are a 2026 ballpark, built from price pages published by Irish agencies, minimum budgets listed on Clutch.co and rates shown by freelancers on Malt and Upwork. They exclude VAT (23 % in Ireland).
What budget should you plan over three years?
To compare fairly, apply the same assumptions to all three options: a 10 to 12 page site and maintenance assumed at 100 EUR a month once support ends. That figure is a hypothesis, not a Kolonell price: with us, maintenance after 3 months is quoted on request.
| Item (EUR, excl. VAT) | Cork agency | Freelancer | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | 14 000 | 4 500 | 4 500 |
| Page copywriting | Often billed extra, 1 500 | Left to the firm | Included |
| Maintenance, hypothesis 100 EUR/month over 33 months | 3 300 | 3 300 | 3 300 |
| Takeover if the supplier disappears | Low risk | 2 000 (estimate) | Low risk |
| 3-year total | 18 800 | 9 800 | 7 800 |
The freelancer looks close, but the legal copy is then on you, often 15 to 25 hours of a partner's time.
When is a Cork agency still the better option?
Kolonell does not do on-site meetings, photography or video. Choose a local agency if:
- you are planning a full rebrand (logo, stationery, office signage);
- you want portraits and a video of the team filmed in your offices;
- your partners want in-person workshops at every stage;
- the project includes a client portal linked to your case management software with on-site follow-up (at Kolonell, that kind of build is quoted on request).
Which questions should you ask before signing?
- Is the .ie domain registered in the firm's name?
- Who writes the pages, and who checks them against advertising rules?
- How many weeks from signature to launch?
- What exactly does support cover, and for how many months?
- Can we take the code and host it elsewhere?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Which rules apply to a law firm website in Ireland?
Solicitor advertising is regulated in Ireland (Law Society of Ireland and the Legal Services Regulatory Authority), with strict restrictions on personal injury advertising, notably wording such as "no win, no fee". The site falls under the GDPR and Ireland's Data Protection Act 2018, supervised by the Data Protection Commission, and non-essential cookies require prior consent. For accessibility, aim for WCAG 2.1 AA as a minimum. This is not legal advice.
As a real reference, Kolonell built the bilingual site of TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), a notary and apostille service in New Jersey, with verified quote requests per file and an appointment calendar: the same kind of journey a Cork firm can use to qualify its enquiries.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Ciarán O., partner in a 6-solicitor firm in Cork (property, probate, employment), is weighing a city agency at 15 500 EUR (copy included) against Kolonell's Growth tier at 4 500 EUR. The gap is 11 000 EUR. If a conveyancing file brings in 1 800 EUR in fees on average, he would need about 6 extra files to cover the gap with the agency, against 3 files to pay back the Kolonell site. He keeps 1 000 EUR aside for a Cork photographer.
FAQ
Can the site be live before the end of the quarter?
Yes, delivery takes 3 to 4 weeks after the scope is approved. A Cork agency usually quotes 8 to 14 weeks.
Can the site show our conveyancing fees?
Yes, indicative fees can be published as long as they are clear and not misleading. The strictest restrictions concern personal injury advertising.
Can Kolonell come and photograph the team?
No, Kolonell does not do photo or video. A Cork photographer charges, as a ballpark, 500 to 1 200 EUR for a portrait session.
How is the work paid?
By bank transfer, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. For the Premium tier at 8 200 EUR, that means two payments of 4 100 EUR.
Can we get a written comparison?
Yes: request a free quote with your practice areas, and the reply states the tier and price in EUR.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your practice areas and the number of pages you want, and we will propose a tier at 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR delivered 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.