Law firm portals are not terribly sophisticated systems in terms of today's large and complex applications. Any of a number of technologies are capability of putting out strong, functional portal systems. But, here are a few things to watch out for.
1) Avoid flat file database packages or open source database packages. There are numerous portal systems running on relational database packages (Oracle or SQL Server based) - enough so that one can safely exclude proprietary database packages and open source (mySQL) packages when selecting a technology backbone for their portal. Choices like this align the company deploying a law firm portal with vendors and technologies offering maintenance contacts, security patches, and service level assurances one does not typically receive from open source packages.
2) Avoid systems that require internet browser plugins. Systems that require java to be running on the browser, or any other bolt-on package, will not be well received by your clients. They might not have the required plug-ins, and if they do not, your portal will not work on their machines. Deploy a portal that runs solely on Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Also, be sure your portal package is backward compatible a few browser versions.
3) Ask the portal vendor how difficult it is to add new fields or components to the law firm portal package. If they have done a good job coding their system, it should be easy for them to support your needs going forward. It is not wise for clients to get "locked-in" to certain sets of functionality in today's business world where change is all around of and client needs or requests might dictate that you deploy other types of functionality within your law firm portal.
4) Find a vendor that has chosen to keep the interface relatively simple. Cool FLASH introductions or sophisticated graphics look quite nice, but if you have a client with a relatively slow internet connection or an older PC, these additions might make their user experience poor (and, no one will use a system that takes more than 3-5 seconds to load up). Keeping the interface simple will position you to provide better response time and a more positive user experience (since all of us prefer systems that respond quickly). Law firm portals are business systems, not entertainment vehicles.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
ASP's - What in the world are they?
Most legal extranet and law firm portal systems are provided by ASP's. This stands for "Application Service Provider". What is an ASP? It is a company that provides computer applications that run within their own data center. The clients of the application system connect to it via the internet.
This is quite different from the traditional model where a company or individual purchases software from a software vendor, than installs it on their own personal computer or server.
Why are ASP's sprouting up and what is good about them? They significantly lessen the complexity of putting new application systems up within an organization. Since one does not need to bother with setting up new hardware (servers) or installing software, one can focus on learning to use the software and making sure it possesses the features and functionality required to support a business process. And, obviously, technical support issues are identified and resolved by the ASP (not your company's IT group), typically resolved swiftly since the provision of the software application to clients is their core competency.
ASP's also typically provide subscription based pricing models that provide more of a "pay as you go" model - fewer startup costs replaced by a series of monthly usage payments.
This is quite different from the traditional model where a company or individual purchases software from a software vendor, than installs it on their own personal computer or server.
Why are ASP's sprouting up and what is good about them? They significantly lessen the complexity of putting new application systems up within an organization. Since one does not need to bother with setting up new hardware (servers) or installing software, one can focus on learning to use the software and making sure it possesses the features and functionality required to support a business process. And, obviously, technical support issues are identified and resolved by the ASP (not your company's IT group), typically resolved swiftly since the provision of the software application to clients is their core competency.
ASP's also typically provide subscription based pricing models that provide more of a "pay as you go" model - fewer startup costs replaced by a series of monthly usage payments.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Leveraging your law firm website
Yes, you have invested lots of time and effort and money into your law firm website, but nobody looks at it. Why is this?
Well, certainly one issue is that people can not find it. A law firm needs to be sure a site does well with search engines, that they promote their website, that it is properly registered with search engines, that the site is interesting, etc...
But, is not another issue that law firms do not directly the organizations most likely to use their services in the future -- their existing customers -- to their website? It is said that 20% of legal business is prone to being lost every year and that law firms need to find ways to rebuild this work. Perhaps the best possible strategy to get more work is to encourage your existing clients - those who trust you the most -- to use your services in other practice areas.
A great way to do this is with law firm portals. A firm can build a portal site to post information a client wants to or needs to see -- for example invoices, contact lists, trial exhibits, etc... Then, one the same site, a law firm can make available strategic marketing information that will help them get more business from these clients.
What kind of information can be posted? Often, the same information that is posted on a firm's website -- areas of expertise, published works, etc...
The key difference here is that it is likely that an existing client will see this information, since it is likely the client will be on this site. Thus, the marketing information previously developed is viewed by very likely clients of other practice groups, which in turn may indeed help to generate more leads and business for a law firm.
Well, certainly one issue is that people can not find it. A law firm needs to be sure a site does well with search engines, that they promote their website, that it is properly registered with search engines, that the site is interesting, etc...
