How Do Consumers Choose an Attorney? Many Turn to the Internet
Find Law Blog May 1, 2012 3:08 PM
We know that 37 percent of Americans have been to court, and that the most common U.S. consumer legal needs are will and estate planning, real estate transactions, and family law matters. But how do legal consumers choose their attorneys?
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that clients want an expert. According to a FindLaw study, 54 percent of respondents say they consider an attorney’s expertise in a particular field, and 29 percent of respondents say that expertise is the most important factor.
What are the other factors that legal consumers take into account?
This year, more consumers are relying on recommendations. Forty percent of respondents said that they consider recommendations from others when choosing an attorney, up from 37 percent last year.
Prospective clients also listen to their instincts, their wallets, and their voicemail when selecting counsel. An attorney’s fee matters to 38 percent of this year’s respondents, while 32 percent said that they needed to gain a sense of trust from the attorney. Almost one in every four respondents said that an attorney’s response time made a difference.
Legal consumers even pay attention to an attorney’s online presence. Three of the top 20 factors –attorney website ease of use, recommendations from online directory sites, and whether an attorney has been published — show that the Internet plays into a client’s decision.
How can you use this information to grow your practice? <READ MORE>