We are likely to need legal help at least once a year, yet most of us do
not actively seek legal help.
This is borne out of data from a survey
conducted by Leo J. Shapiro & Associates, on behalf of the American Bar
Association’s Section of Litigation, which shows that close to three
quarters of American adults experience some event during a twelve-month
period that may require the services of a lawyer. Over half of those who
needed an attorney chose not to hire one, and close to 80% of those yet to
experience legal problems gave strong indications they might go down the
same route.
Why all the doom and gloom? Price is the most sticking point
for most consumers. When it comes to hiring a lawyer, hourly fees of $100
up to $1000 are out of reach of most people’s budget. And then comes the
trepidation of searching for a good attorney and the right service: there
is a lot of uncertainty and confusion as what a lawyer will do, and how to
tell the good from the bad.
A legal plan may solve these problems and change the way you think of legal
services. Thanks to this arrangement, you can now talk to a lawyer whenever
you have a problem, without fear this will leave you out of pocket. In
fact, you don’t even need to be embroiled in a legal problem to get legal
advice: just pick up the phone, call your attorney and get the necessary
legal advice susceptible of resolving any potential problems –with
professional legal advice and follow-up, you can prevent ninety percent of
your legal questions becoming legal problems. Basic services such as the
drafting of your will, review of sample health contracts and writing
letters on your behalf are handled at no cost to you. If you want further
coverage to include family problems, such as a divorce or custody of
children, and any legal representation in court, then you simply pay a
premium and get more inclusive coverage.
Even if your plan doesn’t cover complex legal matters, it can still save
you money on those sky-high attorney fees. Discounts of up to 20% are
offered on hourly and flat rates. Ultimately, it’s not all down to how much
you can save. Having an attorney readily available at all times gives you
peace of mind, in the knowledge that there is someone you can use on
retainer for advice and help on anything of legal nature.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Who regulates pre-paid legal plans?
Pre-paid legal service providers are required to provide either a written
agreement of the services provided in their plans, or at least a written
communication concerning the services covered, together with the fees to
be charged for services not covered in the written agreement of membership.
However, most people gloss over “terms and conditions” and just sign the
agreement assuming they are covered for most legal services. This usually
gives rise to frequent complaints about the service, fee disputes and
complaints about attorneys.
Generally, if you have any complaint with your service, you should first
address any such complaint with your service provider. Contact them to get
information regarding their in-house complaint process and settlement of
disputes. If you are unsatisfied, then it helps to know who regulates your
kind of legal insurance.
Your state’s Department of consumer affairs licenses and regulates all
pre-paid legal plans. Prepaid legal service companies are required to
register with the department prior to commencing business and appoint a
sales representative. Further regulation can be provided by your local bar
agreement of the services provided in their plans, or at least a written
communication concerning the services covered, together with the fees to
be charged for services not covered in the written agreement of membership.
However, most people gloss over “terms and conditions” and just sign the
agreement assuming they are covered for most legal services. This usually
gives rise to frequent complaints about the service, fee disputes and
complaints about attorneys.
Generally, if you have any complaint with your service, you should first
address any such complaint with your service provider. Contact them to get
information regarding their in-house complaint process and settlement of
disputes. If you are unsatisfied, then it helps to know who regulates your
kind of legal insurance.
Your state’s Department of consumer affairs licenses and regulates all
pre-paid legal plans. Prepaid legal service companies are required to
register with the department prior to commencing business and appoint a
sales representative. Further regulation can be provided by your local bar
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Who is involved in Legal services?
When you subscribe to a pre-paid legal service, you are likely to deal
with an attorney and a number of other individuals and organisations who
are involved in one way or another with the service. It’s important to
understand the role of each participating party in a legal service plan,
particularly when you’re unhappy with the service or when fee disputes or
any other litigation with your provider arises.
So, who is involved in your pre-paid legal arrangement?
Your Lawyer
You get to choose your attorney from a pool of attorneys in the network.
Your lawyer is your point of contact for any phone advice or office
consultation. He is the one who furnishes other legal services specified
in your written agreement with your provider: he drafts your will, reviews
simple contracts for you, writes letters on your behalf and makes phone
calls to adverse third parties.
If you are unsatisfied with the quality of work you are getting from your
current attorney in the network then you have the choice of choosing
alternate attorneys. You can also make a complaint to your provider’s
in-house charge of complaints.
If you benefit from legal services under a group plan scheme then there are
a number of parties who are involved in this scheme.
First the contracted firm, just as is the case with an individual plan, is
the one which provides all the legal help through its network of attorneys.
There are also two parties involved in the deal: a plan administrator and a
plan sponsor.
A plan sponsor is the organisation you are member of, which sponsors your
legal plan. Your sponsor can either choose to provide the legal services as
a fringe-benefit, as is the case with most employers, pre-charge for the
service - universities usually charge for any legal service as part of
tuition fees – or charge low-costs, as do trade unions under a
group-bargaining scheme.
