Abstract:
An automated system for providing legal matter updates can include a legal matter management application and a legal matter update service application. The legal matter management application can run on a mobile device and can be configured to organize legal matter data pertaining to legal proceedings. The legal matter update service application can be configured to identify and convey legal matter update messages about the legal proceedings from a legal business computing system to the legal matter management application. The legal matter update message can include one or more elements of legal matter data. 
     A method for potential clients and existing clients to communicate directly with a specific legal counsel can include a legal matter management application. The legal matter management application can be configured to provide specific information pertaining to that legal counsel, such as prior verdicts/settlements, legal advice, background information, and a contact element. Once a client or potential client avails themselves to the legal matter management application, the client or potential client permits direct communication with specific legal counsel and is not considered solicitation.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of client-attorney communication and, more particularly, to a method for client-attorney communication through a legal communications management mobile application. 
         [0002]    Clients are often frustrated by an inability to easily communicate with their attorney and by their lack of legal knowledge and information regarding the type of case for which they seek legal representation. Legal counsels often perform a great deal of work that clients are not aware of on a particular legal matter. From the attorney perspective, the client-attorney communication often requires significant administrative overhead on the part of the legal counsel and/or his staff. Coordinating meetings, collating documents, and disseminating information takes considerable time and resources. This often leaves clients feeling ignored or neglected, darkening their legal experience. 
         [0003]    A significant complication to client-attorney communications relates to State Bar rules established to minimize direct solicitation with potential clients. That is, most state bars impose restrictions on direct attorney-to-client communications until a relationship has been established. Further, state bar advertising rules minimize what attorneys are permitted to say when advertising their services to the public. Clients, conversely, are often reluctant to initiate communications with attorneys who are unfamiliar to them. Thus, both clients and legal counsels would benefit from a communication forum that would disseminate law firm information in a less hampered fashion, provided that a client or potential client gives explicit permission as required by state bar advertising rules. Such a forum would not be an open communication forum (which would be subject to anti-solicitation restrictions). 
         [0004]    The transition of many legal counsels/firms to electronic document systems and/or related case management software systems has not greatly improved client-attorney communication. The purpose of the technology is for legal counsel to more efficiently manage a client&#39;s matter within the law firm or law office, but this does not further the client-attorney communication relationship. The technology serves the legal counsel but not necessarily the client or potential client. For example, electronic files containing legal documents require that the client have a computing device with the appropriate viewing application and/or application version. Additionally, the client must have adequate bandwidth for file transfers. 
         [0005]    Email, social networking applications, and instant messaging are great tools for quick client-attorney communication. However, these tools require clients and/or potential clients to take time to go to each individual communication medium to communicate with their specific legal counsel, and may also require membership on the part of the legal counsel and the client, as well as additional time from the legal counsel or his staff. 
         [0006]    Updating existing clients on case status also requires significant time and expense from legal counsel and/or his staff. That is, notifying a client about the availability of a document or the occurrence of an event would require the legal counsel or staff member to halt a current activity and then generate and send the notification to the client via electronic mail, verbally through a telephone call, and/or through a postal service (i.e. USPS or Federal Express). While this is common practice, a large quantity of clients and/or notifications quickly adds up to a considerable amount of time and money. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    One aspect of the present invention can include an automated system for providing legal matter updates. Such a system can include a legal matter management application and a legal matter update service application. The legal matter management application can run on a mobile device and can be configured to organize legal matter data pertaining to legal proceedings. The legal matter update service application can be configured to identify and convey legal matter update messages about the legal proceedings from a legal business computing system to the legal matter management application. The legal matter update message can include one or more elements of legal matter data. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the present invention can include an automated method for providing legal matter updates. Such a method can begin with the detection of a predefined event within a legal business computing system by a legal matter update service. The predefined event can require an electronic communication to one or more designated legal clients. A legal matter update message can then be automatically generated for the predefined event. The legal matter update message can be conveyed to the legal matter management application running on a mobile device of each designated legal client. 
