A study released by Constellate, a marketing research firm specializing in law firms, found that 89% of small law firm websites scored below 90 on Google's mobile PageSpeed test, the threshold Google considers good. The median score was 60 out of 100, which falls into Google's "needs improvement" range. Worse, 24% of sites scored below 50, a rating Google labels "poor." The findings highlight a critical gap in mobile performance for small law firms, which could have significant implications for client acquisition.
Constellate tested 80 small law firm websites across five fast-growing markets: McKinney, Texas; Castle Rock, Colorado; Naples, Florida; Carmel, Indiana; and Cary, North Carolina. These are communities where new residents often search for legal services on their phones. The study used Google PageSpeed Insights (Lighthouse) with mobile settings in September 2026. The median site took 7.4 seconds to display its main content, well above Google's 4-second threshold for poor performance. In fact, 73% of sites exceeded that 4-second mark.
"Most people search for a law firm on their phone, no matter what kind of legal service they are looking for," said Bruce Kreutzer, Partner and VP of Growth at Constellate. "Seven seconds is a long time to wait. They call the next firm. Most small firms never see this happen, because nobody shows them the number." This invisibility of performance metrics means firms may be losing potential clients without realizing why.
The study also found regional variations. Castle Rock, Colorado had the lowest median score at 56, while Carmel, Indiana led with a median of 74, and a quarter of its sites scored 90 or above. These differences suggest that local market dynamics or firm priorities may influence mobile optimization efforts. However, the overall picture is bleak: only 11% of sites reached the "good" threshold.
"We built Constellate on one idea: law firm marketing should run on real data, measured as it happens," said Chris Bardos, President of Constellate. "This is the first in a series. Search is changing fast, especially with AI answers, and the firms that know their numbers will adapt first." The emphasis on real-time data underscores a shift toward performance-driven marketing in the legal sector.
For small law firms, the implications are clear. Mobile speed directly affects user experience and search rankings. Google's algorithms prioritize fast-loading sites, and slow sites may rank lower, reducing visibility. With more clients searching on mobile devices, a poor mobile experience can lead to lost business. The study's release serves as a wake-up call for firms to assess and improve their mobile performance. As the legal market grows more competitive, data-driven optimization will be essential. Constellate's ongoing research series promises to shed further light on how law firms can adapt to evolving search technologies. For more information, visit constellate.com.
