Case ConnectorCase StudyNicolle Koetzler

Challenges & Goals

Attorney referrals are still heavily driven by personal relationships, but the process itself often happens across multiple channels. As opportunities move between firms, it becomes difficult to keep everything organized, track progress, and maintain visibility into what’s happening.

The challenge was creating a platform that could bring structure to this process without disrupting the relationship-driven nature of the legal industry. Attorneys needed a simple way to discover opportunities, showcase their expertise, communicate with other firms, and stay informed throughout the referral process.

Lock screen showing Case Connector notifications. Stay connected to your cases, wherever you are: receive real-time updates on referrals, approvals, and case activity.

App Architecture

Case Connector architecture was built around the attorney referral workflow, creating a clear and intuitive structure for discovering cases, managing referrals, tracking progress, and handling payments within a single connected experience.

The structure was intentionally designed around the natural flow of attorney referrals. Research showed that attorneys follow a consistent process: building trust, evaluating opportunities, and managing ongoing referrals. The app was built to support those behaviors directly.

  • Sign Up
    • Home
      • My Profile
        • Profile Settings
          • Languages
          • Verifications
          • Video Introduction
          • Biography
          • Education
          • Experience
        • Account Settings
        • Dashboard
        • Logout
      • My Cases
        • Case Status
          • Chat
        • Payments
          • Dashboard
      • Dashboard
        • Cases in Progress
        • In Review
        • Payments
          • Withdrawal
        • Weekly/Monthly Summary
      • Home
        • My Network
        • Find Cases
          • Apply
          • Save
          • Case Overview
          • Ask Question/Chat
        • Notifications
        • My Cases
          • Listed Cases
          • Chat
        • Payments
          • Dashboard

Development Roadmap

Case Connector was organized into seven strategic phases. The roadmap was designed to prioritize foundational infrastructure first, followed by core user workflows, financial operations, and final product refinement.

Rather than attempting to launch a fully featured platform at once, development focused on delivering value incrementally while validating critical assumptions throughout the process.

  1. December 2025

    Phase 1: Foundation & Core Setup

    • Goal: Establish the technical foundation and core structure of the app.
    • Define app architecture (frontend, backend, database)
    • Repository and environment setup (dev / staging / prod)
    • Authentication system (Sign Up, Login and Logout)
    • Base UI components / design system
  2. 1st Half - January 2026

    Phase 2: Profile & Account Features

    • Goal: Enable users to build and manage their profiles.
    • My Profile (Profile settings, Account settings).
    • Profile fields (Biography, Languages, Education, Experience, Video Introduction).
    • Data saving and editing functionality.
    • Deliverable: Navigable app with functional authentication and core structure in place. Fully editable and functional user profiles.
  3. 2nd Half - January 2026

    Phase 3: Cases & Network (User Side)

    • Goal: Enable case discovery and interaction.
    • My Network
    • Find Cases: Case listings and Case overview
    • Actions: Apply and Save
    • Chat (initial version)
    • Listed Cases
    • Deliverable: Users can discover, save, apply to, and interact with cases.
  4. 1st Half - February 2026

    Phase 4: Dashboard & Case Status

    • Goal: Provide visibility into case progress and activity.
    • Main Dashboard: Cases in progress, In review and Weekly / Monthly summary.
    • My Cases.
    • Case status tracking.
    • Notifications implementation.
    • Deliverable: Functional dashboard with clear case status and summaries.
  5. 2nd Half - February 2026

    Phase 5: Payments & Withdrawals

    • Goal: Implement the financial flow of the app.
    • Payments dashboard.
    • Payment history.
    • Withdrawals (request + status).
    • Payment gateway integration.
    • Security & validation rules.
    • Deliverable: End-to-end payments and withdrawals.
  6. 1st Half - March 2026

    Phase 6: Refinement & UX Improvements

    • Goal: Improve usability, performance, and overall experience.
    • UX/UI refinements
    • Performance optimizations
    • Data saving and editing functionality.
    • Deliverable: A smoother, more polished app experience.
  7. 2nd Half - March 2026

    Phase 7: Final Testing & Launch Preparation

    • Goal: Prepare the app for launch.
    • End-to-end testing.
    • Bug fixes.
    • Security review.
    • Final UI adjustments.
    • Production deployment preparation.
    • Basic product documentation.
    • Deliverable: Launch-ready MVP.

Presentation:

Case Connector website hero: The Future of Attorney Referrals, with app screens, 184 matched referrals, 138+ attorneys, and partner firm logos.The Smartest Way to Exchange Cases: monetize overflow and get better leads. A Faster, Safer Referral Workflow designed for busy law firms.Tools That Eliminate Guesswork and Risk: four app screens showing the home feed, an attorney profile, a case overview and case management.Case Connector brand mark by Trial Lawyers University, and a banner: Trusted Connections. Your Professional Network, Upgraded.

Empathize UX Study

Attorneys posting cases (Case Posters): want to delegate cases and earn referral fees.

Attorneys bidding on cases (Case Bidders): want to acquire new clients and grow their caseload.

Persona 1

Case Poster

Refers cases out

“I need to delegate cases I can’t or shouldn’t take—and still know my client is in good hands.”

Goals

  • Delegate cases quickly and ethically
  • Earn referral fees with zero hassle
  • Make sure clients get quality representation
  • Work only with verified, trusted attorneys

Pain Points

  • Hard to find reliable attorneys to refer to
  • Unclear referral-fee ethics (ABA + state rules)
  • Slow, manual hand-offs over calls and email
  • No guarantee the client is followed up
  • No sense of what a fair referral fee is
  • Risk to the client relationship at hand-off

Solution Insights

  • Verified attorneys: bar license + ID check
  • Pre-approved, ethical fee guidelines
  • AI-suggested fees by case type
  • Ratings, reviews and track record
  • One clear flow: post, review bids, accept
  • Guided client hand-off with live updates

Persona 2

Case Bidder

Takes cases in

“I want quality cases that fit my practice—without paying for leads that go nowhere.”

Goals

  • Win new clients efficiently
  • Spend less per client than on ads
  • Find cases in their practice area and state
  • Compete under fair, transparent rules

Pain Points

  • High marketing costs (PPC, SEO, lead gen)
  • Low-quality leads from third-party vendors
  • Leads already shared with other firms
  • Incomplete case details, unclear value
  • Referral fees that feel arbitrary
  • Slow back-and-forth while good cases go fast

Solution Insights

  • Client details unlocked once a bid wins
  • Standardized case summaries
  • Uploads for reports, medical notes and photos
  • Open bidding: bidder count + time left
  • State-specific fee compliance built in
  • Real-time alerts and urgent-case flags

Market-Wide Problems the App Solves:

Market Problem:

  • Referral process is slow, informal, and unreliable
  • Ethical confusion around referral fees
  • High cost per lead
  • Low-quality or duplicated leads
  • Lack of trust between attorneys
  • Difficulty organizing delegation workflow
  • Fear of harming client relationship

Solution:

  • Centralized, transparent referral marketplace
  • Built-in compliance engine based on ABA rules
  • Bid-based model for case acquisition
  • Verified cases with documentation
  • Ratings, history, reviews, and identity verification
  • Dashboard with tracking + notifications
  • Secure, structured client-transition path