         [0009]    Yet another aspect of the present invention can include a computer program product that includes a computer readable storage medium having embedded computer usable program code. The computer usable program code configured to detect a predefined event within a legal business computing system. The predefined event can require an electronic communication to one or more designated legal clients. The computer usable program code can be configured to automatically generate a legal matter update message for the predefined event. Lastly, the computer usable program code can be configured to convey the legal matter update message to a legal matter management application running on a mobile device of each designated legal client. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system that automatically communicates legal matter update messages to clients of legal counsel in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a component diagram of a legal matter management application in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a collection of mobile device graphical user interfaces (GUIs) illustrating a sample implementation of the legal matter management application in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a collection of basic legal advice GUIs. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a collection of My Legal Matters GUIs. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The present invention discloses a solution that can automatically communicate update information regarding legal proceedings to clients of legal counsel. A legal matter update service application can detect update events within the legal business computing system of the legal counsel. For each update event, the legal matter update service application can generate a legal matter update message and convey the legal matter update message to a legal matter management application running on a mobile device of the associated client. The service application to mobile device communication channel can be a secure one, such as one employing public/private key encryption techniques. In one embodiment, the law firm can advertise new legal services to the mobile device users via the legal mobile application. In one contemplated embodiment, a set of different law firms and/or legal practitioners can utilize a common mobile device application, which is able to interactively provide clients and potential clients with firm-specific material. 
         [0016]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
         [0017]    Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0018]    A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0019]    Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
         [0020]    Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0021]    These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0022]    The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system  100  that automatically communicates legal matter update messages  175  to clients  105  of legal counsel  145  in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. In system  100 , a client  105  can utilize a legal matter management application  115  running on a mobile device  110  to view and/or perform response actions to legal matter update messages  175  received over a network  170  from a legal matter update service  140  monitoring events within the business computing system  135  of a legal counsel  145 . 
         [0024]    As used herein, the terms “client” and “legal counsel” are used to refer to both individual and corporate entities. That is, a client  105  can represent an individual person or entire organization, and a legal counsel  145  can represent a single practicing attorney, law team, or law firm. 
         [0025]    The business computing system  135  can represent the hardware and/or software components utilized by the legal counsel  145  to conduct business activities. The legal matter update service  140  can represent a software application capable of interacting with the business computing system  135  of the legal counsel  145  to generate and convey legal matter update messages  175  to the legal matter management application  115  of the client  105 . As shown in system  100 , the legal matter update service  140  can run as a component of the business computing system  135 . 
         [0026]    The legal matter update service  140  can be configured to monitor the business computing system  135  for the occurrence of specific events for which the legal counsel  145  desires to have legal matter update messages  175  automatically sent to the client  105 . Examples of such events can include, but are not limited to, a change of a case status within a case management software system, a newer version of an electronic document within a document management system, a new electronic document added to a document management system, a change to meeting data within a scheduling software application, and the like. Data regarding the configuration of the legal matter update service  140  by the legal counsel  145  can be stored within the business computing system  135 . 
         [0027]    It should be noted that the specific events for which the legal matter update service  140  monitors the business computing system  135  is dependent upon the composition of the business computing system  135  as well as the wishes of the legal counsel  145 . In one contemplated embodiment, potential updates to be sent to mobile devices  110  can require approval by legal counsel  145  or legal counsel staff before being conveyed. In another embodiment, the business computing system  135  and/or server  150  can establish a set of counsel  145  confirmable rules for disseminating messages  175  to mobile devices  110 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the legal matter update service  140  can operate external to the business computing system  135 , such as on legal matter server  150 . As such, the legal matter update service  140  can be configured to periodically poll the business computing system  135  over the network  170  to detect events requiring generation of legal matter update messages  175 . Additionally, event configuration made by the legal counsel  145  can be stored within the data store  155  in a corresponding counsel profile  160 . 
