Having the right life insurance policy can be essential financial planning for lawyers. We used industry data, pricing from our partners, and third-party ratings like AM Best and J.D. Power to pick the best life insurance companies for attorneys so you know where to start your search.
Best term life insurance: Legal & General America
Best whole life insurance: MassMutual
Cheapest life insurance: Legal & General America
Best universal life insurance: Pacific Life
Best no-medical-exam life insurance: Brighthouse Financial
Best final expense life insurance: Mutual of Omaha
If you’re ready to compare life insurance quotes and find the right coverage, Policygenius can help.
Methodology
Why you can trust our picks
Our recommendations are based on internal and external expert analysis, as well as our Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. When reviewing a life insurance company, our editorial team uses a proprietary scoring rubric with five factors — price, policy details, financial strength, transparency, and customer experience — to assign an unbiased rating between one and five stars. These ratings are also taken into consideration as part of our company recommendations. We don’t get paid for our reviews.
Our reviews and recommendations can help you find a reliable insurer for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you depends on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can support you during the application process to ensure you get the right coverage for your circumstances at the most competitive price.
Best term life insurance for lawyers: Legal & General America
2024 Policygenius award winner
Legal & General America
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn in some states, is the best term life insurance company for lawyers. You may qualify for up to $10 million in coverage and term lengths of up to 40 years — longer than many competitors.
Best whole life insurance for lawyers: MassMutual
2024 Policygenius award winner
MassMutual
4.9
All 50 states
Why we chose it
MassMutual’s whole life insurance plan provides a lifetime coverage option that builds cash value with the potential to earn dividends.
Pros and cons
Pros
Strong financial stability ratings
Higher potential for dividends for whole life policyholders than many competitors
Good customer satisfaction ratings
Cons
High term life premiums
Term life not available through Policygenius
MassMutual is our pick for the best whole life insurance company for lawyers. We like MassMutual’s solid ratings: it has an A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best. This is especially important for whole life insurance because this type of coverage doesn’t expire and is guaranteed to pay out, no matter when you die.
Cheapest life insurance for lawyers: Legal & General America
2024 Policygenius award winner
Legal & General America
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
We found that Legal & General America has the cheapest life insurance rates for lawyers. There’s a good chance that you can find cheap life insurance from Legal & General America even if you have a pre-existing health condition, like asthma, diabetes, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure.
Best universal life insurance for lawyers: Pacific Life
2024 Policygenius award winner
Pacific Life
4.8
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Pacific Life offers some of the lowest rates for term life insurance across age brackets. It also has the most competitive rates for many health conditions and builds.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable across age brackets
Affordable guaranteed universal life insurance option for people who need lifetime coverage
Favorable underwriting for many health conditions
Cons
Traditional term life not available in NY
There are better carriers for active duty military, people who have a history of alcohol abuse, and people who have been through bankruptcy
Our pick for the best universal life insurance for lawyers is Pacific Life, which received an A+ rating for financial stability from AM Best. Pacific Life also offers a return-of-premium feature, which allows you to cancel your policy at any time and get all of your payments back.
Best no-medical-exam life insurance for lawyers: Brighthouse Financial
2024 Policygenius award winner
Brighthouse Financial
5.0
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Brighthouse Financial offers competitive rates, comprehensive coverage, and application decisions in as little as 24 hours, making it a great choice for people who want to get life insurance coverage without having to take the medical exam.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable
Instant-decision applications
Best-in-class no-exam option
Cons
Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY
Term life applicants limited to ages 25-50
The best no-medical-exam life insurance for lawyers comes from Brighthouse Financial. Qualified applicants can apply for up to $3 million of coverage without taking a medical exam. You can usually buy a no-med policy in as little as a day.
Best final expense life insurance for lawyers: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
4.5
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Mutual of Omaha is a reputable company that offers a variety of life insurance products — including a no-medical-exam option — so that you can select the type of life insurance that best suits your needs.
