Previously on this blog we took a look at Latham & Watkins’ Book of Jargon mobile apps which were the first glossary style mobile apps launched in the legal industry. L&W uses these apps to highlight a few of their key practice groups by increasing the circulation of glossary resources without increasing associated publishing costs.
While glossary apps will continue to be popular, the most prevalent type of apps we’ve seen launched by legal firms to date generally fall into the category of website driven apps. Most often these apps re-purpose content from a firm’s public facing website. The apps typically provide the firm’s clients with quick access to content like their publications, news releases, information on practice groups as well as a full lawyer directory all from their client’s mobile devices.
Below is the current list of law firm website apps we’ve found to date, listed by alphabetical order.
- Allen & Overy
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg
- Goulston Stors
- Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell
- Morrison Foerster
- Ogilvy Renault
- Paul Hastings
- Tory’s
Some people have questioned the need for these type of apps, arguing that clients are better served visiting the firm’s website to see the information. From a results perspective though, we’ve found that readers are frequenting apps far more than mobile websites. The apps have proven to create a much stronger opt-in relationship with readers as the average user has been found to return to the app at least once a week to see what new information has been posted by the firm.
Law firm websites have great content. The firm’s lawyers work hard to create new publications and blog posts and these website driven apps are beginning to serve as an interesting method for making sure that this content is reaching the right audience.