🚀 Rocket Lawyer: Co-branded Partner Sites
Introduction
Overview
Adapting Rocket Lawyer's legal solutions to meet the unique needs of our partners, starting with Covéa.
My Role
Leading the initiative to develop co-branded partner sites.
Mission Alignment
Rocket Lawyer's Mission
Everyone deserves affordable and simple legal services.
Project's Contribution
Expanding Rocket Lawyer's reach in Europe and establishing a new revenue channel.
The Challenge
Users
- Existing: Individual consumer and company benefit legal services.
- New: Building for partners, starting with Covéa, an insurance holding company with 3 distinct brands serving 11.5 million members.
Pain Points Addressed
Providing partner customers with:- Digital Legal Documents
- eSigning
- 'Ask A Lawyer'
Solution
Overview
Developed a solution integrating Rocket Lawyer's services with partners. Focused on authentication, co-branding, customized pricing, and partner-exclusive content.
Features
Partner Authentication
OpenID Connect integration.
Custom Connector
For partner-specific integrations.
Partner Config API
Customizable settings and frontend brandability.
Reporting Capabilities
Enhanced events structure for partner-specific reporting.
Co-Branding and Partner-Specific Pricing
Customizable for each partner.
Partner-Exclusive Content
Tailored legal solutions and resources.
Technical Challenges
Authentication and Connector
Challenge: Developing a scalable partner authentication system.
Solution: OpenID Connect and custom connector for scalability.
Partner Config API
Challenge: Creating a system for flexible multi-brand controls.
Solution: Developed Partner Config API for customizable settings and brandability.
Reporting Capabilities
Challenge: Tracking partner usage and supporting usage-based billing.
Solution: Enhanced in-house user events framework for detailed reporting.
Product Walkthrough
Reflection and Key Decisions
Prioritization
Delivering a slim but impactful Minimum Lovable Product (MLP), prioritizing features that provided the most value to partners.
Building for Scale
Designed solutions with future scalability in mind, ensuring they could be adapted for additional partners and markets.
On-Time Delivery
Ensuring the project met crucial deadlines, including the first partner demo in June, leading to a successful contract signing.
Protecting the Team
Taking on tasks like documentation, meetings, and diagram creation from engineers, allowing them to focus.
Descoping as Needed
Pulled advanced reporting (did not scale for additional partners).
Collaboration and Execution
Cross-Functional Teams
Collaboration with engineering, design, marketing, and legal content teams.
Scope Management
Balancing rapid delivery with quality and scalability.
Resource Negotiation
Securing additional resources for ecommerce, reporting, and front-end development.
Outcomes
Traffic Increase
- Contributed to 16% of Rocket Lawyer's European traffic following launch.
Business Outcomes
- Increased online sign-ups and brand awareness for partners.
- Successful handoff to the newly created Enterprise team.
- New revenue stream.
Challenges
Rapid Project Ramp-Up
Hired in late April, with first partner demo in June leading to contract signing.
Time Zone Coordination
Working across San Francisco, UK (+8 hours), and France (+9 hours).
Partner Staff Vacation
Navigating Covéa's August vacation period.
Angular Upgrade
Necessary to improve site performance.
Lessons Learned
Collaboration and Leadership
My early days and late nights led to the project's success. A close, trusting relationship with my tech lead ensured we stayed on the same page.
Advocacy and Protection
Advocating for additional resources and protecting my team from extra work were crucial for staying focused and on schedule.
Building for Scale
Focusing on scalability, not just for a single customer, but for future partner integrations.
Release
"We are delighted to partner with Rocket Lawyer to provide new legal solutions to our 11.5 million clients."
"We gave Kevin an extremely complex and strategic partner project to tackle and he really knocked it out of the park. He quickly onboarded to the product development challenge, understood the breadth of the deliverables, and started to methodically chip away at them. His team was hyper-focused and motivated, thanks mostly to Kevin and his constant energy and attitude."