1750 H Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20006
P 202.756.2971 F 866.808.6585 hanoverresearch.com
Software and Mobile Applications for Law
Schools
In this report, Hanover Research examines common enterprise software and related
mobile applications utilized by universities and law schools. The report is divided into
two main sections. The first section discusses overall trends in mobile IT in higher
education and then examines major software solutions used in higher education that
also incorporate mobile application capabilities. The second section reviews mobile
applications developed specifically for law schools.
MARKET EVALUATION
SURVEYING
DATA ANALYSIS
BENCHMARKING
LITERATURE REVIEW
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Executive Summary
In this report, Hanover Research examines mobile applications and other software
utilization in higher education, including law schools.
In the first section, we briefly present an overview of current trends in higher
education regarding the development and use of mobile applications. We then discuss
major enterprise software such as enterprise management systems and engagement
and networking software that are used in higher education and by law schools.
Mobile applications for these software packages are identified, as are examples of law
schools that have implemented these technologies. It is worth noting that much of
our discussion of this topic is centered on technologies that are commonly used
across entire institutions, due to a relative lack of information pertaining specifically
to law schools and mobile applications.
The second section profiles several native and web applications for mobile devices
that have been implemented by law schools. Overall, these applications are quite
simple in nature, displaying or linking to information such as school news, events,
notifications, maps, social media, and student account portals.
Key Findings
 A review of literature on mobile IT in higher education confirms that
the markets for mobile device platforms and mobile applications are
highly segmented and rapidly changing, making it difficult to conclusively
identify overall trends and common practices regarding mobile technology in
higher education. Nevertheless, it is a certainty that mobile devices will
continue to play a major role in higher education. Surveys have found that 94
percent of college-bound high school students use a mobile device at least
once per week, and slightly more than half have viewed a university or
college’s website on a mobile device.
 Surveys of institutions show that a very large majority expects increases
in spending on “mobile-enablement” on campuses in the next three
years, with many institutions prioritizing mobile capabilities for their
institutions’ “primary web presence,” learning/course management services,
library catalog and other library services, and administrative/student data
services. However, despite acknowledgement of the importance of mobile
technology, many institutions are still waiting to develop and implement
it. Cost and time limitations, as well as the speed with which mobile
technology is changing, are major factors contributing to the slower adoption
of the technology.
 There are two major categories of mobile applications – native
applications that must be programmed for every mobile platform and are
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
2
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
typically associated with higher development costs; and mobile web
applications that generally can be used across all platforms and are more
economical to develop but are typically less sophisticated. This may contribute
to the finding that the most common content provided on mobile university
websites is news, events, directories, and maps – content that is relatively easy
to develop for the mobile format. Some observers have noted that institutions
are increasingly drawn to mobile web applications due to their compatibility
and affordability; however, a survey found that only approximately 15
percent of institutions have mobile versions of their website.
 Surveys of institutional mobile websites have also determined that
Blackboard applications, as well as open-source derivatives of MIT’s
mobile application code (such as Mobile Web OSP), are commonly used.
A large number of institutions also appear to develop apps in-house, although
this process is made easier by the availability of open-source applications and
may also involve collaboration with an institution’s existing enterprise
software vendor (as in the case with Loyola University and Blackboard).
SunGard recently introduced an open-source application development kit and
app sharing community in which 400 institutions have licensed their own
mobile application platform (Mobile Connection).
 Only three law schools could be identified that offer their own, standalone mobile applications - Harvard Law School, Brooklyn Law School, and
the University of Texas School of Law. These are relatively simple mobile web
and native applications that link to student account portals and textbook
vendors and can display upcoming events and news, law school directories,
campus maps, and videos and photos.
 The most interactive software and mobile applications used by law
schools and universities tend to fall into the category of learning
management systems (LMS) or communications/networking software
solutions. These software applications include web portals that integrate
academic content; systems that enable communications, engagement, and
networking through forums and surveys; and career management tools for
students to search for and apply to law firms. Several of the most prominent
enterprise software packages also offer mobile application solutions –
Blackboard, Datatel, SunGard, and The West Education Network (TWEN).
TWEN offers a mobile web version of the desktop interface, and is notable
for being linked with the Westlaw legal research tool. Blackboard offers two
native application solutions – Blackboard Mobile Learn and Blackboard
Mobile Central.
