Comparative & Competitive Analysis

What is this?

A review of websites that are indirectly and directly in competition with our product.

The listed sites have similar processes or interface elements that are worth reviewing.

Goal

See how other sites solve similar problems and try not to reinvent the wheel 😊

National Lawyers Association

https://www.nla.org/ 

American Association for Justice

https://www.justice.org/ 

Super Lawyers

https://www.superlawyers.com/ 

Forbes Agency Council

https://forbesagencycouncil.com/ 

Best Lawyers

https://www.bestlawyers.com/ 

Description

A voluntary association of lawyers in the United States.

A nonprofit advocacy and lobbying organization for plaintiff's lawyers in the United States.

A rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

An invitation-only organization for owners and executives of public relations, media strategy, creative, and advertising agencies.

The oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.

Strengths

Navigation and Information Architecture (IA)

  • Clear indicators of where you are, what's here and where you can go
  • Navigation is easy to learn
  • Consistent navigation
  • The navigation system is broad and shallow
  • There is a convenient and obvious way to move between related pages and sections and it is easy to return to the home page.
  • Category labels accurately describe the information in the category.
  • Clear indicators of what's here and where you can go
  • Navigation is easy to learn
  • Consistent navigation
  • Clear indicators of where you are, what's here and where you can go
  • Navigation is easy to learn
  • Clear button and link labelings
  • There is a convenient and obvious way to move between related pages and sections and it is easy to return to the home page.
  • Category labels accurately describe the information in the category.

Page Layout and

Visual Design

  • Colors work well together and complicated backgrounds are avoided.
  • Colour is used to structure and group items on the page.
  • Good balance between information density and use of white space.
  • The functionality of buttons and controls is obvious from their labels or from their design.
  • The site has a consistent, clearly recognizable look and feel that will engage users.
  • Colour is used to structure and group items on the page.
  • The site has a consistent, clearly recognizable look and feel that will engage users.
  • Clear visual "starting point" to every page.
  • The layout helps focus attention on what to do next.
  • Layout helps focus attention on what to do next.
  • Good balance between information density and use of white space.
  • Colors work well together and complicated backgrounds are avoided.
  • The layout helps focus attention on what to do next.
  • Fonts are used consistently.
  • Each page on the site shares a consistent layout.
  • There is a good balance between information density and use of white space.
  • The site is pleasant to look at.

Search usability

  • The search interface is located where users will expect to find it (top right of page).
  • The search box is long enough to handle common query lengths.
  • The search interface is located where users will expect to find it (top right of page).
  • Search is forefront
  • The search engine handles empty queries gracefully.
  • The search box is long enough to handle common query lengths.
  • The site supports people who want to browse and people who want to search.
  • N/A
  • Search results are clear, useful and ranked by relevance.
  • The site supports people who want to browse and people who want to search.

Forms & Data Entry

  • Labels are close to the data entry fields
  • Ordered logically
  • Related fields are grouped
  • Clear labeling and buttons
  • The first field is focused
  • Labels are close to the data entry fields
  • N/A
  • Fields in data entry screens contain default values when appropriate and show the structure of the data and the field length.
  • Pull-down menus, radio buttons, and checkboxes are used in preference to text entry fields on forms (i.e. text entry fields are not overused).

Weaknesses

Navigation and Information Architecture (IA)

  • N/A
  • Header nav doesn’t indicate the location
  • Navigation can be hard to learn
  • The navigation system has many menu levels
  • N/A
  • N/A
  • Lack in navigational feedback (showing where you are in the site)
  • Navigation labels are somewhat confusing. Don’t contain “trigger words” that users will look for to achieve their goal

Page Layout and

Visual Design

  • The functionality of carousel buttons is not obvious from their labels or from their design.
  • Logo gets lost against header background color
  • Uppercase text is difficult to read
  • Hierarchy battle between color and fonts
  • Color usage is overpowering at times and lacks balance
  • Footer text hard to read
  • Things that are clickable are not obviously pressable.

Search usability

  • Searches cover the entire website, not a portion of it.
  • The search box is not long enough to handle various query lengths.
  • Directory lags and breaks
  • Directory form layout is confusing
  • N/A
  • N/A
  • Unable to search site content

Forms & Data Entry

  • Error message not noticeable at a glance
  • Style and placement is inconsistent
  • Directory
  • Too many input fields
  • Multi-column layouts
  • Forms
  • Lack of distinction between button colors (“Clear Search” should display different)
  • Error messages disappear
  • Don’t specify errors inline
  • Some inconsistent field label layout
  • N/A

Mobile friendly

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Key Features

  • Live Chat
  • Donate to the NLA
  • Membership video
  • Public directory and a Members-only directory
  • Advertisement in the directory
  • Pay for prominent listing in the directory
  • Predictive search and Google
  • Featured Legal Videos with transcript
  • Engaging Profile page
  • Contact form
  • Video
  • Map
  • Vetted attorneys answer state-specific questions about legal issues
  • Illustrated explanation of the selection process
  • Answers Profile - lawyers can showcase their expertise in their portfolio
  • Opportunities to increase visibility
  • Articles published by members
  • Clear view of benefits
  • Member testimonials
  • Helpful featured articles (link)
  • Broad search (Lawyers, Firms, Publications, Legal Insights, etc.)