10 User-Centered Design Tips for Legal Tech UX

Want to create legal tech tools lawyers will actually use? Focus on user-centered design (UCD). Here's how:

1. Know your users
2. Simplify complex tasks
3. Design for accessibility
4. Create clear navigation
5. Make it mobile-friendly
6. Get user feedback
7. Present data clearly
8. Prioritize data security
9. Improve document management
10. Use AI carefully

UCD in legal tech leads to:

• Higher productivity
• Happier users
• Less training time
• Better client service

Company	UCD Approach	Impact
ROSS Intelligence	AI legal research	30% faster research
Kira Systems	AI contract review with explanations	Increased user trust
Apperio	User-friendly legal spend management	More users, less training
Josef Legal	Easy-to-use AI automation	Faster routine tasks

By putting lawyers first, legal tech companies can build tools that boost efficiency and drive innovation in the legal industry.

Related video from YouTube

Know Your Users

Building legal tech tools lawyers will actually use boils down to one thing: understanding your users. It's not just about demographics - it's about getting into their heads.

Here's how to do it:

1. Create user personas: Build fictional profiles based on real data. What's their job? What are their goals?

2. Talk to lawyers: Get the scoop straight from the source. What's bugging them about their current tools?

3. Analyze usage data: Which features are hot? Where are users getting stuck?

4. Send out surveys: Quick way to get feedback on specific ideas.

5. Watch lawyers work: You might spot needs they didn't even know they had.

Take Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. They nailed it when implementing Checkbox for automating internal ops. Why? They knew their users inside out.

"By understanding our users' needs, we successfully automated bank guarantee management and simple agreement drafting." - Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

And don't stop there. Keep updating your insights. The legal world moves fast, and so do user needs. Just look at Xero - they're always tweaking their Checkbox-powered NDA solution based on what users are saying.

Bottom line: Know your users, and you're halfway to building a tool they'll love.

2. Make Complex Tasks Easier

Legal tech should make your life easier, not harder. Here's how to simplify complex legal processes:

1. Break it down: Turn big tasks into bite-sized steps. Think of it like a recipe - one ingredient at a time.

2. Use checklists: They're like a roadmap for your tasks. You'll never miss a turn.

3. Go visual: Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Flowcharts can make complex processes crystal clear.

4. Automate documents: Let software handle the paperwork. It's faster and less prone to errors.

5. Smart scheduling: Use tech to keep your team in sync. No more double-bookings or missed appointments.

6. One-stop-shop: Keep all your legal info in one place. It's like having a digital filing cabinet at your fingertips.

7. Stay current: Regularly update your processes. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.

By focusing on these strategies, legal tech can make your job a whole lot easier. Take it from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners:

"By understanding our users' needs, we successfully automated bank guarantee management and simple agreement drafting."

They cracked the code by simplifying user needs. You can too.

3. Design for All Users

Legal tech tools need to work for everyone. Here's how to make your tools more accessible:

High-contrast colors: Use colors that pop. Aim for a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text.

Bigger buttons: Enlarge interactive elements. It helps users with motor issues.

Multiple input options: Include text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and keyboard navigation.

Descriptive tags: Use "alt" tags for images and clear HTML tags for forms. Screen readers need these.

Captions: Add English captions to audio and video.

Customization: Let users change font sizes and styles.

These steps make your tech usable by more people. It's not just good practice - it's often the law.

"Accessible solutions should be part of any legal tech development. Every user, regardless of disability, should interact without unnecessary barriers." - Haley Moss, Attorney

Accessibility helps everyone. A tool that's easy for someone with a disability is often easier for all users.

Real-world example: In 2019, Domino's Pizza lost a lawsuit because their website wasn't accessible to blind users. They had to update their site to comply with guidelines.

4. Create Clear Navigation

Legal tech tools often handle complex info. That's why clear navigation is crucial. It helps users find what they need fast.

Here's how to make your navigation user-friendly:

1. Keep it simple: Limit your main menu to 5-7 items.
2. Use clear labels: Say "Legal Document Review" instead of "Services".
3. Organize logically: Group related items. Put client pages under "Client Portal".
4. Add a search function: Make it visible and effective.
5. Use visual cues: Pair intuitive icons with text.
6. Consider mobile users: Ensure it works well on small screens.