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
3
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Prominent Software Applications Used by Law Schools
In this section, we examine several prominent software packages that are commonly
used in higher education as well as law schools. This section also begins with an
overview of mobile applications in higher education. Overall, there appears to be a
dearth of secondary research and other sources that pertain to software and mobile
technology used by law schools in particular. However, in order to address our
member’s inquiry regarding this topic, we made an effort to narrow our research as
much as possible to law schools, pointing out example institutions that have
implemented the software solutions profiled in this report. In particular, the second
section of this report profiles several mobile applications that are specifically for law
schools.
Due to the relative lack of information specifically about law schools, much of the
information provided in this first section applies to software and mobile applications
that are often implemented across entire institutions. The most common software
solutions that resulted from our search generally fall under the category of learning
management systems (LMS). We also briefly discuss other software that is used by
institutions for communication and career management purposes such as Lotus
Notes and Symplicity.
Mobile IT Trends in Higher Education
Before examining several common software systems designed for higher education
and law schools that incorporate mobile technology, we first summarize several
reports and findings on the topic of mobile computing in higher education. In
general, it appears that there is a dearth of secondary research covering mobile
technology for law schools specifically. Therefore, the reports summarized here
pertain mostly to universities as a whole. Most of the sources cited here were
published by Educause, an organization focused on the use of information
technology in higher education.
Mobile technology is becoming more and more ubiquitous, particularly among young
people. A 2012 report, summarizing results from a survey of approximately 2,300
college-bound students, indicated that 94 percent of respondents had used a mobile
device at least once per week. In addition, the survey found that 52 percent of high
school students had viewed a university or college’s website on a mobile
device.1
Educause survey data reveal that institutions recognize that demand for mobile
technology on campuses is and will continue to be very high. Ninety percent of
higher education respondents “expect spending on mobile-enablement to
1
“The Mobile Browsing Behaviors and Expectations of College-Bound High School Students.” Noel-Levitz.
http://omniupdate.com/assets/whitepapers/pdfs/MobileExpectations.pdf
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
4
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
increase in the next three years.” 2 Among respondents, 35 percent expect high
demand for mobile IT in general communications, 20 percent expect high demand
for instruction, and 10 percent expect high demand in administration. 3 Among
institutions that have been working on mobile initiatives, 40 percent of institutions
report that they have enabled mobile IT for their “primary web presence,” 38
percent have implemented mobile IT for learning/course management
services, and 31 percent have done so for library catalog and other library
services. In contrast, mobile technology implementation for IT support services,
administrative services for student information, and student recruitment and
admissions are reported by approximately 21 to 23 percent of respondents.
Nevertheless, despite institutions’ expectations that mobile IT will increasingly be
used in higher education, there are still many institutions that are waiting to develop
and implement the technology. The same Educause survey data show that slightly
more than one-third of respondent institutions have not implemented mobile services
in the past year, or have spent money on mobile technology. 4 Perhaps not
surprisingly, cost and time appear to be major reasons mobile technology
development in on hold at many universities and colleges. In addition, the speed at
which mobile technology is evolving and the diversity of mobile devices and
platforms is cause for apprehension for many institutions.
Native Applications and Mobile Web Applications
The issues of cost and time are often related to the type of mobile application that is
being developed. According to Educause, the choice between developing native
applications and mobile web applications is often a first step in the decision
process. Native applications typically offer a “richer user experience” because they
can draw from phone features such as GPS and cameras, and do not rely as much on
the availability of an Internet connection. However, native applications need to be
developed for every mobile device platform in order to provide access to all users,
which present challenges given the highly segmented mobile market. Mobile web
apps, on the other hand, can be used on any nearly device with a web browser.
This means that the development process is likely going to be simpler and more
affordable compared to native app development. Furthermore, Educause states that
increasing sophistication in mobile web application technology is shrinking the gap in
user experience quality between the two types of applications. 5
A 2011 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education highlights the tradeoffs between
native applications and mobile web. Due to the resources that are typically needed to
“Mobile IT in Higher Education, 2011—Infographic.” Educause.
http://www.educause.edu/MobileITinHigherEducation
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 “7 Things You Should Know About Mobile App Development.” Educause.
