Study: 36% of Americans say DIY legal work caused problems, 57% of Gen Z

Burris Law’s survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found many Americans now turn to AI and search engines before attorneys for legal questions, even as most say those tools should be verified. The study points to cost as the main driver and shows DIY legal mistakes are hitting younger adults hardest.

Why it matters: - More Americans are using AI and search tools for legal questions before talking to an attorney. - The shift matters because legal mistakes can surface later, when a court, lender or other third party reviews the document. - The survey found 36% of Americans say DIY legal work caused a real problem, rising to 57% among Gen Z.

What happened: - Burris Law surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about how they seek legal help and what happens when they do not use an attorney. - Over the past 12 months, 35% used an AI chatbot for a legal question or task. - In the same period, 21% consulted an attorney. - 46% said they would turn to an AI assistant or search engine first with a legal question. - 32% said they would go straight to an attorney first.

The details: - 78% of Americans have handled at least one legal matter without an attorney. - Common self-handled matters included traffic citations at 30%, rental or lease agreements at 28%, consumer disputes at 23% and employment issues at 19%. - 14% drafted or reviewed a contract. - 12% prepared estate planning documents such as a will or power of attorney. - 10% handled a real estate or property matter. - Among people who needed legal help in the past year, 84% said cost pushed them toward a cheaper substitute, a delay or no help at all. - 35% handled the matter themselves. - 29% used free or lower-cost online resources. - 27% used AI instead of hiring an attorney. - 42% delayed the matter or dropped it entirely. - 9% said cost did not shape their approach. - Saving money was the top reason for skipping an attorney for 49% of respondents and ranked in the top three for 71%. - Confidence that AI or online resources could do the job correctly ranked first for just 4%. - Boomers were most likely to say a matter was simple enough to handle alone, while Gen Z was more likely to cite difficulty reaching an attorney. - Men used chatbots for legal questions more often than women, 43% to 28%. - AI use was 45% among Gen Z and 46% among millennials, then fell to 27% for Gen X and 19% for boomers. - Gen Z also used social platforms as a legal source at 37%, compared with 3% of boomers. - Among people who used AI for legal information, 34% later found it was wrong, outdated or misleading, and 22% could not say whether they had been misled. - 76% said AI-generated legal information should always be verified. - Only 24% of people who use AI for legal help always verify it. - 14% said they cannot tell when a legal issue requires a licensed attorney. - 74% said they feel very or extremely confident relying on a licensed attorney. - Only 19% said the same about an AI chatbot.

Between the lines: - The data points to cost, not trust, as the main reason people use free tools. - The survey suggests many users know AI legal answers should be checked, but the act of checking often requires the same legal judgment they were trying to avoid paying for. - Younger adults appear more exposed to AI-driven legal shortcuts, and they report more harm when those shortcuts fail. - Only 21% of respondents would blame the person who used a failed AI-generated document, leaving responsibility for bad output unsettled. - 63% reject the idea of an AI system representing them in court.

What's next: - The study suggests more consumers will keep using AI and search tools for low-stakes legal questions as long as attorney fees remain a barrier. - Burris Law says the real test comes later, when a legal document is challenged years after it is signed. - The full study is available here.