Online Search on Par with Referrals from Family, Friends in Driving Lawyer Selection Process

September 18, 2012 — NEW YORK – LexisNexis® Legal & Professional (www.lexisnexis.com), a leading provider of content and technology solutions, today announced findings of a new research study into how consumers search for legal information and services. The “Attorney Selection Research Study,” conducted by The Research Intelligence Group (TRiG), focused on consumers who sought an attorney in the past year. Results show that more than three quarters (76 percent) of adult Internet users in the United States seeking an attorney turned to online resources at some point in the process. While referrals from friends and family remain a key method for finding an attorney, the study finds consumers are now just as likely to conduct an Internet search as they are to turn to people they know during the information gathering phase of the attorney search process.

“Most consumers turn to the Internet before making any major purchasing decision and that holds true whether they are buying a house or hiring a lawyer,” said Philip Livingston, CEO of Web-Based Marketing Solutions at LexisNexis Legal & Professional. “Attorneys and law firms must build a robust and effective online presence in order to tap into this market.”

Key Survey Findings:

  • 60 percent of adult Internet users have sought an attorney at least once in their lives. This equates to nearly 110 million people.
  • One-third of respondents (representing roughly 58 million consumers) sought an attorney within the past year, and just under one third of total respondents did so more than one year ago.
  • A majority of respondents (57 percent) who sought an attorney in the past year hired one.
  • 57 percent of those who sought an attorney in the past year said they used online resources to check and compare the ratings/reviews of a lawyer or law firm. Among those, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) found the ratings/reviews to be extremely or moderately influential in their decision.
  • Google is the most commonly cited online legal resource mentioned by survey respondents who searched online for a lawyer in the past year, followed by Lawyers.com. Facebook was cited as the most-used social media site.   

“When gathering information about attorneys, consumers are turning to search engines, law firm websites, blogs, online directories and other online resources in record numbers,” Livingston added. “The survey findings on the frequency of mobile usage in the search process will also surprise many attorneys. When a potential client searches online to find a lawyer, the odds are pretty good that the attorney they end up choosing will be one who has optimized their online footprint in order to engage today’s web-savvy clients.”

LexisNexis is hosting a free webinar on September 25, 2012 at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern to discuss findings of the Attorney Selection Research Study and share best practices to help law firms align their business development efforts with current consumer behavior. The webinar will be hosted by Lawyers.com editor-in-chief Larry Bodine and Rocco Impreveduto, senior director, Consumer Marketing, Lawyers.com. Click on the following link to learn more about the webinar or to request a copy of the survey findings:
http://tinyurl.com/9o4pjeq

About the Attorney Selection Research Study
The Attorney Selection Research Study, commissioned by LexisNexis® Martindale-Hubbell®, was conducted by The Research Intelligence Group (TRiG). The third-party double-blind survey was designed to include a representative sample of adults who use the Internet. It was completed by 4,000 adults 18 years old and older, with quotas to reflect the demographic proportion of Internet users within the United States. The survey was conducted from February 9-15, 2012.

About LexisNexis Legal & Professional
LexisNexis® Legal & Professional (www.lexisnexis.com) is a leading global provider of content and technology solutions that enable professionals in legal, corporate, tax, government, academic and non-profit organizations to make informed decisions and achieve better business outcomes. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. Today, LexisNexis harnesses leading-edge technology and world-class content, to help professionals work in faster, easier and more effective ways. Through close collaboration with its customers, the company ensures organizations can leverage its solutions to reduce risk, improve productivity, increase profitability and grow their business. Part of Reed Elsevier, Inc. LexisNexis Legal & Professional serves customers in more than 100 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide.

LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell also helps solo practitioners and specialized law firms enhance their online presence and drive more prospects to their firm. Services offered include website design and development, search engine optimization, social media, video production, robust profiles on leading legal sites Lawyers.com℠ and martindale.com®, and Martindale-Hubbell® Lawyer Ratings.