AT Online continues to build in the right direction. The “look and feel” could be a little warmer, but the content is so much better than it once was. A little tinkering with the organization and structure would go a long way to taking you a step further.
Other firms are catching up to doing what A&P has done for a number of years—show off its own intellectual property through a well-structured web site. Especially what I refer to as the “high end” firms. We all know size does not matter. Not personally, mind you, but in general. The biggest firms may be getting a little smaller, but consolidation does not necessarily lead to a more impressive caseload. I love the use of “case files” to show current matters. And the “Communications Center” continues to be good. My biggest beef is with the scrolling on many pages. Practices should be set out more in a set of pages (with related content) rather than one long page.
When you have 3,000-plus lawyers, you’ve got to balance 3,000-plus opinions. Most of which would be self-serving and off-base, but that is another issue altogether. The firm continues to keep the web presence very simple. The navigation could be a little easier to maneuver. The bio section could be more powerful. The home page is too simplistic. And just in case you do not know that Baker is one of the world’s largest law firms, you probably would not get that feeling online. At the same time, they are following a trend of scaling back a little of what is offered via the Internet, while using the technology in some effective ways, highlighted by the numerous webinar offerings.
My favorite part is still the “billing” page. The site is essentially the same as last time, but loses a little steam where others have picked up. Practice pages are still decent. Not a lot stands out. Usability and organization could be strengthened. Time for some improvements.
While waltzing past the lovely sculpture garden outside the firm’s new digs at Duane Morris Plaza (or whatever they call it), CMO Ed Schechter warned me that there would be no new web site to review this year, but come back down the road. And be sure to stop and have lunch at the street level Duane Morris Luncheonette (or whatever they call it) when you are in the neighborhood. I have, and recommend the salads. I will say this—the web site is better than it looks at first glance. However, it needs to be replaced sometime soon. The marketing department needs to add head count (just kidding) in the form of a full-time web marketer—there is going to be so much stuff to put on the new site.
The content is good, but the layout and design leave a little to be desired. The home page was particularly crowded and did not entice. The left-side office locations listing are cumbersome. There was some outdated info that should be deleted (you do not need to archive everything…I often put expiration dates on some press releases). This is one of those sites where the data is there, but it needs to be overhauled.
What was once really solid is now just so-so…and truth be told, I was a little surprised to find the site still looking all 2000 like. Y2K is over, baby! That whizzing sound you hear are other firm web site developers zipping by in the fast lane. When the IMA stops by on his next cyber tour in 2008, I expect great things.
I had totally forgotten about wallpaper until now. Get rid of it. The overall site design and structure are fine. No need for a watermark online. The home page is a little noisy, but everything is decent. There is nothing embarrassing. For a site not using a cookie-cutter database, the ability to find, search and print are remarkably good. I liked having the PDF options for printing, but seeing the page in HTML.
You do not often see this – Michigan, New York, Canada, Florida…Poland. You can visit the US site, or the Polish one. I know what you are thinking. But, I will not give in to that easy of a politically incorrect remark. No way. On the home page, I did not immediately realize that the alert headlines changed on refresh. What I did not like about that was some alerts were very fresh and timely. The first set I saw were way too old to be an “alert” anymore. I still like the “hot points” newsletter. Not to mention the firm’s ability to keep them going quarter-after-quarter without fail. Good work.
Get this—if I read the three paragraphs of firm intro taking up most of the home page—I’d probably be the first. Ever hear of elevator speeches? Get one. There is plenty going on here, and lots of current stuff. If you were a general practice firm, you’d probably get cut a lot more slack, but the big labor and employment firms have the bar much higher here. The site appears stronger than last time around, and I still like Visatrax as a sister site dedicated to immigration issues.