         [0029]    When an event occurs, the legal matter update service  140  can query the business computing system  135  for information necessary to generate the legal matter update message  175 , which can represent a textual note describing the event occurrence. For example, the detection of a change to the case status within the case management system can require the legal matter update service  140  to determine the clients  105  associated with the case. The legal matter update service  140  can then correlate the client  105  identification from the business computing system  135  with a set of client data  165  to determine where to send the legal matter update message  175 . 
         [0030]    The legal matter update service  140  can be provided to a set of different law firms for a fee. In one embodiment, the legal matter update service  140  can enable new law firms to communicate to new clients  105 . These new clients  105  can include mobile device  110  owners who have installed the legal matter management application  115 . Installation of the legal matter management application  115  can include agreed upon conditions, such as a condition that client  105  welcomes information from legal counsels  145  participating in the legal matter update service  140 . In one embodiment, restrictions can be optionally imposed, where clients  105  can constrain what type of information they would like to receive from a legal counsel  145 . 
         [0031]    The client data  165  can represent information collected about the client  105  that can affect operation of the legal matter update service  140  and/or the legal matter management application  115 . For example, the client data  165  can include items such as a unique identifier of the mobile device  110 , an email address, and an instant messaging (IM) identifier. 
         [0032]    The client data  165  can be stored in the data store  155  of a legal matter server  150 . The legal matter server  150  can represent the hardware and/or software required to support operation of the legal matter management application  115  and legal matter update service  140 . For example, legal matter update messages  175  can be stored in the data store  155  for future delivery when the mobile device  110  is not accessible over the network  170 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, the legal matter server  150  can operate from within the business computing system  135 . In such an embodiment, the functionality of the legal matter server  150  can be limited to the associated legal counsel  145 . 
         [0034]    In an alternate embodiment, the role of the legal matter server  150  can be expanded to include a directory service (not shown). The directory service can provide the legal matter management application  115  with the ability to search the counsel profiles  160 . A counsel profile  160  can include information about a legal counsel  145  such as office location, office hours, and area of expertise. The creation of a counsel profile  160  can be a requirement for utilizing the directory service  155 . 
         [0035]    In yet another contemplated embodiment, the directory service can be provided by a third-party computing system (not shown) capable of communicating with the legal matter management application  115  over the network  170 . As such, a legal counsel  145  would be required to register with the third-party directory service in order to have their information distributed to the legal matter management application  115 . 
         [0036]    Once generated, the legal matter update message  175  can be conveyed over the network to the legal matter management application  115  running on a mobile device  110  of the client  105 . The mobile device  110  can represent a variety of portable computing devices having a data store  120  and capable of running the legal matter management application  115  and communicating with other entities over a network  170 . Examples of the mobile device  110  can include, but are not limited to, a personal data assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a network-capable cell phone, a laptop computer, a portable multimedia player, and the like. Different client-side applications  115  can exist for different mobile device  110  platforms. 
         [0037]    As shown in system  100 , an example illustration of the mobile device  110  can include a display area  125  in which to present the graphical user interface (GUI)  130  of the legal matter management application  115 . Interactive elements of the GUI  130  can be selected by the client  105  utilizing the input mechanisms supported by the mobile device  110 , such as a touch screen or keyboard. 
         [0038]    The legal matter management application  115  can represent a software application designed to operate on the mobile device  110  (e.g., an iPHONE application) and can be configured to present the legal matter data  122  of the client  105  in an organized manner. The legal matter data  122  can be extracted from received legal matter update messages  175  and can be stored within a data store  120  of the mobile device  110 . Additionally, the legal matter data  122  can also include data supporting additional features of the legal matter management application  115  such as legal advice information. 
