What Do Millennials Think About Attorneys and Legal Services?

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In 2019, millennials are projected to surpass Baby Boomers as the U.S.’s largest living generation. The Pew Research Center anticipates the group will continue growing due to immigration and peak in 2036 at 76.2 million. Because of their size and influence, everyone wants to figure them out – and the legal trade is no different.

According to a recent ARAG® study, millennials are more likely than any other age group to believe that they’ll experience a legal issue within the next year – so being prepared for problems these clients might approach you with is key.

What Millennials Need from Attorneys

Here’s a list of the top ten things this generation thinks would most likely require an attorney’s services:

1. Felony charge
2. Divorce
3. Child support, custody or visitation issues
4. A child in legal trouble (juvenile legal matter)
5. Disputed will
6. Prenuptial agreement
7. Immigration or naturalization issue
8. Establishment of power of attorney
9. Criminal misdemeanor charge
10. Execution of an estate

Millennials may also need help identifying a need for your services outside of serious legal issues they haven’t considered yet.

Interestingly, traffic violations did not appear in the top ten for responses to the survey – even though this generation has been described as the “worst-behaved U.S. drivers”. Almost 90% of drivers in this age range admitted to having run red a light, ignored speed limits or texted while driving as part of a survey by AAA.

Other matters not appearing on millennials’ radar were things like identity theft, purchasing a home, landlord disputes and bankruptcy or debt concerns. However, with lives that are conducted mostly online – not always from their parents’ basement – and student loan debt that only continues to grow, this forward-thinking set may not be as ready as they think they are. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare for these matters is key for any attorney working with clients in this age group.

Communication is Key

Millennials’ preferences, habits and expectations are pushing industries to change the way they interact with consumers and clients. If the areas of law you practice aren’t named above (creation of wills and trusts, for example), consider providing additional education to millennials on the need for an attorney in certain situations. Host lunch and learns/webinars at local businesses or partner with others (e.g., realtors, doctors’ offices) and offer their clients educational materials to help show potential clients why they need to enlist your help.

Surprisingly, millennials are also willing to meet with attorneys in a lot of different ways, not just through a computer screen. Though seemingly glued to technology, they’re a group that also wants to meet with attorneys face-to-face and are eager to plan ahead to ensure peace of mind when it comes to legal concerns.

However, this generation is still more open to non-traditional communication methods:

• 1 in 3 millennials expect texting to be an option with attorneys
• 1 in 4 expect secure online messaging portals
• 1 in 5 expect to be able to talk with attorneys via video chat

Millennials also want to know what they’re getting for their money. And they’re more focused on budgeting and saving money than other generations. Before spending money on your services, this group will want to know exactly what is included. They need to see the value working with a professional can provide them and that their investment (of time and money) will pay off.

Find out more with this printable infographic from ARAG® legal insurance.

Sponosred By: ARAG