Have you ever had a Millennial tell you that you no longer need to do something the way you’ve always done it because it is now available online? Millennials do everything online from banking and socializing to ordering groceries and getting their college educations. Usually from their cell phones, no less!
This ambitious group of young adults is revolutionizing the way many industries do business, including the legal system. For instance, the prominence and utility of the internet caused Wisconsin to require online filing of court cases. Initially this change intimidated many attorneys, but it now is an invaluable tool that not only saves clients’ money but makes our jobs easier as attorneys.
While there may be advantages to learning to prepare a new recipe or watching college lectures from your living room, there are some areas where even a Millennial will need a real life, flesh and blood attorney:
Starting a Family: When young people are lucky enough to start a family there is a new life to consider. For example, a will should be drafted to take into consideration caring for the child. This typically includes a discussion of who should take care of the child if the parents cannot, and how the child’s financial needs will be met. A good estate plan in is just as important for a you family as it is later in life, or if the parents are not living together. They will need to create a plan for co-parenting. Basic questions from who will buy the diapers to where the baby will live, will need to be covered. An attorney familiar with the ins and outs of family law can help the parents put together a plan that cover the essential in clear language that avoid conflicts down the road.
Divorcing parents who still have minor children will have significant issues to address with the court. Parents who divorce or were never married may need to change court orders regarding custody, placement, child support or insurance.
Criminal Defense: Poor youthful decisions like speeding, drinking and driving or throwing a punch in a bar can bring a lifetime of unintended consequences if not addressed properly by a legal professional. Having a lawyer by you side can protect you from making a bad situation worse.
General Civil Litigation: Millennials may also need help regarding problematic landlord issues, starting their own business or resolving claims arising from accidents.
Millennial’s should not try to do too much on their own when it comes to legal matters. It is worth their time to consult with someone who has dedicated their lives to learning the law inside and out. As the not-so-old saying goes “Don’t confuse your Google search with my law degree!”.