WisBar’s new Marketplace coming in September: A better way to order State Bar products and register for events

Aug. 17, 2011 – Advances in technology increase the pace of practice and client expectations, forcing lawyers to adapt or face extinction. The State Bar of Wisconsin also must adapt to technological change to meet members’ evolving expectations about how the State Bar delivers information, interacts with its members, and conducts its business.

Next month, the State Bar will relaunch WisBar’s Marketplace. This is the first of two phases that will improve how WisBar looks and functions. Phase one, planned for launch on Sept. 12, upgrades the current Marketplace, making it easier and faster to search for and purchase State Bar products and register for seminars and other events. Phase two, the launch of the balance of the reengineered website, is targeted for delivery in early 2012.

“It’s time to replace the antiquated technology currently used to operate WisBar’s Marketplace,” says State Bar Executive Director George Brown. “In Internet years, WisBar is an old house, and a fresh coat of paint can’t fix the cumbersome navigation and technical challenges members tell us they experience using the current site.”

Fewer clicks, better search

Like the current site, WisBar’s Marketplace is a “one-stop shop” for purchasing State Bar products or registering for events, including PINNACLE™ education programs, books, Books Unbound™, and forms. However, the new Marketplace moves WisBar to current Internet industry standards, which means your experience using the site is similar to other professional and retail websites.

“Intuitive tab navigation and improved search functionality will result in fewer clicks to find information about State Bar products and events, saving you valuable time,” says Brown. “Users will be able to control how broadly or narrowly they cast their search net to find solutions to their practice needs.” 

A more comprehensive search will make it easier to quickly search across all products and events from anywhere in the Marketplace. Currently, users must conduct multiple searches to locate products and events of interest, observes Brown. Users also will be able to limit their Marketplace search to a particular product category, topic, format, price range, or any combination of search criteria.

“As the State Bar renovates WisBar, it shares members’ concerns about privacy and security,” says Brown. “The new Marketplace meets industry e-commerce security standards, and it meets or exceeds all payment card industry compliance standards. Member input throughout the reengineering process drove the decisions that went into the site’s usability, functionality, and enhancements.”

Until the launch of phase two in early 2012, WisBar users will experience two different looks when using the site. The new Marketplace will have the updated look, while the balance of the site maintains the current design. During this transition, users will be able to easily move between the two parts of the site.

What’s next?

Phase two, targeted for early 2012, delivers the balance of WisBar. The new site will allow members to personalize their homepage, giving them greater control over what news and other information they receive and how they customize the site for faster access to the content they find of most value. In addition, the site will feature more efficient navigation and content organization, improved search capabilities, enhanced member-to-member profiles, and technologies that will facilitate greater lawyer-to-lawyer networking and collaboration.  

“WisBar’s new wiring and plumbing puts in place the infrastructure to build on our reputation of innovation and service,” says Brown, “and to deliver on our promise to you. Your Practice. Our Purpose.™”