On April 21, Google dramatically altered the way websites are displayed in mobile device search results. Law firms with mobile-friendly websites will now be rewarded with more exposure, while those with non-mobile friendly websites may be relegated to lower rankings, or may not show up at all.

Nearly 50 percent of internet searches originate from mobile devices, prompting Google to confirm that this will have a significant impact on search results.

While many Internet-savvy law firms will see little to no impact, firms with older websites—even really robust ones—may be in for a big surprise. Google's update affects more than just people conducting a generic search for an attorney. Even current law firm clients using their iPhones or Galaxies may no longer find those websites when conducting such basic searches as looking for a lawyer's contact information, office directions or other website resources.