One of the fun things about having a small firm is being able to say and highlight whatever it is you want. With a handful of lawyers, this site offers the kind of useful info that their clients might ask. The home page includes a business news feed, along with the firm’s own “what’s new” items. They try to fit in every component that you might find at a much larger firm, and so successfully. Trying to practice law and market the business is a tough go for the little guys and gals, but the Erbs show how it can be done.
Do I give them a zero for design, and high marks everywhere else? These guys revel in “all content-no design” as an unofficial slogan of sorts. The look, information and organization of this Indiana firm are indeed different. There was this image of bubbles chasing me around the page. I’m not sure what the point is, but it got me thinking--about what, I’m not sure—it is possible that I was hallucinating from looking at so many damn law firm web sites. However, I like different, and I like content.
Some states seem to care more about law firms than others. Ohio is getting there. And while it is the physical birthplace of the IMA himself, I’m sure that has little to do with it. The home page has pdf versions for those that prefer reading in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese or Japanese. My biggest concern is that the site appears more static in nature than it is. The front page is the downfall—make it breathe.
The sections, content and search functions were all above average. However, the design was anti-user. I found the patent/trademark bar interesting, but only figured out what it did on the second visit to the site. Combined with the newsbar, it was a little confusing. The site is an improvement over the old skgf.com site, and has some interesting pieces. They just need to be reorganized a little to encourage, rather than discourage, site stickiness.
When you send in a nomination for an IMA review, you do not get to make editorial changes! And threatening legal action when you do not win an IMA is just plain silly. Tsk-tsk. For shame, for shame. However, you have provided a great anecdote for the IMA Historical Archives. An IMA First!
