I'm slowly emerging from boxes, furniture, and other items from the office move. Slowly, my routine will get back to normal, I promise.
A few weeks back the Wills, Trusts and Estates Prof Blog blawged about a recent article concerning lawyer marketing . No, it wasn't about joining Rotary or effective techniques in utilizing the Yellow Pages, but about whether attorneys are effectively marketing services for wills. The reason? High rates of intestacy.
Michael McCunney and Alyssa A. DiRusso (Samford University - Cumberland School of Law) posted an SSRN article which discusses the issue. The authors ponder whether attorneys "do not take full advantage of the range of permissible marketing strategies" under the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility.
I'm glad I waited to blog about this topic as the Will Prof posted an article just a few days ago citing the fact that 75% of British citizens do not have a will.
Is it marketing or something else? Are the high intestacy rates because no will was available to probate or were they holographic wills or otherwise not not compliant with the statutory requirements of that state? I'd like to read the article to see if those issues are addressed.
I personally think its a mindset issue. Whether its not going to the doctor or preparing for our eventual demise, we naturally look to put these decisions off until absolutely necessary. Of course, I believe that people who have children need a will.
But I guess the issue is how to effectively communicate that to prospective clients.