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EST1102.pdf
2
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
5
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
develop native applications, observers have pointed out that a recent tendency toward
mobile web applications in higher education is a “natural trend” because it is typically
the easiest, most economical path. 6 Nevertheless, despite the benefits of mobile web
applications and observations of trends in that direction, it appears that institutions
with mobile websites are still a minority among all institutions as a whole. David
Olsen of West Virginia University, through a scan of nearly 2,000 institutions, found
that only 15 percent of institutions had mobile-specific websites as of June 2011,
although this represented a rapid increase from 9 percent in February 2011. 7
The relative ease of developing certain types of features for mobile web or native
applications is also apparent from the type of content that institutions typically
provide for mobile devices as of now. David Olson found that the four most
common types of content on higher education mobile websites are news,
events, directories, and maps, which are easier to implement in a mobile format. 8
Olson’s survey of institutional mobile websites also found that approximately 15
percent used a Blackboard solution, while 14 percent used derivatives of MIT’s open
source mobile application code such as Mobile Web OSP. The technology solution
used for a large portion of these websites could not be determined, although Olson
suggests that many institutions develop their own homegrown apps. 9
Open source applications, such as the MIT derivatives mentioned above, appear to
be an increasingly common solution for institutions that choose to develop their own
mobile technologies. Educause points out that some vendors provide tools for
developers to create a native app only once, and then modify the code for each
mobile platform. 10 This option is very similar to SunGard’s Mobile Connection
toolkit that is intended to help institutions create open-source apps that can be shared
and modified among a community of institutions. Mobile Connection is described
later in this section.
Overall, experts in mobile technology for higher education suggest that although
there is the native app versus mobile web dichotomy, institutions may end up
using both types of mobile technology depending on the purpose being served
and in order to appeal to the widest range of mobile users. 11 The inherent benefits of
native applications will likely appeal to users who want to use more advanced
features, whereas mobile web applications are arguably easier to develop and will
have the widest compatibility but also come with technical drawbacks.
Keller, J. “As Mobile Devices Multiply, Some Colleges Turn Away From Building Campus Apps.” The
Chronicle of Higher Education. June 27, 2011. http://chronicle.com/article/As-Mobile-DevicesMultiply/128060/
7 Keller, J. Op. cit.
8 “Results from Higher Ed Mobile Website Technical Survey.” Mobile in Higher Ed.
http://www.dmolsen.com/mobile-in-higher-ed/2011/02/01/results-from-higher-ed-mobile-website-techsurvey/
9 Ibid.
10 “7 Things You Should Know About Mobile App Development.” Op. cit. p.2.
11 Keller, J. Op. cit.
6
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
6
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
The distinction between native applications and mobile web applications is evident in
the following sections of this report. The University of Texas Law School, for
example, offers a mobile website for students, alumni, and prospective students,
whereas Harvard Law School offers a native application. It appears that enterprise
software vendors such as Blackboard and Datatel also typically offer native mobile
applications for institutions.
Learning Management and Administrative Systems
Here we discuss several of the most prominent software solutions that are used by
universities and law schools, which include Blackboard, Symplicity, Datatel, SunGard,
and The West Education Network (TWEN). With the rapid growth of mobile
computing during the previous half-decade, many of these software packages now
offer mobile application components or are available in mobile format entirely, as is
the case with TWEN, Blackboard, and Datatel.
These software programs serve a variety of purposes. Programs range from web
portals that integrate all academic content, to communications and networking tools
that offer forums and survey capabilities, to career management tools for students to
search for and apply to law firms. Learning management and administrative software
applications, such as Blackboard, TWEN, and Datatel, can be wholly integrated
within the law school classroom. These applications are capable of a significant
degree of interactivity between users.
To a lesser extent, IBM’s Lotus Notes is another software solution that facilitates
communication between students and staff by integrating e-mail, calendars, and social
networking programs in one place. Mobile applications for Lotus Notes are available.
Other prominent software programs, found to be used among a wide variety of law
schools, are Symplicity’s Law Community and Law Career Services Manager
software, which are primarily online engagement, networking, and career
management applications for law students. Mobile versions of these applications do
not seem to available out-of-the-box, although some synchronization with mobile
devices is possible.
The following are brief profiles of leading software solutions that are used by
universities and law schools, most of which offer mobile web applications or native
applications. Example law schools that use these technologies are identified when
possible.
TWEN
The TWEN academic portal service is used by many law schools nationwide and
offers a mobile application for several major mobile devices. According to Albany
Law School, which uses TWEN, the software behaves as “an online extension of the
law school classroom,” which the faculty can use to “post course materials, create
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
7
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
assignments that students can receive and submit, organize class forum discussions,
administer online quizzes, set up appointment times, [and] exchange e-mails with
students.” 12 The considerable advantage of this particular portal software is its direct
coordination with Westlaw, one of the primary legal research databases online
and a widely-used tool by law students. 13
The following page displays a screenshot of the TWEN course management page for
administrators. According to the TWEN administrator guidebook, the software
allows users to provide the following online: 14
 Document pages to distribute information to students, including links to text
files and Westlaw and WestlawNext content
 Forums and wiki pages to conduct in-depth online discussions
 Course assignments that students can receive and submit online
 Links to CALI (Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction) lessons that are
available to students
 Polls and live discussion sessions
 Practice quizzes
 Grade books, which let faculty distribute, grade, and manage course
assignments
 Sign-up sheets for appointments, paper topics, and other entries
“TWEN,” Instructional Technology, Information Technology Services. Albany Law School.