         [0039]    While the previous examples have focused on the scenario where the client  105  has an existing relationship with the legal counsel  145 , it is important to note that the legal matter management application  115  can also be of value to potential clients  105 . In one embodiment, the legal matter management application  115  can be branded for a specific legal counsel  145  to whom a potential client  105  wishes to contact. The legal matter management application  115  can then provide the potential client  105  with all available contact information for that legal counsel  145  in a compact and efficient format. Alternately, a potential client  105  can use the directory service, when available, to research a potential legal counsel  145 . 
         [0040]    It should be noted that the communication of legal matter update messages  175  can occur in one direction. That is, the legal matter update service  140  can be configured to only send legal matter update messages  175 , not receive, while the legal matter management application  115  can receive legal matter update messages  175 , not send. Any return communications by the client  105  to the legal counsel  145  can be made utilizing existing digital communication media supported by the mobile device  110 . 
         [0041]    For example, a client  105  can respond to a received legal matter update message  175  using an email application running on the mobile device  110 . The legal matter management application  115  can facilitate generation of the email message by launching the email application and providing addressing data. 
         [0042]    Network  170  can include any hardware/software/and firmware necessary to convey data encoded within carrier waves. Data can be contained within analog or digital signals and conveyed though data or voice channels. Network  170  can include local components and data pathways necessary for communications to be exchanged among computing device components and between integrated device components and peripheral devices. Network  170  can also include network equipment, such as routers, data lines, hubs, and intermediary servers which together form a data network, such as the Internet. Network  170  can also include circuit-based communication components and mobile communication components, such as telephony switches, modems, cellular communication towers, and the like. Network  170  can include line based and/or wireless communication pathways. 
         [0043]    As used herein, presented data stores  120  and  155  can be a physical or virtual storage space configured to store digital information. Data stores  120  and  155  can be physically implemented within any type of hardware including, but not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, a digitally encoded plastic memory, a holographic memory, or any other recording medium. Data stores  120  and  155  can be a stand-alone storage unit as well as a storage unit formed from a plurality of physical devices. Additionally, information can be stored within data stores  120  and  155  in a variety of manners. For example, information can be stored within a database structure or can be stored within one or more files of a file storage system, where each file may or may not be indexed for information searching purposes. Further, data stores  120  and/or  155  can utilize one or more encryption mechanisms to protect stored information from unauthorized access. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  is a component diagram of a legal matter management application  200  in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. Legal matter management application  200  can be utilized within the context of system  100  or any other system supporting the automatic provision of legal matter updates to mobile devices. 
         [0045]    It should be noted that the components illustrated within the legal matter management application  200  are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to be interpreted as an absolute implementation or limitation of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0046]    The legal matter management application  200  can include one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs)  205 , a legal matter update handler  210 , a communications interface  215 , and an optional directory service component  220 . 
         [0047]    A GUI  205  can represent the interaction mechanism by which a user can perform functions with and/or enter data into the legal matter management application  200 . Multiple GUIs  205  can exist, each presenting different data and/or functionality. The quantity of GUIs  205  and/or their configuration can depend upon the design and implementation of the legal matter management application  200 . 
         [0048]    The legal matter update handler  210  can represent the component of the legal matter management application  200  that process received legal matter update messages. For example, the legal matter update handler  210  can parse a legal matter update message to extract or identify keywords that can require interaction with additional programs installed upon the mobile device. Additional functions of the legal matter update handler  210  can include message authentication, sender verification, and message storage. 
         [0049]    The communications interface  215  can represent the component of the legal matter management application  200  that can establish use of the various communication media and/or software applications of the mobile device. For example, when a user selects an option from a GUI  205  to call the legal counsel, the communications interface  215  can activate the phone component of the mobile device and provide the phone component with the appropriate phone number to dial. 
         [0050]    The directory service component  220  can be an optional component configured to interface with a directory service to provide the user with information about one or more legal counsels. When the directory service is provided by a third-party entity, the function of the directory service component  220  can be incorporated into the communications interface  215 . That is, the communications interface  215  can coordinate the data exchange with the directory service. 
