A private case-referral network for law firms

Crisp coaches law firms, and its members were already referring cases to one another in private Facebook groups. Crisp wanted something better, and called it Tinder for law firms. We designed Crisp Connect in three weeks and built it on Laravel: a firm posts a case, the platform suggests firms that fit, and the two connect when both say yes. It launched on schedule and within budget, and we have kept building it since.

Client: Crisp, a growth and coaching company for law firms
Built: Crisp Connect, a private web app where member firms refer cases to one another
Services: UI/UX design, web development, QA, project management
Stack: Laravel, Vue, Inertia, Twilio, Nova
Engagement: Since 2023: launch in 2024, then new features ever since

Results

3 weeks
From concept outline to final designs
300+
Automated tests in the codebase
3 years
Building and shipping since September 2023

Four potential law firm matches in Crisp Connect on a laptop, with contact details locked

What changed

Referrals out of Facebook and into their own network

In Facebook groups

On Crisp Connect

Where: In Facebook groupsPosts in Crisp’s private Facebook groups.; On Crisp ConnectA closed network open only to firms in Crisp’s coaching programs.
Finding a firm: In Facebook groupsWhoever happened to see the post and reply.; On Crisp ConnectFirms suggested by the case types they take and where they practice.
Privacy: In Facebook groupsCase details shared with the whole group.; On Crisp ConnectContact details stay locked until a referral is accepted.
Follow-up: In Facebook groupsThreads that were easy to miss.; On Crisp ConnectA countdown on every referral, with a text and an email when it is sent and when it is accepted.

How a referral works

From a posted case to two firms connected

Crisp Connect is open only to firms in Crisp’s coaching programs. Each referral runs on a clock, and the platform keeps both firms posted, so cases get answered instead of sitting in a thread.

Post a case
A referring firm enters the practice area, the type of case, where it is, a description, and, if it likes, an estimated value range.
Choose firms to send it to
The platform shows member firms that take that type of case in that area, one card at a time, with contact details locked. The referring firm marks each one interested or not.
The chosen firm gets the referral
A text and an email tell the firm it has a referral, and the case waits under Potential Cases with a countdown to respond.
Accept and connect
When the firm accepts, the referring firm gets a text and an email, contact details unlock, and the two connect on the platform.
Track it to the end
Every referral moves through unmatched, potential, matched, and successful, so each firm can see where its cases stand.

What we built

A referral network Crisp can run on its own

Crisp started with a one-page outline of how referrals should work. We turned it into wireframes, designs, and a working product, and refined the matching flow and its wording as the build showed what firms needed.

Matching
Suggestions by case type and location
Each firm’s profile lists the practice areas and case types it takes and where it practices, and the platform matches new cases against them.
Alerts
Texts, emails, and in-app notices
Twilio texts and emails reach a firm when it receives a referral and the referring firm when it is accepted, and every step lands in the app’s notifications.
Admin
A super admin for Crisp’s team
Laravel Nova gives Crisp’s team one place to manage member firms, cases, and matches, with little custom code to maintain.
Design
A light design system in Crisp’s brand
A small custom design system set the look and components, so the first release felt finished and new features fit in without a redesign.

Also in the app