It is rare that a site can still blow me away, but this one was one of the most enjoyable surfing experiences of the year. This 65-attorney Vancouver firm has taken the Internet to all new levels. It is colorful, unique, informative and edgy (sounds just like me). They have done something so many struggle with—dividing business services from personal services—and made it work. The resource center is outstanding. Recruiting in those parts is called “articling” and they do that well too. The media guide is another nice touch. When a firm tells me that a site was built in-house, I usually cringe. These people have their act together. Even the links site for the real estate group, bcrelinks.com, is a treat. The whole site is “nifty”. And they even have WI-FI in the reception area. If I ever get back to lovely Vancouver, I know where I can log on to the web.
Let’s see…you can win an IMA as clearly the best law firm web site in Australia (and rank in the tops worldwide), or you can be a runner-up in a competition run by vendors? More than three years ago, I visited the land down under to train what is now a vendor’s Internet marketing business. They barely knew a web site from a spider web, but like their business in the States, it was all about revenue from law firms. The IMAs are just about making law marketing (online) a better place for all. And without interference by commission-driven sales wonks. Not to mention the cardinal sin. They sell web sites and run a web site competition. Clayton Utz is still one of the best web sites going, and the updating and freshness has not ceased. The whole site is a mix of content, usability and good old-fashioned business development know-how. A few U.S. megafirms should start at the home page here and take a lesson. In any country, it is platinum.
Even without the firm’s www.elexica.com free legal resource site, Simmons & Simmons does a great job helping represent the UK in the global IMA category. The site does right by all audiences—from alumni to media, recruiting to clients, with little helpful user-friendly touches that make the experience a memorable one. There are plenty of elements for U.S. firms to swipe. And the Elexica site is a fantastic compliment to the firm’s web site, with content that goes beyond e-mail subscriptions and personalization (both great) and downloads right onto your Palm. Without question…jolly good!
Still an IMA favorite and one of the best law firm web sites from across the border. Osler leaves a lot of other Canada firms in the dust when it comes to crafty business development. At a recent law marketing conference, I saw a marketing director from Canada give a “branding” presentation that was like elementary school next to some of the things these people are doing. Make that Day Care. The home page (after you pick your language—French or English—is everything to everybody. Besides timely news, great alerts, and the infamous NorthSouth (oslernorthsouth.com), there is a quick survey to gage your experience. I even loved oslerstudent.com. They are also one of the few firms featuring an RSS Feed (as does U.S. IMA Platinum Miller Nash). Another great place to bookmark, if you like web sites, or you need that cross-border law firm.
Always up to date, with a home page that leads you to water and makes you drink. Law Firm Inc. Editor Monica Bay would love the “People” section, where non-lawyers count as people too (A recent article she penned discussed inclusion/exclusion of administrative personnel on law firm web sites). The site is a snapshot of web effectiveness, coordinating materials from seminars to bios in a way that will help the user. And they do it in French, English and Chinese. Of course, who does not want to practice law in Montreal? I’ve had many a late night turn into morning on the downtown streets. For me, the city means the Bar-B-Barn for Lunch, Moishe’s for a steak, Ben’s for a sandwich, and a quick sip or two of Perrier at Chez Parise. What a town.