         [0051]    In one contemplated embodiment, steps can be taken that facilitate a delivery and installation of the legal matter application  115 ,  200 . For example, a characteristic icon can be presented on home pages of law firm Web sites, which indicates that the law firm participates in the legal matter update service. Clicking on the icon can initiate the download and installation process of application  115 ,  200  to a suitable mobile device  110 . In another embodiment, whenever a user provides a mobile phone number to legal counsel  145  as part of an engagement process, a text message can be conveyed to the mobile phone number that provides a link for installing the legal matter management application  115 ,  200  on the device  110 . In another embodiment, device-to-device communications (e.g., BLUETOOTH) can permit two different clients  105  to exchange data, which includes permitting one client  105  to pass the legal matter management application  115 ,  200  to another. In another embodiment, email messages sent from a business computing system  135  to a client  105  can include a link or option to receive legal matter update messages  175  via an installable legal matter management application  115 ,  200 . In all of the above scenarios, when the application  115 ,  200  is installed configuration options specific to the legal counsel  145  and type of client  105  matter being handled can be established. 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  is a collection  300  of mobile device  302  graphical user interfaces (GUIs) illustrating a sample implementation of the legal matter management application in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. The GUIs depicted in collection  300  can be utilized within the context of system  100  and/or the legal matter management application  200  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0053]    It should be appreciated that the GUIs presented in  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A, and  3 B are for illustrative purposes only, and that additional configurations and functionalities can be incorporated without diverging from this embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0054]    In collection  300 , a mobile device  302 , an iPHONE in this example, can provide access to the legal matter management application via a legal matter management application icon  309 . The mobile device  302  can include a display area  304  and an input mechanism  306 , which, in this example, are one-in-the-same. That is, the display area  304  of an iPHONE  302  can also be used as the input mechanism  306 , a touch screen. 
         [0055]    The legal matter management application icon  309  can be presented in addition to other program icons  308 , representing other software applications and/or services installed upon the mobile device  302 . Selection of the legal matter management application icon  309  using the input mechanism  306  to launch the legal matter management application, resulting in the display of the main menu  310 . 
         [0056]    The main menu  310  can present the user with high-level menu options  312 . As shown in this example, the menu options  312  of the main menu  310  can include a basic legal advice option, a “My Legal Matters” option, an option for useful legal links, a help menu option, and an exit application option. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 3A and 3B , each discussed below, can illustrate GUIs specific to the basic legal advice and “My Legal Matters” options  312  of the main menu  310 . Selection of the basic legal advice option  312  can present the user with GUIs  320  and  330  such as those shown in  FIG. 3A . Selection of the “My Legal Matters” option  312  can present the user with GUIs  340 ,  350 ,  360 , and  365  such as those shown in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0058]    Within the display area  304  of the mobile device  302 , Selection of the BACK button  316  can return the user to the main menu  310 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 3B  can represent a collection  315  of GUIs  320  and  330  that can be presented to the user after selection of the basic legal advice option  312  from the main menu  310 . The legal advice interface  320  can present the user with various legal topics  324 . Selection of a topic  325  can present additional subtopics  327 , when available. 
         [0060]    A BACK button  316  can also be presented to provide return navigation within the legal matter management application. The functionality of the BACK button  316  need not be incorporated into any specific interface, but can be a function of the overall legal matter management application. 
         [0061]    As shown in this example, the “Accident Law” topic  325  can be selected, as indicated by the shading, which can present the “Car Accident”, “Slip and Fall”, and “Dog Bite” subtopics  327 . Further, selection of the BACK button  316  can return the user to the main menu  310 . 
         [0062]    The selection of a subtopic  327  or topic  325 , in the case when no subtopics  327  exist, can result in presentation of the legal advice selection display  330 . The legal advice selection display  330  can present advice data  332  to the user for perusal. From the legal advice selection display  330 , the BACK button  316  can return the user to the legal advice interface  320 . 