http://www.albanylaw.edu/sub.php?navigation_id=1219
13 “The West Education Network,” Westlaw.
https://lawschool.westlaw.com/shared/signon10.asp?path=%2ftwen%2fdefault.aspx
14 “Administrator’s Guide to TWEN.” p.5. Westlaw. List taken directly from source, with minor omissions.
http://lscontent.westlaw.com/images/content/documentation/2011/adminiguide2011.pdf
12
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
8
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Figure 1: TWEN Course Administrator Page
Source: Westlaw
Notably, Westlaw announced that as of this year, the TWEN portal is available
through a “mobile-friendly” website as well. Users can participate in forums, view
course material and grades, communicate with faculty or students, and engage in
other activities through their mobile browser. 15 Note that this is not a downloadable
mobile application, but rather a mobile web version of the TWEN online portal.
WestlawNext is a major legal research mobile application that is integrated with the
TWEN portal. 16 The application allows students to search for legal documents, add
notes and highlighting, create research folders, and e-mail documents. 17
Figure 2 presents a screenshot of the WestlawNext application for the iPhone,
Android, and Blackberry platforms.
“TWEN: Integrated with WestlawNext and Law School Exchange.” Westlaw.
http://store.westlaw.com/pdf/librarian/AALL/L-368952.pdf
16 “The West Education Network,” Westlaw. Op. cit.
17 “Go Mobile with Your Research.” Westlaw. http://store.westlaw.com/westlawnext/mobileipad/mobile/default.aspx
15
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
9
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Figure 2: Search and Research Folder Pages, WestlawNext Mobile
Application 18
Source: Westlaw
SunGard and Mobile Connection
SunGard Higher Education, which recently combined with Datatel to form
Ellucian, offers a multitude of software products for higher education institutions
that are related to student services, academics and retention, alumni relations, and
relationship management, as well as a number of operational and business-oriented
products. 19 Notably, SunGard recently partnered with Rhomobile, utilizing its
Rhodes open source framework to “enable institutions to develop and deploy secure
mobile applications across major mobile and smartphone devices more quickly and
with fewer resources than before.” 20 SunGard states that over 400 institutions have
licensed the mobile application development platform as of June 2011. 21
The new mobile application development platform, as marketed by SunGard, is
called Mobile Connection. Being open source, mobile applications created
through this platform can be shared across institutions and modified to fit
“Go Mobile with Your Research.” Westlaw. Op. cit.
“Solutions.” SunGard Higher Education. http://www.sungardhe.com/solutions/
20 “SunGard Higher Education Partners with Rhomobile to Accelerate Growth of Mobile in Higher
Education.” July, 11, 2011. SunGard.
http://www.sungardhe.com/news.aspx?id=2710&terms=mobile%20connection
21 Ibid.
18
19
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
10
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
each institution’s needs through Mobile Connections’ shared community “library”
of mobile application codes. 22 As part of the Mobile Connections framework, a set of
starter application components (“m-Apps”) are provided to help institutions develop
their own applications. The framework is designed so that applications only have to
be developed once but can still be used across all mobile platforms such as
iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry with only minor modifications to the code. 23
The applications can be used to receive data from SunGard’s Banner system or be
“[integrated] with other administrative systems, learning management
systems and data sources.” 24
Blackboard and Datatel
Blackboard and Datatel are other major providers of higher education online portal
software. Offering similar capabilities as TWEN, Blackboard and Datatel’s software
offer interactive options and the ability to retrieve and send assignments wirelessly. In
contrast to TWEN, which offers a mobile web version of its portal website,
Blackboard mobile native applications have been developed (Blackboard Mobile
Learn and Blackboard Mobile Central). The Mobile Learn application gives students
and faculty the ability to access their courses and grades, create content and comment
on blogs, and upload media. 25 The Mobile Central app features maps, transit, course
schedules, campus directories, news and events, library catalogs, and other functions.
