Over Two-Thirds of Americans (69%) Say They Would Use Online Legal Services to Save MoneyPORTLAND, OR (December 10, 2018) – Results from a new survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Your Lawyers Online show there is nearly universal agreement among Americans that legal fees today are extremely expensive, with over 9 in 10 (91 percent) agreeing, and they wish there were alternatives to traditional lawyers when dealing with small legal matters (82 percent).
More than two-thirds (69 percent) of American adults say they would be willing to use online legal services if it would save them money. Younger adults (76% of those age 18-54 vs. 65% of those age 55+), those who have lower household incomes (72% of those with total household income of less than $100k vs. 62% of those with $100k or more), and are parents (78% of those who are parents of children under 18 vs. 66% who are not) are more likely to say this.
The survey findings highlight the relevance of virtual law firms such as Your Lawyers Online, which replace traditional “fee-for-time” models with “fee-for-service” solutions that offer unbundled legal services to save users time and money—especially on small legal matters like reviewing legal documents or establishing a will.
“I really think virtual law firms like Your Lawyers Online represent the future of law in a digital age where Americans are seeking efficiency and value over cumbersome and costly traditions,” says Your Lawyers Online Founder & CEO Nicole Schaefer, a family law attorney and entrepreneur based in Portland, OR.
“There is this exclusive mystique around law that keeps people without a law degree feeling mystified by the process, which is why they usually end up paying so much for legal services. We are setting out to change that by making the process more accessible to everyone.” Additional highlights from the survey are below:
- Nearly Three-Quarters Would Use Online Legal Services: Around three-quarters of those between the ages of 18 and 44 (76 percent), those with household incomes between $50K and $99.9K (74 percent) as well as parents with children under 18 years old (78 percent) would use online legal services if it would save them money.
- Americans Want Alternatives to Lawyers: Nearly everyone with a household income of $50K to $74.9K (87 percent) wish there were alternatives to traditional lawyers when dealing with small legal matters (i.e. reviewing legal documents or establishing a will).
- Even Those With Higher Household Incomes Agree: Even those with household incomes of $100K agree that legal fees are extremely expensive (91 percent) and 79% say they wish there were an alternative to traditional lawyers when dealing with small legal matters.
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Your Lawyers Online from December 4-6, 2018 among 2,003 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Nicole Schaefer, Founder & CEO of Your Lawyers Online, at 971-288-1046. Your Lawyers Online offers automated, secured and affordable solutions, and can even double as a traditional law firm on an as-needed basis.
In addition, monthly memberships provide a 10 percent discount for all legal services booked through the site. For more information, visit https://yourlawyersonline.com/ ### About Your Lawyers OnlineYour Lawyers Online is a virtual law firm of online legal providers specializing in divorce, probate, business and animal law.
By eliminating the “fee for time” model and replacing it with a “fee for service” model, the site’s unbundled legal services save users time and money. The platform offers an automated, secure and affordable solution, and doubles as a traditional law firm on an as-needed basis. Your Lawyers Online currently offers up-to-date information and expertise in business law, animal law and family law, and a monthly membership that provides a 10 percent discount on all legal services booked through the site.
About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building a twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible.