Pros and cons
Pros
No-medical-exam options for older applicants
Strong financial and customer ratings
Cons
Policies are more expensive than average
Slow turnaround time
Our pick for the best final expense life insurance company for lawyers 45 and over is Mutual of Omaha. Final expense life insurance rates from Mutual of Omaha are usually better than at other companies.
Why lawyers need life insurance
There are a few reasons why you need life insurance as a lawyer, even if you already get some coverage through your work.
Income protection: A good life insurance policy insures any dependants who rely on your income are protected even in the event of your sudden death
Debt protection: Your life insurance benefits can cover debts like a mortgage, taxes, and other loans so you don’t leave them to your loved ones.
Paying off student loans: If you took out any private student loans to pay for law school, your family won’t struggle to pay them back.
Financial planning: If you have a high net worth, you can use whole life insurance as an estate planning tool.
If you’re not sure where to start, a licensed Policygenius agent can help you figure out how much life insurance you need and how long your coverage should last. Our experts are licensed in all 50 states and can walk you through the entire process of buying life insurance.
How working as an lawyer will affect getting life insurance
You shouldn’t have a problem getting life insurance if you’re a lawyer and you’re in good health. There’s usually nothing about the job itself that makes it harder to get life insurance, but there are a few exceptions.
If you work for an international law firm or organization or otherwise frequently travel outside the United States, you’ll have to time your life insurance application around your travel plans, and you may have to shop around a little more to find the right life insurance company.
Most life insurance companies require you to complete the application and medical exam, if required, in the U.S. You’ll also need to sign your final policy documents in the U.S.
If you spend more than six months out of the year outside the United States for work, you may qualify for a life insurance policy with fewer American companies. You’ll have to answer a few additional questions about your global net worth to justify coverage.
→ Learn more about buying life insurance while living abroad
How much does life insurance cost for lawyers?
We found that the cost of life insurance for a 30-year-old female lawyer with few health conditions and risk factors can be as little as $35 per month for a $1 million life insurance policy with a 20-year term. A 30-year-old male lawyer can pay as little as $46 for the same coverage.
A $1 million whole life insurance policy can cost between $801 to $920 per month for a person with the same profile.
The exact premiums you pay will depend on your age, gender, health, and liststyle risk factors, as well as how much coverage you want and the specific type of policy you’re applying for.
Term life insurance rates for lawyers
Age | Gender | $1 million coverage amount |
20 | Female | $32.48 |
Male | $44.72 | |
30 | Female | $35.48 |
Male | $45.94 | |
40 | Female | $58.49 |
Male | $71.45 | |
50 | Female | $131.18 |
Male | $174.90 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in a Preferred health classification buying a 20-year $1 million term life insurance policy. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered by Policygenius from Legal & General America, Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Foresters Financial, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, Symetra, and Transamerica, and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 07/01/2023.
Whole life insurance rates for lawyers
Age | Gender | $1 million coverage amount |
20 | Female | $545 |
Male | $639 | |
30 | Female | $801 |
Male | $920 | |
40 | Female | $1,161 |
Male | $1,372 | |
50 | Female | $1,826 |
Male | $2.117 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in a Preferred Plus health classification buying a $1 million whole life insurance policy from MassMutual. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 07/01/2023.
Life insurance for other occupations
Frequently asked questions
Should lawyers get life insurance?
Yes, lawyers should consider life insurance if they have dependents, private student loan debt, a mortgage, or other financial responsibilities that warrant coverage.
Do lawyers have life insurance?
Lawyers may have group life insurance through their employer. Most financial advisors recommend individual policies in addition to employer-provided life insurance for more comprehensive and personalized coverage.
How much life insurance should a lawyer get?
Lawyers should consider getting around 10 times their annual income in life insurance coverage — the exact amount will come down to your dependents, assets, liabilities, and overall financial goals.