Mobile Central is also available as a mobile web application that can be used on any
device regardless of platform. 26
The Blackboard system― used widely by universities at a variety of levels― can be
customized for individual law school courses. For instance, New York University
School of Law utilizes Blackboard as its portal to engage with students. 27 Although
lacking a direct connection with Westlaw’s legal research database, the portal allows
assignments to be posted by professors and teaching assistants, although the extent
of Blackboard’s utilization is determined by each individual professor. 28
Fordham University School of Law is an example of a law school that encourages
students to use the Blackboard mobile application to access the University’s
“SunGard Higher Education's Mobile Connection.” SunGard.
http://www.sungardhe.com/solutions.aspx?id=1304&terms=SunGard%20Mobile%20Connection%20Co
mmons
23 “SunGard Higher Education Partners with Rhomobile to Accelerate Growth of Mobile in Higher
Education.” Op. cit.
24 Ibid.
25 “Blackboard Mobile Learn,” Products. Blackboard Mobile.
http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Mobile/Products/Mobile-Learn.aspx
26 “Blackboard Mobile Central – Features and Functionality.” Blackboard.
http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Mobile/Products/Mobile-Central/Features.aspx#springboard
27 “Blackboard,” Help Desk., Technology. NYU Law.
http://www.law.nyu.edu/technology/helpdesk/blackboard/index.htm
28 Ibid.
22
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
11
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Blackboard system. 29 Loyola University of Chicago is another institution that
integrated Blackboard Mobile Learn into its existing Blackboard system and also
combined its own in-house mobile applications with Blackboard Learn, in
collaboration with Blackboard, to create a customized mobile application for the
University. 30 The following are screenshots of the homepage and Blackboard Learn
login pages of Loyola’s native application.
Figure 3: Loyola Native Mobile Application with Blackboard Learn 31
Source: Loyola University of Chicago/iTunes Preview
Datatel’s application has very similar capabilities compared to Blackboard, and
likewise offers a native mobile application for students and faculty. While
presented in a slightly different format, the application allows institutions to post
course and assignment information; allows students to organize their courses and
receive notifications; includes a directory of contacts; provides news, notifications,
“Free Blackboard Mobile App Now Available,” IT News. Fordham University School of Law.
http://law.fordham.edu/information-technology/21338.htm
30 Malisch, S. and Montes, B. “Loyola University: There’s an App for That.” Educause Quarterly.
http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/LoyolaUnive
rsityChicagoTheresa/225854
31 “iTunes Preview – Loyola.” ITunes. http://itunes.apple.com/app/loyola/id389224172?mt=8
29
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
12
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
and campus event information; integrates social networking tools; and includes a map
component. 32
Albany Law School is in the process of implementing Datatel’s ActiveCampus portal
application, as a part of its institution-wide portal update. Albany Law notes that this
upgrade has allowed the School to integrate the portal with existing Datatel products
such as WebAdvisor and Colleague, “ensuring single sign-on access to some of the
most commonly accessed academic and business processes.” 33
Other Software Applications
Symplicity offers two software products for law schools: Law Community and Law
CSM (Career Services Manager). Law Community is an online networking and
engagement tool that includes: an integrated law school directory; e-mail marketing
analysis capabilities; engagement tools such as forums and surveys; event
management; and student/alumni data and other data reporting tools. The software
can be synchronized with student information systems such as Sungard. 34
The Law CSM product has been implemented by over 200 law school career offices.
The software includes: student/alumni data management functionality; employer
CRM tools to build relationships with recruiters; a candidate interface where students
and alumni can create resumes, apply for jobs, and network with alumni mentors; that
can track interviews, clerkship evaluations, and career counseling sessions; an
employer interface for recruiting efforts; and data reporting and analysis tools. 35
It appears that there are no mobile versions of Law Community or Law CSM,
although Law CSM allows for limited synchronization with iPhone and Blackberry
devices for scheduling purposes. 36 Nevertheless, it appears that the University of
Pennsylvania worked with Symplicity to develop a mobile application version of the
University’s CSM system, PennLink, although this is not specific to the law school
but is campus-wide. 37
IBM’s Lotus Notes is an online tool that is used by organizations to integrate email, calendars, web feeds, and social tools, which can allow quick and easy online
“Higher Education Mobile,” Datatel. http://www.datatel.com/products/products_a-z/higher-educationmobile.cfm
33 “myAlbanyLaw (A Campus Portal Initiative Update),” February 16, 2011. Albany Law ITS.
http://albanylawits.wordpress.com/category/portal/
34 “Law Community.” Symplicity. http://symplicity.com/lawcommunity#lawcommunity-features
35 “Law CSM.” Symplicity. http://symplicity.com/career_services_manager_law#csm-features
36 “Law CSM Primary Features List.” Symplicity.