"Website navigation is a small design element with an oversized responsibility." - Bigger Law Firm Magazine

Good navigation isn't just about looks. It's about helping users complete tasks efficiently. In 2022, 42% of people said they'd leave a website due to poor functionality.

To test your navigation:

1. Use card sorting: Ask users to organize your content.
2. Run user tests: Watch how people navigate your tool.
3. Check analytics: See how users move through your site.

Remember: Clear navigation = happy users = better results for your legal tech tool.

5. Make It Work on Mobile

Legal pros are always on the go. They need tech that keeps up. Mobile-friendly legal tech isn't a luxury—it's essential.

Why mobile matters:

• 60% of web traffic is mobile
• People check phones 80 times daily
• 53% bounce if a site takes over 3 seconds to load

Making legal tech mobile-friendly:

1. Responsive design

Your tool should fit any screen size.

2. Simple navigation

Use a bottom bar, not a hamburger menu.

3. Speed it up

Slow loads kill conversions. Optimize images, cut redirects.

4. Readable text

No zooming needed.

5. Thumb-friendly

Put key buttons where they're easy to tap.

6. Test on real devices

See how your tool actually works.

Real-world impact:

Company	Mobile Change	Result
BMW	AMP and PWA	Click-throughs up from 8% to 30%
Telefónica	70% faster load	31% more click-throughs

"Users spend most of their time on other apps. People prefer your app to work the same way as all the other apps they already know." - Jakob Nielsen, Usability Expert

sbb-itb-ea3f94f

6. Ask for User Feedback

Getting user feedback is crucial for improving legal tech. Here's how to do it effectively:

1. Mix up your methods

Don't stick to just one feedback channel. Use a variety:

• Post-task surveys
• One-on-one chats
• Website feedback forms
• Follow-up calls

2. Ask what matters

Focus on the important stuff:

• "How easy was our website to use? (1-10)"
• "What brought you to our site?"
• "Did you want to contact us but didn't? Why not?"

3. Don't wait

Get feedback early and often, not just at the end of a case.

4. Make it simple

Let users share their thoughts easily, anytime.

5. Show you're listening

Tell users how you've used their feedback.

Feedback Type	Use Case	Advantage
CSAT Survey	Post-task	Fast insights
NPS Survey	Regular	Loyalty check
Interviews	Milestones	Deep dive
Feedback Form	Always on	Constant input

Real-world example:

Hotjar uses a survey right after sign-ups. This helped them improve their payment process.

"It's a huge time investment—but it's the most important one we could make for Hotjar's long-term growth." - David Darmanin, Hotjar CEO

Here's the kicker: 96% of users won't speak up unless you ask. So, ask!

7. Present Data Clearly

Charts and graphs can make complex legal info easier to grasp. Here's how:

1. Pick the right chart

Chart	Use for
Bar	Comparing categories
Line	Showing trends over time
Pie	Parts of a whole (use sparingly)

2. Keep it simple

Cut the clutter. Focus on the key message.

3. Label clearly

Use short, clear labels for axes, data points, and legends.

4. Use color smartly

Highlight important data with color, but don't go overboard. Stick to a few colors and ensure good contrast.

5. Set the context

Introduce your visual before showing it. Tell readers what they're looking at and why it matters.

Real-world example:

Casetext, a legal research platform, made their "Copy with cite" feature better. They changed "Copied to clipboard" to just "Copied." This small change cut user confusion by 87.5% in two months.

"The best way to improve the clarity of the UI was to provide less information." - Jeff Zych, UX Designer at Casetext

Judges like visuals in legal docs. Joe Regalia, co-founder of Write.law, shares:

"One judge said: 'For Pete's sake, give me tables if there's data!'"

So, when you've got data, show it clearly. Your readers (and judges) will thank you.

8. Keep Data Safe and Private

Legal tech deals with sensitive info. So, data security? It's a big deal. Here's how to protect user data and build trust:

1. Encryption is key

Lock down data at rest and in transit. It's like a force field against snoops.

2. Beef up authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra security layer. It's like having a bouncer and a secret handshake.

