MILLENNIALS’ MOMENT The modern commute doesn’t have to include a car

Baby boomers grew up with the first generation of family cars — and would be lost without them to this day.
Millennials? They actually prefer their phone.

That’s right. Forty percent of millennials believe losing their phone would be a bigger hardship than losing their car, according to a Zipcar-commissioned study cited in Forbes.

That’s not news to the Newark-based law firm Genova Burns Giantomasi Webster.

“Half of our last 10 hires started without a car,” partner Frank Giantomasi said. “They commute via public transportation from cities like Hoboken, Jersey City and Manhattan.”

Giantomasi said the firm’s close proximity to rail service has been a plus when it recruits new associates.

And if you think being without a car would put attorneys out of step with clients, think again.

“Our clients, too, have observed this trend where young professionals, often with significant student loans, prefer to save their money on car payments and reside in urban centers which offer vibrant restaurants, culture and nightlife,” he said.

According to the Zipcar survey, 53 percent of millennials agree that the cost of owning a car, including insurance, gas, parking and payments, is out of reach for them.

Even the portion of millennials that did have cars said they would drive less if alternative transportation options were available, such as public transit.

So Genova Burns has adapted to today’s disinterest in car ownership.

Giantomasi said the firm offers attorneys the opportunity to work, when appropriate, from its Jersey City and New York City offices.