Your plan administrator is the person appointed by your sponsor to arrange
for the panel of lawyers from the contracted firm to provide services,
collects all the fees paid into a pre-paid plan, publicizes the plan and
handles enrolment and marketing. The administrator may be a an employee of
the sponsor, an insurance company or an outside firm.
Regulating Authority
Authorities that regulate pre-paid plans provide you with an outline of how
pre-paid legal services are managed and also an outlet in case there are
any complaints.
Individual pre-paid legal plans are generally regulated by your state
department of consumer affairs.
If you are an employee participating in a group plan funded by your
employer, then the legal services are covered and regulated under the
deferral Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
with an attorney and a number of other individuals and organisations who
are involved in one way or another with the service. It’s important to
understand the role of each participating party in a legal service plan,
particularly when you’re unhappy with the service or when fee disputes or
any other litigation with your provider arises.
So, who is involved in your pre-paid legal arrangement?
Your Lawyer
You get to choose your attorney from a pool of attorneys in the network.
Your lawyer is your point of contact for any phone advice or office
consultation. He is the one who furnishes other legal services specified
in your written agreement with your provider: he drafts your will, reviews
simple contracts for you, writes letters on your behalf and makes phone
calls to adverse third parties.
If you are unsatisfied with the quality of work you are getting from your
current attorney in the network then you have the choice of choosing
alternate attorneys. You can also make a complaint to your provider’s
in-house charge of complaints.
If you benefit from legal services under a group plan scheme then there are
a number of parties who are involved in this scheme.
First the contracted firm, just as is the case with an individual plan, is
the one which provides all the legal help through its network of attorneys.
There are also two parties involved in the deal: a plan administrator and a
plan sponsor.
A plan sponsor is the organisation you are member of, which sponsors your
legal plan. Your sponsor can either choose to provide the legal services as
a fringe-benefit, as is the case with most employers, pre-charge for the
service - universities usually charge for any legal service as part of
tuition fees – or charge low-costs, as do trade unions under a
group-bargaining scheme.
Your plan administrator is the person appointed by your sponsor to arrange
for the panel of lawyers from the contracted firm to provide services,
collects all the fees paid into a pre-paid plan, publicizes the plan and
handles enrolment and marketing. The administrator may be a an employee of
the sponsor, an insurance company or an outside firm.
Regulating Authority
Authorities that regulate pre-paid plans provide you with an outline of how
pre-paid legal services are managed and also an outlet in case there are
any complaints.
Individual pre-paid legal plans are generally regulated by your state
department of consumer affairs.
If you are an employee participating in a group plan funded by your
employer, then the legal services are covered and regulated under the
deferral Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Friday, May 7, 2010
Types of Prepaid Legal Services
Over 100 million Americans are signed up for pre-paid legal services. Also
called legal insurance, these plans are similar to those provided by Health
Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and cover the legal needs of the member,
spouse and any dependent children.
In a prepaid legal service plan, the customer pays a fixed monthly
subscription fee of up to $25 for the services of pre-selected lawyers.
The most basic plans provide advice and consultation by telephone. Plan
members receive a few hours of free office consultation with their assigned
attorney. They may also include review and advice on simple legal documents,
preparation, drafting or an update of a simple will. Phone calls and letters
can be written on behalf of members, a service helpful for credit problems
and consumer protection.
More comprehensive plans cover clients’ personal legal needs ranging from
services that require more time and effort on the part of your attorney,
such as contracts, wills and deeds, to legal representation in negotiations
and courts cases related to family matters, bankruptcy and real estate
called legal insurance, these plans are similar to those provided by Health
Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and cover the legal needs of the member,
spouse and any dependent children.
In a prepaid legal service plan, the customer pays a fixed monthly
subscription fee of up to $25 for the services of pre-selected lawyers.
The most basic plans provide advice and consultation by telephone. Plan
members receive a few hours of free office consultation with their assigned
attorney. They may also include review and advice on simple legal documents,
preparation, drafting or an update of a simple will. Phone calls and letters
can be written on behalf of members, a service helpful for credit problems
and consumer protection.
More comprehensive plans cover clients’ personal legal needs ranging from
services that require more time and effort on the part of your attorney,
such as contracts, wills and deeds, to legal representation in negotiations
and courts cases related to family matters, bankruptcy and real estate
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Types of Legal Plans
A prepaid legal plan is a scheme based on the payment in advance of a set
fee to defray the cost of providing future legal services to the members
enrolled in the scheme. They vary in cost, scope of legal coverage provided
and how the legal services are provided. We will look at the different
types of pre-paid legal plans available in the United States and how to
enrol into them
An individual pre-paid legal plan is readily accessible to the general
public. There are two types of individual plans: access and comprehensive.
An access pre-paid legal plan is the most basic plan. It is designed to
give easy access to lawyer and a set of simple legal services for a low
cost. Basic services furnished include unlimited toll-free phone access to
your attorney for consultation and advice, letters written by the lawyer on
your behalf, brief office consultation and the drafting or review of simple
legal documents.
