The Family Law Attorney's Guide to AI Visibility

What Is AI Visibility?

AI visibility is the likelihood that your firm appears when someone asks an AI assistant (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity) for a lawyer recommendation. It's measured by how often you're mentioned, whether you're in the top few suggestions, and how accurately the AI describes you. For family law, that means queries like "best divorce attorney in [city]" or "family law lawyer recommendation."

Why It Matters More Than Google Rankings Now

Google rankings still matter, but a growing share of high-intent prospects use AI to shortlist attorneys. If you rank #1 on Google but never appear in ChatGPT or Claude, you miss that segment. AI visibility is a separate channel—and for family law, one with high intent and clear optimization levers (credentials, reviews, content, FAQ).

The 4 AI Platforms That Matter

• ChatGPT — Most widely used; emphasizes licensing, clear service descriptions, and trust signals.
• Claude — Growing; values nuanced content, pricing clarity, and specialization.
• Google AI Overviews / Gemini — Integrated with search; reviews and local signals matter a lot.
• Perplexity — Rising; citation-heavy; directory and NAP consistency help.

How AI Decides Who to Recommend

AI models use training data and (where available) live retrieval. They favor businesses with clear structured data (e.g. LocalBusiness, Attorney, FAQ schema), consistent NAP (name, address, phone) across the web, recent reviews, credentials, and content that directly answers common questions. Gaps in any of these reduce your chance of being recommended.

10-Step Optimization Checklist

1. Add and complete Google Business Profile (practice areas, services, location).
2. Implement structured data (LocalBusiness, Attorney, FAQPage) on your site.
3. Maintain review velocity—aim for recent, genuine reviews and respond to all.
4. Display bar credentials and jurisdictions clearly on the website.
5. Keep content fresh (e.g. update practice pages and blog periodically).
6. Strengthen local signals (city/region in titles, meta, and content).
7. Create an FAQ section with common family-law questions and answers.
8. Ensure NAP consistency across directories and your site.
9. Add clear (and compliant) fee or consultation information.
10. Monitor your AI visibility over time and adjust based on results.

Measuring Your Progress

Use a free AI visibility score to see how you compare across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. Track changes after you implement the checklist. BiDigest provides weekly BI Digest reports with scores, recommendations, and competitor context so you can prioritize the next steps.