Foreguard
Date:
Jun 6, 2024
Clients:
Mariana Trench
Project Overview
The Mortgage Foreclosure Management System (MFMS) is a digital platform designed to streamline the foreclosure and post-foreclosure processes for legal firms and financial institutions. The primary goal was to digitize case management, automate document handling, and enhance workflow efficiency while ensuring legal compliance.
My Role
As a Senior UX Designer, I was responsible for conducting user research, defining UX strategy, creating wireframes and prototypes, and leading usability testing to refine the system.
User Research
Before designing the system, I conducted in-depth research to understand the needs of legal professionals managing foreclosures. This included:
Stakeholder interviews with attorneys, legal assistants, and administrators.
Surveys to identify pain points in current foreclosure case management.
Observational research to analyze workflows in legal firms.
Key Insights
Legal complexity: Users needed structured workflows to manage different legal requirements for each case.
High volume of documents: The platform needed robust document digitization, categorization, and retrieval functionalities.
Process tracking: A clear, step-by-step case status tracker was essential.
Role-based access: Different user roles required distinct permissions for security and efficiency.
Deadline management: Automated alerts and reminders were necessary to meet legal deadlines.
Competitive Analysis
I analyzed existing case management systems such as Clio, MyCase, and Black Knight Process Management to identify industry standards and areas for improvement.
Key Takeaways
Document automation improves efficiency but is often rigid in existing solutions.
Deadline tracking and notifications are critical for legal workflows.
Role-based permissions help manage data security in sensitive cases.
User-friendly dashboards enhance productivity.
UX Strategy & Information Architecture
Based on research insights, I structured the MFMS system to optimize usability and workflow efficiency.
User Flow
The user journey was mapped to ensure intuitive navigation and efficient task completion:
Case Creation – Users input essential case details and assign roles.
Document Digitization & Management – Paper documents are scanned, tagged, and categorized automatically.
Legal Process Automation – Users can generate, file, and track legal documents.
Deadline Management – System notifies users of pending legal actions.
Case Progress Tracking – A dashboard provides real-time updates on case status.
Information Architecture
To streamline information retrieval, the system was divided into:
Case Management (creating, updating, closing cases)
Document Management (uploading, scanning, generating documents)
Notifications & Deadlines (automated alerts and case status tracking)
User Roles & Permissions (administrator, attorney, legal assistant, supplier, etc.)
Reporting & Analytics (customizable case reports and billing)
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Using Figma, I developed low-fidelity wireframes to structure the interface and validate navigation before moving to high-fidelity designs.
Interactive Prototypes
I created clickable prototypes to simulate workflows for:
Case creation
Document scanning and categorization
Legal document automation
Case status updates and alerts
Usability tests were conducted to refine the designs based on user feedback.
Design System
To maintain consistency and accessibility, I established a design system that included:
Typography: Readable, professional fonts (e.g., Roboto, Inter).
Color Palette: A neutral and professional color scheme with blue accents for actionable elements.
Iconography: Simple, intuitive icons to guide users through tasks.
Button Hierarchy: Primary actions emphasized through color and size.
Accessibility Compliance: WCAG 2.1 standards for color contrast and keyboard navigation.
Usability Testing & Iterations
I conducted usability tests with legal professionals to refine the design. Key findings included:
Key Findings & Improvements
Enhanced Navigation – Simplified menu layout for faster access to cases.
Improved Document Tagging – Users requested auto-suggestions for document categories.
More Intuitive Status Updates – Added color-coded case stages for quick identification.
Final Outcomes & Learnings
The Mortgage Foreclosure Management System successfully: ✅ Streamlined the foreclosure process with automation.
✅ Improved efficiency by reducing document processing time.
✅ Enhanced user satisfaction with intuitive navigation and alerts.
Key Takeaways
This project reinforced the importance of user-centered design in legal technology. Understanding the complexities of legal workflows allowed me to craft a solution that balances usability with compliance.
