Not everyone loves Faegre.com like IMA. I have heard that it is too crowded and too cumbersome, which at times, is true. However, the key to long-term web success is doing it long-term and doing it well over the long haul. The site has so much information (and timely quality data, not a scroll down circus of brochure babble) that a client or other interested party would be hard-pressed not to return often for more. And the beautiful thing is that, like McGuireWoods, e-mail newsletters will bring you timely reminders that there is much to learn from the Faegre squad. So many web developers and law firms have chased this firm’s online model for years, without catching them. Because, in the end, it is not really the web site itself that makes you great, it is the people doing the (legal) work and the marketing team getting it out for others to see. Many law firms try to find shortcuts for web success—buying online sponsorships, having others write materials for you, getting third-party content feeds—and wonder why they never catch up. The best thing IMA can say about Faegre.com is that I visit it often during the year for news and information, not just at review time.
Sometimes when surfing through the “250”, I hit a stretch where every firm web site seems better than the last. Which is what is happening on this April day. The design and colors work. The information is current and plentiful. The press room is excellent. I loved the search functionality. Spent some time in the “video vault”. Excellent office pages. There is an alumni site, extranets, the ability to customize the home page…loved the “get news” under “contacts”. Some sites just scream IMA Platinum. Rather than read my thoughts, surf through on your own. The site is totally classy.
Not the very prettiest, just one of the very best. Not a year goes by that a return to mofo.com does not yield something new for the end-user. This year, the firm offers up a “webinars” section to compliment everything else. And in the timeliness category, the home page points to a special handbook for victims of the California wildfires. And in the “fix what IMA criticized last year category”, the site has added the related content components to enhance the practice/industry (and other) pages. Never one to sit on their laurels, the mofo.com team is on the ball again. So many firms love to say how they are cool, different, diverse, with it, etc. (almost none of them are!!!)—MoFo is what so many firms claim to be. WILL ALWAYS LOVE…the firm’s marketing savvy, the outstanding home page, the MoFonics, Talk Radio, the overall site.
Bully for Bullivant! One of the only web sites that comes with a virtual “my assistant” to help me keep track of my comings and goings with the firm. This site has a plethora of outstanding pieces. The “other Bullivant sites” combine the same style and set up, with info for specifically-targeted audiences—recruiting, media, alumni, and extranets. You know things are set up well when you are trying to find something to complain about. Everything was current. And there are lots of areas to keep up to date. You have sites that are brochures, others for recruiting, and others that just try to provide a “presence” for a firm. The bullivant.com site does everything for every end-user…well!
The only way this IMA platinum site could have lost points is if (a) someone screwed up something that was working well; or (b) the updating team took an extended holiday. This version of H&H online was new last year, building on a history of being ahead of the technology and marketing games. Everything is where it needs to be, from strong sister sites to events and registration; from the latest and greatest to employment opportunities. If I wanted to nit-pick, a few areas like “offices” might offer a few more tidbits. HOWEVER…I have had a sneak peek at yet another new and improved version of H&H online, and they are sharpening the tools even more, and improving on the few shortcomings. I’ve added two intangible points for what most will see any day now.
Let’s tighten up the home page a bit. It is getting a little crowded. Start by replacing the bottom page disclaimer language with a nice, bold “DISCLAIMER” hyperlink to read all the legaleze. Overall, the disclaimer language, especially the state-by-state additions, are well done. I’m sure some of the protective devices are there because of the mixed audience that the site would attract (i.e. consumers). But, it seemed like a bit of overkill. But, why quibble? It is still one of the best in the biz, with a barrage of interactive features combined with loads of news, articles and seminars. Playing the Hung Jury game was a nice break from site reviewing. This lawyer does not even want to tell you how I scored on the con law quiz. Back to Bar Review, I guess. WILL ALWAYS LOVE…customization, handling of often-conflicting end-user audiences, loads of content.
Talk about going from the outhouse to the penthouse! The new Mintz site is perhaps the best out of Beantown. And it ranks among the elite IMAs, for sure. While the graphics are nothing special, the sum of the parts makes the web site a superb biz dev tool. The home page is a blend of tools and up-to-date content that definitely encourages repeat visits. The home page “locators” is a great tool for newbies. The left-side items are fresh and relevant. Love the rep clients pages. Excellent job in mixing in the affiliate businesses. I was looking for major shortcomings…and came up short. Excellent.
My biggest complaint about this IMA winner last year was the splash page. Gone. This site continues to be both informative and refreshing. There are all kinds of little touches (like the depth of background for some of the article links) that make the site special. One of the few remaining sites still offering news feeds (from NewsEdge). Excellent specialty sites (like the bankruptcy and other court filings site). Up to date, interactive and well maintained. It is not about the design, but the functionality.
Leave it to Arent Fox. The home page tells me that a new site is weeks away, incorporating an overall branding and marketing campaign. But, the site is still open for business. In other words, “pardon our dust.” It should say, “eat our dust”, as the incomplete site is still one of the best in the biz. I was actually thrilled to see that a new look was coming, just because it was time. These folks have never let up. The site is still loaded with focus sites, discussion forums and all kinds of things they were doing when other law firm web sites were still in diapers. Things are up to date, as they’ve been since I started looking at these sites in the late 90s. Remember the 90s?
HKLaw.com continues to be among the elite law firm web sites in 2004. The firm manages to balance information with a clean design and strong navigation and search functionality. There were a few hiccups on the career site, with some dead links and problems finding my way back home to the main site, but that is a minor quibble. I do miss the firm banner ads, though. The site, however, provides the necessary functionality and content for a diverse, global audience. WILL ALWAYS LOVE…the way pro bono and community activities are presented on sister sites.