3. Collect less data

Only grab what you need. Less data = less risk.

4. Give users the reins

Create a privacy dashboard. Let users manage their data easily.

5. Be crystal clear

Explain what data you collect and why. Keep it simple in your privacy policy.

6. Train your team

Regular security training helps avoid oops moments that lead to breaches.

7. Use legal-specific platforms

Pick software built for legal practices. It comes with security baked in.

Security Move	Why It's Smart
Encryption	Keeps data under wraps
MFA	Adds another security hurdle
Minimal data collection	Less to lose if things go south
User control	Builds trust
Clear privacy policy	No surprises for users
Security training	Humans are often the weak link
Legal-specific platforms	Tailored protection

Data breaches? They're expensive. In the U.S., they cost an average of $9.44 million. And that's not counting the hit to your reputation.

"Privacy isn't just a legal box to tick. It's how you build trust and keep users loyal in today's data-wary world." - Emily Lau, Author

9. Improve Document Management

Legal tech users drown in documents. Let's make it easier to find, organize, and use these files:

Centralize storage

Put everything in one cloud-based system. Users can access files from anywhere. Docketwise, for example, offers cloud storage that plays nice with case management tools.

Smart naming

Create a clear file naming system. Try this:

[Client] - [Matter] - [Document] - [Date]

Example: "Smith-Divorce-FinancialAffidavit-2023-05-15"

Logical folders

Organize files into folders that make sense. Here's a basic structure:

• Client Name
  • Matter Type
    • Pleadings
    • Correspondence
    • Evidence
    • Billing

Powerful search

Let users search by keywords, dates, and file types. It's a time-saver.

Version control

Track document changes and who made them. No more confusion about the latest version.

Automate creation

Use templates and data fields to speed up document generation. Many firms use this for standard contracts or court filings.

Digital signatures

Let clients sign electronically. It's faster and clients love it. Tools like DocuSign work with many legal document systems.

Train your team

The best system is useless if no one knows how to use it. Train staff and offer refresher courses.

10. Use AI Carefully

AI can boost legal tech UX, but it needs a smart approach. Here's how to add AI features that help users without overwhelming them:

Start small and focused

Pick one area where AI can make a big impact. Many firms start with legal research or document review. ROSS Intelligence's AI-powered legal research tool cuts research time by up to 30%.

Keep humans in control

Let users configure and validate AI results. Albert Patrashku, Head of Design at ClauseMatch, says:

"Considering that lawyers have a very low failure tolerance, the interface should give the user ample control to spot and correct the mistakes."

Show your work

Explain how the AI reached its conclusions. This builds trust with skeptical lawyers. Kira Systems highlights the specific text in contracts that its AI uses to make determinations.

Be upfront about limits

Tell users what the AI can and can't do. This sets realistic expectations and prevents frustration.

Prioritize data security

Use strong encryption and follow best practices for data handling. Many firms do security assessments before adopting new AI tools.

Train your team

Offer hands-on training so everyone knows how to use AI tools effectively and ethically.

Conclusion

User-centered design is a game-changer for legal tech. It's all about creating tools lawyers actually want to use. How? By putting users first.

Let's look at some companies nailing this approach:

Company	Approach	Impact
ROSS Intelligence	AI legal research for speed	30% faster research
Kira Systems	AI contract review with explanations	Users trust it more
Apperio	Easy-to-use legal spend management	More users, less training
Josef Legal	User-friendly AI automation	Speeds up routine tasks

These examples show real improvements in legal work.

What's next? Expect to see:

• Mobile-first design for on-the-go lawyers
• AI that explains its thinking
• Better ways to visualize complex legal info
• Tools that work together seamlessly

The key? Keep listening to users. As their needs change, so should the tech.

Nick Watson, Founder of Ruby Datum, sums it up:

"User experience is critical to the success and uptake of legal tech tools."

It's that simple. Build what lawyers need, and they'll use it.

Related posts

• Cross-Platform UI Design for Legal Tech: 6 Key Principles
• 9 Tips to Evaluate Legal Tech & Boost Efficiency
• Legal Design Thinking: Guide for Law Firms & Departments
• Legal Tech Integration: 10 Tips for Success