http://www.symplicity.com/career_services_manager_law#submenu.tab=csm-feature-outline
37 “U Penn Introduces NACELink Mobile Version to Link Students with Career Services,” News (January 20,
2012).
http://symplicity.com/news_item/_4/111/U_Penn_Introduces_NACElink_Mobile_Version_to_Link_St
udents_with_Career_Services
32
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
13
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
collaboration on projects and/or events. 38 The software is available for a variety of
desktop-based providers, like Windows and Mac OS X, while the Lotus Notes
Traveler and Lotus iNotes software are designed to allow e-mail, calendars, and
contacts to be synchronized on most mobile platforms. 39 Columbia Law School, in
particular, has promoted the synchronization of Lotus Notes on mobile devices. 40
Other Mobile Applications Promoted by Law Schools
Law schools, in addition to streamlining pre-existing software programs into mobile
formats, are encouraging students to utilize mobile applications developed by thirdparty companies. Law schools are promoting research-oriented applications in
particular as a critical tool for their students to use during study, although law schools
do not directly interact with these applications in order to engage with students.
In addition to mainstream tools like Westlaw, which can be integrated with law
school portal applications as mentioned previously, research providers like Fastcase,
widely used by law students for research, have already designed their own mobile
applications. 41 The Georgetown Law Library, for example, encourages students to
use Fastcase’s mobile application for quick legal research. 42
“Lotus Notes,” Software. IBM. http://www01.ibm.com/software/lotus/products/notes/features.html?S_CMP=rnav
39 “Lotus Notes Traveler.” IBM. http://www-01.ibm.com/software/lotus/products/notes/traveler.html
40 “Mobile Devices and Handhelds,” Columbia Law School.
http://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/info_tech/moble_devices
41 Fastcase (iPhone). http://www.fastcase.com/iphone/
42 “Mobile Apps for Legal Research.” Georgetown Law Library Blog.
http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/blog/index.cfm/2011/2/28/Mobile-Apps-for-Legal-Research
38
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
14
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Mobile Applications for Law Schools
In this section, we examine several mobile device applications used exclusively by law
schools. This section specifically details the standard capabilities of these applications,
their organization and basic operation, and the mobile devices for which these
applications are most commonly designed. Our research, which included a scan for
institutions that have implemented such software, resulted in the identification of
only several law schools that currently offer mobile applications specifically for law
students. This contrasts with institutions that offer mobile applications for the
general student population. Furthermore, it appears that law schools typically use
mobile applications that are developed by third-party companies or at least developed
in collaboration with third-parties. This section examines the utility of institutionspecific applications by comparing and contrasting their tool options and the overall
purpose they serve for their institution and the student body.
In order to fully assess the features of mobile applications for law schools, we
downloaded the applications featured in this report. Therefore, some information and
data presented in this report were gathered from the applications themselves, rather
than from institutional websites.
General Uses and Objectives
Smartphones are becoming the default devices for information consumption and
some law schools are taking advantage of this opportunity by introducing mobile
applications that relay valuable information on administrative and academic matters.
Very few law schools, however, have collaborated with developers to create their own
custom mobile device applications. Those that have, such as Harvard Law School and
Brooklyn Law School, are utilizing their applications in a variety of ways. The
following are some of the most prominent aspects of their mobile applications:









Integration with university e-mail and/or Twitter accounts
Student portals to course and assignment information
Alumni information
Admissions profiles and visitor information
Financial aid information
Upcoming events and news releases/updates
Lecture videos
Directories
Campus maps
Harvard Law School and Brooklyn Law School have highly-developed
applications available for students to download on their mobile devices. The
University of Texas School of Law provides a mobile web version of its site for
use with iPhone’s Safari browser but has not developed a native software application
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
15
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
for download. Students are encouraged to “add the UT Law web app” to their
iPhone/iTouch/iPad home screen by adding it as a bookmark. 43
Figure 4: Home Screen, UTLaw App
In the figure to the left, the home
screen for the UT Law mobile website
is shown. 44 The site is divided into
seven categories, although none of
these categories are directly related to
academic work. The most prominent
feature is the “My UT Law” link,
which allows the user to sign in to
their university account to access
information related to their classes.
The other features on the home screen
are related less to academic issues and
instead provide general information
and notices on Law School activities.
