Legal Connect: A Scalable Web- Based Framework for legal practitioner Discovery and Record Governance

The digital era of today has made it easier and more accessible than ever before to find a quality lawyer; however, there are still many individuals who experience difficulty in finding a good lawyer due to the lack of a central authority to assist them in their search. This paper illustrates an online portal known as Legal Connect designed to allow users to find legal practitioners and maintain records. Users can search via Legal Connect for attorneys or other legal professionals based on location, expertise, and other criteria, while underlying systems provide for the safe and governed retention of records. The system is web-based using contemporary technology such as PHP and MySQL databases to allow for ease of use and greater efficiency in accessing data. The Legal Connect web-based service will not only be easier, faster, and more efficient for consumers as well as law offices than any other method of locating an attorney; in addition, it will provide an increased level of transparency throughout the process. Therefore, this case study will establish that a central authority enables the connection between attorneys and the general public, while also providing for a more effective method to maintain records.