Lawyers and Law

Many people would benefit from legal service about once a year. Regrettably, many people don’t ask for legal guidance when these situations occur.

In 2001-2002 the American Bar Association commissioned a study on the public perceptions of lawyers to be conducted by Leo J. Shapior & Associates. This survey resulted in some interesting conclusions that can help us grasp the reasons for the unwillingness of the typical person to get legal assistance.

The study found that most Americans think lawyers are capable of navigating through the complicated legal system and most of those who had experience with lawyers were satisfied with the help they received. However, lots of Americans also believe lawyers can be materialistic, even crooked. Americans do not feel at ease with the associations lawyers have with politicians, the courts, and big business. They also believe that the legal profession is not self policing.

Many Americans feel hesitant to use lawyers since they sense they can’t tell a high-quality lawyer from an inferior one. And, many people are vague about exactly what a lawyer can do for them or the price of that service.

Because of these perceptions and uncertainties lots of people who would benefit from a lawyer don’t contact one. The Shapior research discovered that roughly 70% of households in any given year face a problem for which communication with a lawyer would be helpful. However, most people stated they still wouldn’t make use of a lawyer.

Compare this to visiting your family general practitioner. If you have medical insurance, as soon as you or your children become ill you don’t hesitate to see your doctor. If you have several children, you might visit your physician’s office 5 or 10 times in a single year. You are familiar with your physician, the office, and possibly even members of the nursing staff. You’ve seen your doctor work with your children and appreciate the care that he or she has for you and your family’s wellbeing.

Compare your visits to your doctor with meeting with a lawyer. You likely have never been to a lawyer’s office. Perhaps you’ve looked through the phone book and still don’t have the slightest idea which lawyer would be most effective for you. Furthermore, to top it off, you don’t possess legal insurance that will pay for a lot of of the cost of your office visit. No wonder you are reluctant to make use of a lawyer.

It seems obvious that the common citizen is unfamiliar with individual lawyers. Watching Boston Legal, Law and Order or reruns of LA Law or Perry Mason is not going to get the average person to visit a lawyer even when they could benefit from their help. Perhaps the most effective tool to get someone into a law office is legal insurance. By becoming familiar with a lawyer in less serious situations, anyone can have a greater degree of comfort about using a lawyer for more important matters.

You could already have a legal plan available as a benefit from your employer. If not, there are numerous providers that offer prepaid legal plans.

Prepaid legal plans normally cover the costs for you to communicate with your lawyer by phone any time you have a possible legal problem arise. Additionally, you can typically visit your lawyer to have a will drawn up, or updates to your will on an annual basis. You may also have your lawyer examine legal forms you need to sign to verify that everything is in your best interests.

If you do require extended legal support, your plan may provide for a number of hours of your lawyer’s time for pre-trial and trial activities. Beyond the time provided by your plan, you will usually receive further support at a discount.

If a year goes by and you do not need legal help you can deem yourself lucky. One day, like fire insurance on your house, your prepaid legal plan could come in real handy.