Web Pages for you and your small/solo firm
The Washington Young Lawyers Division Recently posted an article about maintaining a website (found at WYLD Link).
In today’s times, technology seems to change every day. A website that was considered technologically advanced ten-, five-, or even two-years ago may appear hopelessly out of date now. Here’s a quiz to help determine whether your law firm should re-design your website (especially, if it’s a solo/small firm). Although KABA is not a business, we managed to answer Y to 2 out of 10, one of which is not necessarily applicable (specifically #2, given we don’t do much business online such as retail stores).
1. Does updating the content on your website require the involvement of your technical staff or a third-party web vendor? Y N
A good CMS provides a simple interface that allows any trained staff member to update web content on a regular basis. If the question or answer did not make sense to you, your response is probably yes.
2. Do you manually collect customer information and then re-enter into a separate database? Y N
Up-to-date websites can allow you to collect and store clients’ and prospects’ information securely online, rather than using time and resources to enter the data into a separate database.
3. Is the logo on your site consistent with the rest of your marketing collateral and branded materials? Y N
Consistency is essential to projecting an image of professionalism and competency. Your website should always reflect your current branding.
4. Does your site house “dynamic” content; i.e. – does the information on it change on a regular basis? Y N
Your website is your virtual storefront. As such, it should be designed to give clients/prospects a reason to visit frequently.
5. Are you spending a lot of money for proprietary CMS that you don’t know how to use? Y N These systems might be a thing of the past, and there’s no reason why you should be beholden to a long-held technology vendor or an antiquated interface. Your small business may save a lot of money in the long run by implementing a new Content Management System (CMS) based on an open-source platform. Unlike proprietary software platforms, open-source software platforms are free, relatively easy to customize for a specific company’s needs, and supported by an extensive community of software developers.
6. Was your whole website built in Flash? Y N
This approach to website design is largely outdated. Flash sites are slow to load, less likely to be picked up by search engines, and won’t load at all on most smart phones and even on the iPad!
7. Does the majority of the text on your site appear as images instead of HTML? Y N
Image-based text is very time- and technology-intensive to update, meaning anytime you want to update your site you must devote time and financial resources to it. Even worse, images (as opposed to HTML) are a barrier to the all-important Search Engine Optimization.
8. Do clients/prospects often call to ask questions that could be answered by reading your website? Y N
Depending upon your answer, this could be a sign that your site is difficult to navigate and that your customers are unable to find the information that they need.
9. Is it important for your users to be able to access information on their smart phones or iPad, which is not possible with your current site? Y N More and more consumers rely on their phones to access the web. If your site is based in Flash or for other technological reasons, can’t resolve on customers’ phones or other gadgets, your website may be frustrating your customers. However, some business models don’t require smart phone accessibility.
10. Does your site look like it was built in 1996? Y N
Try to be honest with yourself. Better yet, ask a teenager. If you answered “yes” to three or more of these questions, it may be time to consider re-designing your website to better meet the needs of your customers – and take advantage of developments in the marketplace.
Latino/a Bar Association of Washington Annual Gala
Title: Latino/a Bar Association of Washington Annual Gala
Location: Seattle Waterfront Marriott, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA
Description: Featuring keynote speaker Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, organizer, and civil rights advocate.
The master of ceremonies will be WSBA Past-president Salvador A. Mungia.
Start Time: 05:30
Date: 2011-01-28
KCBA YLD Winter Gala
Title: KCBA YLD Winter Gala
Location: W Hotel, 1112 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101
Link out: Click here
Description: Join the King County Bar Association for its 6th Annual Winter Gala at the W Hotel.
Visit the KCBA Webite for Registration Details.
Date: 2011-01-21
25th Annual Goldmark Award Luncheon
Title: 25th Annual Goldmark Award Luncheon
Location: Red Lion Hotel 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Link out: Click here
Description: The King County Bar Association will receive the 25th Annual Charles A. Goldmark Distinguished Service Award at the Legal Foundation of Washington’s 2011 luncheon, Friday, February 25 at the Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue.
Please visit for www.legalfoundation.org for RSVP information.
Date: 2011-02-25
25th Annual Goldmark Award Luncheon
Title: 25th Annual Goldmark Award Luncheon
Location: 1415 5th Avenue, Seattle
Link out: Click here
Description: The King County Bar Association will receive the 25th Annual Charles A. Goldmark Distinguished Service Award at the Legal Foundation of Washington’s 2011 luncheon, Friday, February 25 at the Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue.
Please visit www. for RSVP information.
Date: 2011-02-25
KCBA YLD Winter Gala
Join the King County Bar Association for its 6th Annual Winter Gala at the W Hotel.
Visit the KCBA Webite for Registration Details.
City of Seattle Torts Attorney Application Due
Title: City of Seattle Torts Attorney Application Due
Location: City of Seattle
Link out: Click here
Description: Salary Range is $70,665 to $96,044 depending on experience, plus excellent benefits
The Torts Section defends the City in personal injury and property damage cases in an extraordinary range of litigation and has an opening for a litigator. Must be member of WA State Bar, have minimum of 3 years of civil or criminal litigation experience, and the ability to work independently and handle a variety of tasks simultaneously. Experience with complex litigation and trials are preferred. Excellent opportunity to take full responsibility for doing outstanding work.
Send Application for Employment (www.seattle.gov/law/forms), cover letter, resume and writing sample by January 21, 2011 to Joyce Ramsey, Seattle City Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 94769, Seattle, WA 98124-4769, or fax to 206-684-8284, or email to joyce.ramsey@seattle.gov. Refer to Job #1
Date: 2011-01-21
2011 NAPABA Western Regional Conference
Title: 2011 NAPABA Western Regional Conference
Location: Portland, Oregon
Link out: Click here
Description: The 2011 NAPABA Western Regional Conference will be held June 3-5, 2011 (Fri-Sun) in beautiful (and hopefully sunny) Portland, Oregon.
Start Date: 2011-06-03
End Date: 2011-06-05
Annual Banquet
Title: Annual Banquet
Location: 2100 5th Ave Seattle, WA 98121
Link out: Click here
Description: Join us for our annual banquet.
The Silent Auction will begin at 11:00 AM and the program begins at 12:00.
Date: 2011-02-17
Assistant City Attorney for the City of Seattle
Seattle City Attorney’s Office – Torts Division
Salary Range is $70,665 to $96,044 depending on experience, plus excellent benefits
The Torts Section defends the City in personal injury and property damage cases in an extraordinary range of litigation and has an opening for a litigator. Must be member of WA State Bar, have minimum of 3 years of civil or criminal litigation experience, and the ability to work independently and handle a variety of tasks simultaneously. Experience with complex litigation and trials are preferred. Excellent opportunity to take full responsibility for doing outstanding work.
Send Application for Employment (www.seattle.gov/law/forms), cover letter, resume and writing sample by January 21, 2011 to Joyce Ramsey, Seattle City Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 94769, Seattle, WA 98124-4769, or fax to 206-684-8284, or email to joyce.ramsey@seattle.gov. Refer to Job #1.