Since the last review, little has changed with the Cleary site, which is fine. It still looks and works great. They passed the “are you keeping it updated?” test. And the search function that was not working on review day in 2004 is doing the job. I still love the tasteful and creative design, using photos from the firm’s collection. I still love the multiple versions of bios, and the foreign language choices. Recruiting? Covered. Alumni? Covered. The site is conservative, yet smart. Creative without looking like every other site.
Not too hot. Not too cold. Just about right. Like a fine bowl of porridge, the DS site does a bunch of things well without overwhelming you. Easy to use and set out in a way that is helpful to the variety of end-users that stop by. Not enough firms have a good section for employment opportunities. DS does. Besides pushing applicants through the web site, it can lessen print classified costs and increase the quality of the applicant as well. Recently, I forced applicants at a firm to go through the web site to see the full job description. Someone actually called the firm and said they could not find it. It was thoughtful of him to eliminate himself from job consideration by telling us he could not use the Internet. But I digress. The “experience” section is also well-conceived. And the overall layout and content style are smooth. The search results still can be improved upon.
The home page makes good use of the real estate with five “live” pieces—a newsletter sign-up banner top right; “what’s new” and “publications”, as well as a “featured practice” and “featured attorney”. This outweighs relatively bland graphic design, whose minimal impact helps keep the page from getting too crowded. The bios are set out well and clean, with the options of a printer-friendly web page or a PDF (I like having both options), as well as the now-standard vCard download. I still do not like having the M-H Lawyers.com logo incorporated. It adds nothing. Many of the “events” have PDF downloads of the handouts, which is another sharp move. The office pages are also above-average. If you look top-right, you will see the option of enlarging the page font. Search results could be improved. The practice pages are strong. Overall, the site is well conceived and executed. Better than it might first appear to the eye. And the writing is nice web style and not long-winded print.
KD has kept its site up well. I still like that the colors and look of the page is a little different. The navigation bothered me a little this time around. However, the essential pieces are still working and in place. Another site with a little room for sharpening the edges.
I’m not sure that “preparing for your 50th anniversary” is what I would call news, but since IMA is off next year…congrats. And congrats on making sure you enter the second-half century with a quality web presence reflective of a large national firm. The abbreviated vs. full descriptions for attorneys and practices is always a good route to take. The library of publications and events is growing, and up to date. Focused and on-point.
There was a time that I was amazed how some firms that were representing online businesses did such a terrible job online themselves. That is not the case with Manatt, a firm I remember reading about in a case involving Match.com. Like the dating site, Manatt does a great job matching up their own intellectual property with visitors to the web site. They are still kings of content—with a truckload of worthy newsletters, white papers and alerts. Good use of representative matters and clients with bios and practice descriptions. And it did not hurt your score to have beefed up a previous shortcoming—with much improved contact and office info.
This site has so much to offer, but sometimes the download time was a little too much to bear. If you can get by that issue (and you should), you’ll find a firm in “active” mode—from live seminars to webinars, alerts to newsletters. A very strong home page paints a vivid picture. You can join the “insider”, but I was afraid Pat O’Brien would show up at my door (you know, that Hollywood insider show?). The jury is out on the bio displays. If the firm can, have morrismanning.com link to the site as well (if you own it or can get it). One little touch that I often point out to firms is including a nice PDF with office directions, as opposed to a Yahoo or Mapquest link. They offer both, but if I’m heading in their direction, I’ll print out the PDF for sure.
I like the interactive history of TP, but wondered if anyone ever would actually read it. I liked the summer associate photo albums, but wondered if that one summer got an offer—you were clearly hammered at that cocktail event, dude, and you know who you are! Hey, I jest. (Not really.) A good recruiting section. Still a disconnect between the office locations in “contact us” and the pages in “offices”—which means that either you did not listen to me. Or, my goodness, nobody is reading these reviews?!? Oh wait, the internal search engine is now there. And the home page is a definite site strength—you let me know who you are and what you do. It sounds simple, but so many firms flub it.
I have a confession to make. You are among the final five web site reviews of the 250 and I’m running out of gas. After a few sips of coffee, I was revived enough to surf through. The design is bright and cheery. Little usability touches add to the presence. There were a few sections that only offered “archives” instead of something current. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? I particularly liked the breakdown of practice groups, with some nice graphics. I wasn’t “in love” with the careers site, but I did not hate it either. Still a little room for improvement in some functionality and content, but the base is all in place.
Any firm that uses the tag line “Lawyers you’ll swear by. Not at” is okay in my book. Too many firms take themselves way too seriously. I’m not keen on the pop-ups. Keep everything on one web page. Not a lot for sale today at the Harris Beach Company Store, but loved the concept, as more and more firms look to re-sell IP (books, seminars, guides, etc.). This should not be mistaken with some law firm web sites that actually sell logoed mugs and shirts. Overall, the site is creative and resourceful—in the words of Mommy Dearest: “No more pop-ups!” It really is the only thing holding the site back.
