The ‘typical’ user of legal services is financially stable, earns at least £35,000 and is married or living with a partner, the profession was officially informed today. 

The Legal Ombudsman published a survey of 32,000 people, based on profiling from survey company YouGov, who have used a legal service in the past two years.

The complaints handler says the information will help to better understand consumers of legal services and improve the effectiveness of services provided.

The research covers everything from the most popular television programmes to the most popular celebrities to follow on Twitter.

Interim chief ombudsman Kathryn King said the profiling help to inform its ‘outreach strategy’ and make sure people are aware of the service it provides.

She said: ‘While the majority of legal service providers signpost to our service effectively, there are still some who do not tell their customers that if they have a complaint they cannot resolve, they have a right to redress through the Legal Ombudsman scheme.’

According to the research, two-thirds of service users are classed as ABC1 – middle to upper class – with a gross income of £35,000 or more. Indeed, around a quarter of legal services users earn more than £70,000. Almost two-thirds are married or living with a partner and 43% are aged over 55.

One-third of consumers read a red-top newspaper, with 19% not reading any.

The most watched television shows are news programmes, with Coronation Street and Strictly Come Dancing the most popular entertainment.

Almost half of consumers visit Facebook at least once a day, with 14% on Twitter and 4% on Instagram and Tumblr. Of those on Twitter, 45% follow Stephen Fry, 24% follow Jonathan Ross and 21% follow the Queen’s parody profile.

Two-fifths of people had used price comparison site MoneySupermarket.com.

Legal services users are more likely than the public to have voted Conservative in 2010, read the money and property sections of newspapers, read the Daily Mail, Times and Telegraph and shop at Waitrose.