Digital accessibility is an important issue that all law firms need to be aware of. By making your website and other digital assets accessible to all, you can ensure that everyone has equal access to the information and services you provide.
This blog post will explore why making your firm’s digital content accessible is important and provide some tips on how you can get started.
Why Do Lawyers Need to Prioritize Digital Accessibility?
According to the latest research from Nielsen, the average U.S. adult spends more than 11 hours each day consuming media, with that number rising around the world.
One of your top priorities as a law firm should be reaching potential clients and customers where they are, and that means through digital channels like websites, email campaigns, social media posts, and mobile apps.
Unfortunately, some people don’t have equal access to these mediums because of their physical or cognitive abilities. This includes people who are blind or have low vision, blindness or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, deafness or hard-of-hearing, people with learning disabilities.
Low literacy, blind or have low vision, people with physical disabilities, and even college students in classrooms that rely on digital presentations.
Once you understand how many potential customers your law firm is missing out on when you don’t prioritize accessibility, it will be clear why this issue is so important.
Digital Accessibility Benefits for Law Firms
There are several benefits of digital accessibility for law firms beyond ensuring that all clients can access their services. By focusing on these issues early in the design process, every user will enjoy a much better experience than if they were left behind in favor of aesthetics or personal preference.
For example, whether you’re building your website or app using WordPress or another platform, you can take advantage of several plugins that will help ensure the content is accessible to all.
WordPress Accessibility Plugins, several free WordPress plugins can automatically check your website’s code for issues and tell you if anything needs to be fixed. This ensures that your website is always compliant with web standards.
A plugin like Color Contrast Analyzer, for example, will highlight any potential color contrast issues so they can be addressed before users with visual disabilities try to access your site or app. The video below provides an overview of the plugin’s features:
You can also use tools like Google Analytics to track real-time analytics about how users are using your site so you can make improvements where necessary.
Another WordPress plugin, Accessibility Team, can better communicate with your clients about their needs and provide regular updates on the progress being made toward making accessibility a priority.
Accessibility is also important when it comes to mobile apps. A new study from Nielsen found that more than 80% of Americans now own smartphones, and that number continues to grow every day.
However, not everyone can enjoy these benefits. For example, advanced technology has allowed individuals who are blind or have low vision to use smartphones in ways that weren’t possible even a few years ago. They still face some significant challenges when it comes to accessing mobile apps.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance found that many popular mobile apps are completely inaccessible to people with sight loss.
Taking steps like adding alternative text to your images and including alt tags on your buttons can greatly impact users of all abilities.
Remember, not everyone owns the latest smartphone or has access to Wi-Fi 24/7, so they may be using apps you’ve created on slower networks and older devices that don’t have as much functionality as today’s top-of-the-line models.
That’s why it’s important to test how these features perform across various devices and browsers.
Don’t forget about email campaigns as well. There are some easy ways to ensure those messages aren’t falling on deaf ears, such as using links instead of buttons, which is one of the most common mistakes brands make.
In the meantime, have a review of your business’s website and app from an accessibility standpoint with a “digital disability lens” to address any issues you find early on in the planning stages.
There are several benefits digital accessibility can offer a law firm, from saving time and money to better serving their clients.
Does CCPA apply to law firms?
Not very likely. The majority of law firms are not required to follow this legislation. Unlike other privacy legislation, the CCPA was written so that only a limited number of firms are required to follow it.
What does digital accessibility mean?
Digit accessibility means that websites are designed to be usable by people with disabilities. You’ve already done lots of work by having this website use clean, large fonts and high-contrast colors in their design.
Does SEO work for law firms?
Yes, SEO can work for law firms. Law firms have a few unique considerations that make SEO an especially effective strategy.
What are the CCPA requirements?
The CCPA also demands that businesses have privacy policies that address consumers’ rights and how to exercise them, including the Right to Know, the Right to Remove Content, the Right to Opt-Out of a Sale, and the Right to Non-Discrimination.
What is a digital accessibility policy?
A digital accessibility policy is a document that outlines how your organization will make digital content accessible to people with disabilities.
It can include how you will test and design your content, how you will train employees, and what tools and technologies you will use. A digital accessibility policy is an important step in creating an inclusive organization.
What is digital accessibility testing?
Digital accessibility testing is the process of verifying that a digital product or service meets accessibility requirements. The goal of digital accessibility testing is to ensure that people with disabilities can use the product or service as intended.
Do law firms use Google Docs?
Law firms often use cloud-based applications to serve their clients better and save time. Google Docs is one of these tools that users can use with various devices, including tablets and phones, meaning they can make changes remotely; it also synchronizes every document across all devices.
Conclusion:
Making your law firm accessible to all clients, regardless of their ability level, is the right thing to do and offers several benefits. By prioritizing accessibility, you can save time and money, better serve your clients, and even make your firm more competitive.
There are many ways to make your law firm more accessible, from making sure all documents are available in alternate formats to ensuring that all tech tools are fully compliant. If you’re looking for more tips or want help making your firm more inclusive, contact us – we’d be happy to help!