But, is not another issue that law firms do not directly the organizations most likely to use their services in the future -- their existing customers -- to their website? It is said that 20% of legal business is prone to being lost every year and that law firms need to find ways to rebuild this work. Perhaps the best possible strategy to get more work is to encourage your existing clients - those who trust you the most -- to use your services in other practice areas.
A great way to do this is with law firm portals. A firm can build a portal site to post information a client wants to or needs to see -- for example invoices, contact lists, trial exhibits, etc... Then, one the same site, a law firm can make available strategic marketing information that will help them get more business from these clients.
What kind of information can be posted? Often, the same information that is posted on a firm's website -- areas of expertise, published works, etc...
The key difference here is that it is likely that an existing client will see this information, since it is likely the client will be on this site. Thus, the marketing information previously developed is viewed by very likely clients of other practice groups, which in turn may indeed help to generate more leads and business for a law firm.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Keeping in touch with alumni
Law firm portals can be a big help in keeping in touch with law firm alumni. A firm can post up 401K information or other documents of interest to them, and at the same time keep alumni posted on firm events, seminars, victories, etc.
Keeping your alumni in touch with your law firm can provide many benefits to a firm - they might retain the firm, they can serve as useful ambassadors of the firm, they might even potentially come back and return to work at the firm without the firm having to pay costly recruiters fees.
Keeping your alumni in touch with your law firm can provide many benefits to a firm - they might retain the firm, they can serve as useful ambassadors of the firm, they might even potentially come back and return to work at the firm without the firm having to pay costly recruiters fees.
Law Firm Marketing
As we all know, law firms put together a wealth of excellent marketing material: newsletters, brochures, practice group updates, listings of victories and other positive client outcomes, etc.
In addition to mailing (and e-mailing) these to clients and making them available on a law firm's public website, publishing this information on a secure, client-portal is also a best practice.
These portals could be for existing clients or they could be for prospective clients. One of the wonderful aspects of a client portal is that it provides customized information for clients that they are more likely to review and appreciate.
In addition to mailing (and e-mailing) these to clients and making them available on a law firm's public website, publishing this information on a secure, client-portal is also a best practice.
These portals could be for existing clients or they could be for prospective clients. One of the wonderful aspects of a client portal is that it provides customized information for clients that they are more likely to review and appreciate.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Building awareness of law firm events
Law firm portals can be used to share with your existing client base upcoming events that may be of interest to them.
For example, if a law firm hosts monthly information sessions / CLE sessions for other attorneys, they can use law firm portals to broadcast the date/time/location for the event to their clients.
Using law firm portals to perform this function is a good complement to existing strategies of making these events known on a firm's public website, word of month distribution, or email/hard copy distribution of information about the events.
For example, if a law firm hosts monthly information sessions / CLE sessions for other attorneys, they can use law firm portals to broadcast the date/time/location for the event to their clients.
Using law firm portals to perform this function is a good complement to existing strategies of making these events known on a firm's public website, word of month distribution, or email/hard copy distribution of information about the events.
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Sharing Procedural Information Betweeen Law Firms and Clients
When there is a need to share documents together between law firms and clients, but not necessarily a need for a litigation support extranet, a law firm portal might be a good choice to meet this need.
For example, if a client would like all employees of a law firm to be aware of their outside counsel policy manual, EEOC guidelines, preferred vendor listing, company mission or pledge, etc.., these documents might be posted on a law firm portal for convenient access by all interested parties.
Likewise, if a law firm needs to convey adminsitration information to clients such as billing rates, office hours and closures, billing procedures and terms or other items, the law firm can post this on a client portal.
Using a law firm portal obviously allows law firms (and clients) to post client-specific information for common review and use without exposing this information to the general public (as information on a firm's public website is exposed).
For example, if a client would like all employees of a law firm to be aware of their outside counsel policy manual, EEOC guidelines, preferred vendor listing, company mission or pledge, etc.., these documents might be posted on a law firm portal for convenient access by all interested parties.
Likewise, if a law firm needs to convey adminsitration information to clients such as billing rates, office hours and closures, billing procedures and terms or other items, the law firm can post this on a client portal.
Using a law firm portal obviously allows law firms (and clients) to post client-specific information for common review and use without exposing this information to the general public (as information on a firm's public website is exposed).
Friday, August 5, 2005
Rising Stars
Many law firms have attorneys who are identified in lists such as "rising stars" lists as those excelling within their profession. Publishing this award and a profile of the skills and accomplishments of these attorneys on a client-specific portal is a great way to introduce your existing clients (and bring to their attention) some of the additional legal services and legal representation options your law firm can provide to that particular client.
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