Utah State Bar Launches findautahlawyer.org– Meh.
The Utah State Bar late last year launched a renewed effort to improve the visibility of its LegalMatch program as 
well as a search engine to help the public find a lawyer in Utah. The website, findautahlawyer.org, is a rebadged extension of the official Utah State Bar web site and matches its design and bland, subdued tones. I am not an art critic nor have credentials from the University of Chicago School of Art, but I can “call ‘em like I see ‘em” and the site does not speak to me like, say, this one or this one. The site essentially tells a visitor that a search for a lawyer can be initiated in one of four ways (not including the LegalMatch option). Why not present the four options in text boxes into which a visitor can immediately start typing? Or perhaps choose LegalMatch as the only option and incorporate all of the options into it. The simpler it is the more successful it will be. Eliminate any extra steps or pages to maneuver. Also, remove the state bar login boxes which tend to confuse visitors into thinking they need to login when they don’t. Remove all of the bar-related items cluttering the sides of the page– this site is supposed to be for the public, not for bar members. Lawyers know where the main bar site is and a simple logo button is sufficient to direct the public/lawyers to the main site.
I have been typically impressed with the work of the technical staff at the bar, however, this site leave much to be desired in simplicity, accessibility, and usability. It reads more like a legal brief than an public-friendly invitation to find a lawyer.