Notably, the site directly links to the
Law School’s Twitter account, which
provides additional information on the
Law School’s activities. 45
While the same mobile website could
be accessed on a tablet like an iPad or
a computer, the site is specifically
Source: UTLaw Mobile
designed for a handheld device’s
browser and therefore smartphones
would likely be the preferable technology to use. The website’s address is available on
the Law School’s website. 46
In contrast, Harvard Law School and Brooklyn Law School offer downloadable
mobile applications software, with some distinct differences between them. While
Harvard Law School’s application is multi-faceted for varying needs, Brooklyn
Law’s is almost entirely designed for prospective students. The home screens of
the two applications are perhaps the most telling indicators of the applications’
structure and formatting differences. The following page notes the differences in
objective and divergent uses of the applications. The Harvard Law application is
“UT Law iPhone Web App.” School of Law, The University of Texas.
http://www.utexas.edu/law/m/about.html
44 UTLaw Mobile. http://utexas.edu/law/m/
45 “On Twitter.” School of Law, The University of Texas. http://www.utexas.edu/law/m/#_twitter
46 “UT Law iPhone Web App,” Op. cit.
43
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
16
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
presented from its “More” tab, not the home screen, to indicate the full range of
options available through the application.
Figure 5: All Tabs, Harvard Law
School App
Source: Harvard Law School App
The
Harvard
Law
mobile
application, as seen on the left, offers
a wide range of interactive options for
prospective, current, and former law
students. 47 The application is available
for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry
and is developed by Mobile Roadie. 48
The exact tool offerings will be
discussed later in this report, but the
basic format of the application
demonstrates that it is integrated with
alumni social networks, faculty
contacts, course books, and the Law
School’s admissions office. A total of
11 tabs are available on the application,
including the home screen, which,
while not pictured here, has direct links
to the Law School’s social networking
feeds.
Notably, even this comparatively welldeveloped application lacks any
component that integrates the student’s
mobile device to classroom discussions
or lectures.
The application does, however, offer significant user interface. Students have the
ability to “favorite” pages they like, post comments on pages they access, and share
posted links through their Twitter and/or Facebook accounts through the
“Accounts” tab. According to Harvard Law’s website, “the ‘News’ tab provides easy
access to an RSS feed of HLS news stories, as well as a list of ‘Tweets’ that aggregates
30 different Twitter feeds from across Harvard and HLS. 49
The Harvard Law application also integrates two distinct interface options for
browsing content within each category featured in Figure 2. The first option is an
interactive flip-screen, or “flow,” in which icons representing different features are
displayed prominently on the screen one-by-one, and users can swipe the screen to
navigate from page to page. The second option is a more basic, panel listing of
“Harvard Law School App,” Mobile Roadie Apps. http://mobileroadie.com/apps/hls
Ibid.
49 Determined from the mobile application software.
47
48
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
17
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
features. The button for this interface option is labeled “List” in the top-right corner
of the application. The figure above is an example of the type of “list” format found
elsewhere in the application.
The Brooklyn Law School mobile
application, developed by Mobilaurus,
has the capability to offer a “narrated
walking tour of [their] campus” for
prospective students. 50 The application
is available for iPhone and Android
software, but does not appear to be
available for BlackBerry devices.
The application includes location
service capabilities, which allows the
user to trace their path through the
campus
and
surrounding
city.
Additional features, which can be seen
in the figure to the right, include
information on campus visits and other
admissions-specific activities. While less
interactive or complex than the Harvard
Law mobile application, Brooklyn
Law’s application includes audio links
for the campus tour, which could
hypothetically be utilized for recording
lectures and posting them in an
application for current students.
Figure 6: Brooklyn Law School’s
iPhone Application, “Programs” Tab
Source: Brooklyn Law School App
While the purpose of the Brooklyn Law
application does not align with the needs of current law students, it does serve as an
example of a workable iPhone or Android application format. The tab options
available could easily be redesigned for current students, and the application’s
interactive features, like the audio-tour of campus, could be utilized for lecture
recordings and guest speakers.
50
“Brooklyn Law School.” Application developed by Mobilaurus.. iTunes, Apple Inc.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brooklyn-law-school/id429663746?mt=8
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
18
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Common Application Functions
Social Media and Event Notices
Harvard Law and UT Law prominently integrate social networking features into their
mobile applications. On the Harvard Law main screen, two buttons appear in the
top-left and top-right corners, which connect the user to a feed of Harvard Law’s
most recent Twitter posts and a sign-in for the user to share the application’s links
directly through their Twitter and Facebook accounts. 51
The UT Law application, although actually a website formatted for mobile devices,
also directly links to the Law School’s Twitter feed. The Twitter feed posts all recent
information related to the School, although it should be noted that notices, upcoming
events, and the latest news related to the Law School can be directly viewed through
the application. The following two figures demonstrate the integration of mobile
applications with social media and the use of these applications to aggregate news and
event information for students.
