Definition
Indexing is the process by which Google stores a page in its search index after crawling it. Only indexed pages can appear in search results. A page can be crawled but not indexed if Google judges it low quality, duplicate, or blocked by a noindex tag.
Why it matters for law firms
If a practice area page is not indexed, it cannot rank for anything, no matter how good the content is. Indexing problems are common after site redesigns, platform migrations and on JavaScript-heavy sites where content does not load for Google.
Example
After a website rebuild, a bankruptcy firm's Chapter 13 page shows 'Crawled, currently not indexed' in Search Console. The page turns out to be a near-duplicate of the Chapter 7 page and needs unique content to be indexed.
How to improve it
- Check the Pages report in Google Search Console regularly.
- Use URL Inspection to confirm Google sees your full content.
- Make sure key pages are not blocked by robots.txt or a noindex tag.
- Give each page a distinct purpose and unique content.
Need help with this?
Technical SEO for Law FirmsRelated terms
Aditya Chauhan
Head of SEO, PageOne Lawyers
Last updated September 26, 2026