         [0063]    As shown in this example, the advice data  332  can be text presented within legal advice selection display  330 . The advice data  332  can also include hyperlinks, images, playable audio and/or video, uniform resource locators (URLs), and the like. However, since the legal matter management application is designed to operate on a mobile device  302 , resource constraints such as memory space should be considered. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3B  can represent a collection  335  of GUIs  340 ,  350 ,  360 , and  365  that can be presented to the user after selection of the “My Legal Matters” option  312  from the main menu  310 . The legal matters interface  340  can present the user with various legal matter operations  342 . From the legal matters interface  340 , the BACK button  316  can return the user to the main menu  310 . 
         [0065]    The updates legal matter operation  342  can be of particular note within the legal matters interface  340 . When a user has received new legal matter update messages from a legal counsel, the legal matters interface  340  can draw attention to the updates legal matter operation  342  with a graphical indicator  346 . In this example, the graphical indicator  346  can be an exclamation point (!), and can also utilize visualizations that are unable to be captured within these Figures, such as color changes and animation effects. 
         [0066]    Additionally, the updates legal matter operation  342  can include a quantity indicator  348  to denote the quantity of legal matter update messages requiring the user&#39;s attention. The value of the quantity indicator  348  can change dynamically as new legal matter update messages are received and the user views the messages. 
         [0067]    Selection of the updates legal matter operation  342 , as indicated by the dotted line, can result in the presentation of the legal matters updates interface  360 . From the legal matters updates interface  360 , the BACK button  316  can return the user to the legal matters interface  340 . 
         [0068]    The legal matters updates interface  360  can present update listings  364  corresponding to the received legal matter update messages. The legal matters updates interface  360  can include view options  362 , by which presentation of the update listings  364  can be filtered. 
         [0069]    Selection of an update listing  364  can present the update data display  365 . From the update data display  365 , the BACK button  316  can return the user to the legal matters updates interface  360 . The update data display  365  can present the user with the message text  367  as well as one or more handling options  368 . The handling options  368  can be specific to the type of legal matter update message. 
         [0070]    For example, since the message text  367  shown refers to the scheduling of an appointment, the handling options  368  can include an “Add to Calendar” option. In the case of a message regarding document availability, the “Add to Calendar” handling option  368  can be omitted. 
         [0071]    Selection of the “Add to Calendar” handling option  368  can create an appointment for the date and time specified within the message text  367  within a calendar software application installed upon the mobile device  302 . Selection of the “Return Message” handling option  368  can provide the user with available electronic communication options supported by the mobile device  302  such as email. Activating a handling option  368  or selecting the BACK button  316  can return the user to the legal matters updates interface  360 . 
         [0072]    Within the legal matters interface  340 , some legal matter operations  342  can include related legal matter items  344 . As shown in this example, the “My Counsels” operation  342  can be selected, as indicated by the shading, which can present legal matter items  344  corresponding to the legal counsels from which the user receives legal matter update messages. 
         [0073]    Selection of a legal counsel  344 , as illustrated by the dashed arrow, from the legal matters interface  340  can result in the presentation of the counsel data display  350 . The counsel data display  350  can present information about the selected legal counsel, such as those data items contained within an associated counsel profile. Selection of the BACK button  316  while viewing the counsel data display  350  can return the user to the legal matters interface  340 . 
         [0074]    The information presented within the counsel data display  350  can be the same as obtained from utilizing the find legal counsel option  312  in the main menu  310 . In addition to general information, a rating  352  for the selected legal counsel can also be displayed. The rating  352  can represent a composite score based upon user feedback collected by the directory service. One or more contact options  355  can also be presented within the counsel data display  350 . Selection of a contact option  355  can activate the corresponding feature or software application of the mobile device  302 . 
         [0075]    The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.