Figure 7: “News” Tab,
Harvard Law School App
Harvard Law’s “News” tab has two
options, as the figure to the left
shows. On the top of the page, the
“Official” news button aggregates
internal postings for mobile users and
allows them to post comments online.
Each posting links to a screen which
reports the news briefly within the
application and then provides a link
to the longer story in the web
browser. Each of these postings is
posted directly by the Law School and
does not integrate non-law news.
In the second button labeled
“Tweets,” the Law School’s Twitter
account appears to be “re-tweeted”
information related to the Law
School, its law professors or guest
lecturers, and Harvard University, in
general.
Source: Harvard Law School App
51
Figures 5 and 6, below, demonstrate
the integration of news and events on
the UT Law mobile website. UT
“Harvard Law School App.” Op. Cit.
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
19
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Law’s mobile site lists “Latest News” and “Events,” although the interface is
essentially an extension of the list-style interface of the main menu, as indicated by
the image in Figure 1. In contrast to the more advanced interface of Harvard’s
application, posts on the “Recent News” page are simply links to stories on the
regular browser version of the UT Law website.
The “Upcoming Events” page is similarly designed, although it does not link to any
external webpages for further information. The “Events” tab appears to be updated
regularly by Law School administrators and list basic information about a variety of
events, including guest lecturers and major academic calendar dates applicable to
students and faculty. 52
One notable problem with UT Law’s interface is its navigation. In order to return to
the website’s main menu page, the “UTLaw…” tab at the top must be selected. The
browser’s “back” button, at the bottom of the screen, returns the user to the browser
homepage and exits the application interface entirely.
Figure 8: “Recent News” & “Events” on UTLaw Mobile
Source: UTLaw Mobile
52
UTLaw Mobile. Op. Cit.
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
20
HANOVER RESEARCH
Figure 9: “Videos” Tab,
Harvard Law School App (Android)
MAY 2012
A multimedia characteristic unique to
Harvard Law’s application is its
integration of video to promote events
and lectures and draw feedback from
the student body. In the Android
version of its application, seen on the
left, Harvard Law posts video content
of professors, guest lecturers, and
events relating to Harvard Law
students and alumni. 53
Users of the application can “like” or
post comments on each video and
select from a choice of recent videos or
only the most popular ones. It is worth
noting that the format of this
application for the newest iPhone
software is more user-friendly than the
application interface shown here.
Academics & Coursework
While none of the mobile applications
surveyed in this report directly connect
students to coursework or allow inSource: Harvard Law School App
class feedback, it is worth noting that
Harvard Law’s application directly links students to book publishers’ websites
so they can purchase books required for their courses. The tab for “Books,” as
seen in Figure 2, takes students to either a “flow” or “list” layout in which the student
can browse through a variety of books required by various courses, though a listing
organized by professor or course is unavailable. Each book’s image links to the
publisher’s website, whereby the user can purchase the book online. Faculty
information is also available in this application, but is less interactive as other features
and simply links to the professor’s informational page on the School’s website. 54
53
54
“Harvard Law School App.” Op. Cit.
Determined from the mobile application software.
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
21
HANOVER RESEARCH
MAY 2012
Project Evaluation Form
Hanover Research is committed to providing a work product that meets or exceeds
member expectations. In keeping with that goal, we would like to hear your opinions
regarding our reports. Feedback is critically important and serves as the strongest
mechanism by which we tailor our research to your organization. When you have had
a chance to evaluate this report, please take a moment to fill out the following
questionnaire.
http://www.hanoverresearch.com/evaluation/index.php
Caveat
The publisher and authors have used their best efforts in preparing this brief. The
publisher and authors make no representations or warranties with respect to the
accuracy or completeness of the contents of this brief and specifically disclaim any
implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. There are no warranties which
extend beyond the descriptions contained in this paragraph. No warranty may be
created or extended by representatives of Hanover Research or its marketing
materials. The accuracy and completeness of the information provided herein and
the opinions stated herein are not guaranteed or warranted to produce any particular
results, and the advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every
member. Neither the publisher nor the authors shall be liable for any loss of profit or
any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental,
consequential, or other damages. Moreover, Hanover Research is not engaged in
rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. Members requiring such
services are advised to consult an appropriate professional.
© 2012 Hanover Research – Law School Administration Practice
22