LEGAL PLANNER

ROLE

Contract UX/UI Designer, UX Researcher

TOOLS

Figma, Jira

DESCRIPTION

Legal Planner is an application used by legal professionals across New York State to streamline their case management processes. It allows them to organize case information, take notes, track deadlines, and manage documents all in one central location, enhancing overall efficiency.

AIM

To create an intuitive interface tailored to the unique needs of legal professionals.

TIMELINE

October 2023 - Feburary 2024

TARGETED USERS

Legal professionals

the problem statement

Lawyers face significant challenges in managing a high volume of cases. According to the American Bar Association, attorneys in certain practice areas, such as family law or criminal defense, manage an average of 50-100 active cases at any given time. This substantial workload causes legal professionals to experience stress and can lead to errors.

RESEARCH

What do the numbers tell us?

To better understand the users, I surveyed 20 attorneys living in New York State. According to my report, 78% of the participants feel that case management systems are outdated and would benefit from an innovative approach suitable for the 21st century. 64% acknowledged experiencing challenges in recalling critical case details while in court.

Do you feel that case management systems are outdated and would benefit from an update?

Have you ever had difficulty remembering essential details about cases in court?

What are the biggest challenges you have when
interacting with the current legal case management platform?

Bridging the Digital Divide for
Senior Attorneys

My research expanded to interviews, where I quickly discovered a significant problem: a sharp digital divide affecting senior attorneys, those aged 55 and older. These experienced lawyers struggle to shift from their traditional, paper-based filing systems to modern digital platforms. Mrs. Long, a 65 -year defense attorney, confessed to feeling insecure and overwhelmed by digital case management applications. This sentiment is not isolated to Mrs. Long; it is widespread, with many feeling like a burden when they need to contact IT support for help navigating digital tools.

The following empathy map explores senior lawyers' reluctance  to openly express their true feelings about the technological transition.

A legal case management app for attorneys, regardless of age

After interviewing 20 participants from various age groups, it became clear that the application needs to cater to all users. Below are user personas reflecting their frustrations and desires.

"I seek a legal case management system that's as straightforward as my traditional methods."

"I need a case management system that's dynamic and streamlines everything from note-taking to scheduling with  efficiency."

Pain Points

From my observations and interviews, I concluded the three pain points legal professionals have when using digital case management systems.

Pain Point #1

Adaptability Across Age Groups

Pain Point #2

Comprehensive Functionality with Simplified Workflow

Pain Point #3

Reliable Security with Transparent Practices

IDEATION

HYPOTHESIS

What might the solutions be?

Integrate note-taking tools

Flexible note-taking is a critical feature for users, as highlighted above. The ability to take notes directly within the case management system and associate them with specific cases or documents streamlines workflow. It reduces the risk of overlooking critical information.

calendar feature

A calendar feature would help legal professionals manage their time and responsibilities. It streamlines scheduling by consolidating court dates, meetings, and deadlines in one accessible location, minimizing the risk of conflicts.

ELectronic signature feature

Electronic signature features offer a significant advantage for lawyers by enabling secure, fast, and legally binding sign-offs on documents, directly from the Legal Planner application. This functionality reduces turnaround times for contracts, agreements, and other legal documents, eliminating the need for physical meetings or postal services.

PROTOTYPING LOW-FI WIREFRAME

Note-Taking Feature

Calendar Feature

Electronic Signature Screen

UI DESIGN

Typography

Design Components

ITERATION

add notes

add electronic signature

USER TESTING #1

Initial User Testing: Retention
& Engagement Assessment

During the initial user testing sessions, my primary goal was to evaluate the application's user retention. This involved analyzing the app's note-taking feature and electronic signature feature and the overall user experience. I conducted interviews and observed users to understand their initial impressions and thoughts when using the application for the first time.

Are you confused by any feature on the mobile app?
Average note taking time

120 seconds

Average Electronic Signature Time

400 seconds

How do you rate the friendliness of this app?
(very easy to navigate = 5 , easy to navigate = 4, neutral =3, hard to navigate = 2, very hard to navigate = 1)

3.5/5

ITERATION

Using User Testing to Improve Design

Over the course of my design process, I made numerous iterations, experimenting with, implementing, and discarding various features. To validate my assumptions, I conducted four user tests, including two A/B testing sessions, which yielded mixed results. As a result, I iterated through multiple wireframe versions, ultimately achieving significant improvements. Here, I'll outline some of the key enhancements made.

Incorporate instructions upon hovering over notes

During user testing, it became apparent that users were uncertain about how to add notes. To clarify this process, we introduced instructions for dragging and dropping notes. Now, when users hover over the notes, these instructions will help them comprehend the functionality of the feature.

Enlarging text and changing button

During user testing, it was observed that some users overlooked the option to electronically sign their voucher, attributed to the text's small size. Additionally, there was confusion regarding the function of an empty blue outline button. To enhance user experience, I increased the size of the text and transformed the blue outline button into a straightforward blue "Yes" button.

FINAL PRODUCT

USER TESTING

LATEST ITERATION TESTING

After iterations, user feedback showed a 65% increase in user satisfaction, a 58% decrease in the average time it takes for users to complete a note-taking task, and a 50% decrease in the average time it takes for users to complete an electronic signature.

How do you rate the friendliness of this app?
(very easy to navigate = 5 , easy to navigate = 4, neutral =3, hard to navigate = 2, very hard to navigate = 1)

4.5/5

Average note taking time

65 seconds

Average Electronic Signature Time

200 seconds

Improvement in User Satisfaction after 9 Iterations

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