Complex legal issues not covered will be subject to an hourly or flat rate
negotiatable with your provider
The comprehensive plan goes beyond basic legal services, to offer more
complex and comprehensive coverage for a premium in cost. Generally, all
the benefits of an access plan are provided at no cost to you, plus a
broader range of services like drafting complicated legal documents,
negotiations with adverse parties, legal representation in court cases such
as divorce and child custody. They also cover all the costs involved in a
legal litigation. Comprehensive plans typically start at $300 per year and
are most beneficial to middle-class families.
A group legal plan is typically sponsored by an organization as a fringe
benefit to its members. The lawyer or law firm contracted provides free or
low-cost legal coverage to all members of the sponsoring organization.
Employers, labour unions and even universities are now increasingly
offering group legal plans to enhance the value of their benefits package
and reduce the cost of administrative burden. Law firms are contracted to
provide participating members telephone and office consultation for their
most frequently needed legal matters. These typically include: Preparation
of wills and trusts, document preparation and review, debt and real estate
matters and family law.
Additional legal coverage can be contracted according to a fee schedule
negotiable between the plan sponsor and provider, and publicised to
participating members.
fee to defray the cost of providing future legal services to the members
enrolled in the scheme. They vary in cost, scope of legal coverage provided
and how the legal services are provided. We will look at the different
types of pre-paid legal plans available in the United States and how to
enrol into them
An individual pre-paid legal plan is readily accessible to the general
public. There are two types of individual plans: access and comprehensive.
An access pre-paid legal plan is the most basic plan. It is designed to
give easy access to lawyer and a set of simple legal services for a low
cost. Basic services furnished include unlimited toll-free phone access to
your attorney for consultation and advice, letters written by the lawyer on
your behalf, brief office consultation and the drafting or review of simple
legal documents.
Complex legal issues not covered will be subject to an hourly or flat rate
negotiatable with your provider
The comprehensive plan goes beyond basic legal services, to offer more
complex and comprehensive coverage for a premium in cost. Generally, all
the benefits of an access plan are provided at no cost to you, plus a
broader range of services like drafting complicated legal documents,
negotiations with adverse parties, legal representation in court cases such
as divorce and child custody. They also cover all the costs involved in a
legal litigation. Comprehensive plans typically start at $300 per year and
are most beneficial to middle-class families.
A group legal plan is typically sponsored by an organization as a fringe
benefit to its members. The lawyer or law firm contracted provides free or
low-cost legal coverage to all members of the sponsoring organization.
Employers, labour unions and even universities are now increasingly
offering group legal plans to enhance the value of their benefits package
and reduce the cost of administrative burden. Law firms are contracted to
provide participating members telephone and office consultation for their
most frequently needed legal matters. These typically include: Preparation
of wills and trusts, document preparation and review, debt and real estate
matters and family law.
Additional legal coverage can be contracted according to a fee schedule
negotiable between the plan sponsor and provider, and publicised to
participating members.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The access legal plan
Pre-paid legal plans come in a variety of types depending on the scope of
legal coverage they provide.
The most basic pre-paid plan is designed to make the simple legal services
readily available to the general public at low cost. These plans typically
cost between $10 and $30 per month, billed in advance.
You get unrestricted toll-free number telephone access to a lawyer for
legal advice and consultation. You can also make brief office consultations
to talk to your lawyer about any legal problems you may be encountering.
Your lawyer can also write to letters or make phone calls on your behalf.
This can help resolve many problems before they escalate further.
Other services provided are not overly time-consuming: the drafting of your
will to distribute your property after your death, review of your trust and
any other simple legal document.
If you require any other service beyond the scope of a basic plan, then you
can either pay discounts on regular lawyer fees or pay a premium to upgrade
to a more comprehensive plan.
legal coverage they provide.
The most basic pre-paid plan is designed to make the simple legal services
readily available to the general public at low cost. These plans typically
cost between $10 and $30 per month, billed in advance.
You get unrestricted toll-free number telephone access to a lawyer for
legal advice and consultation. You can also make brief office consultations
to talk to your lawyer about any legal problems you may be encountering.
Your lawyer can also write to letters or make phone calls on your behalf.
This can help resolve many problems before they escalate further.
Other services provided are not overly time-consuming: the drafting of your
will to distribute your property after your death, review of your trust and
any other simple legal document.
If you require any other service beyond the scope of a basic plan, then you
can either pay discounts on regular lawyer fees or pay a premium to upgrade
to a more comprehensive plan.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Pre-paid legal plans promote preventive law.
Many people believe they need the services of a lawyer, under a pre-paid
legal service scheme, to solve a legal problem or resolve an intricate
situation. Often, your lawyer’s most valuable help could be before you
get involved in legal trouble.
When you sign up for a pre-paid legal plan, you have the right to unlimited
toll-free telephone access to your attorney. The sound advice and
consultation given to you by your lawyer will help you take the necessary
steps to detect and resolve any potential legal problems before they take
more dangerous proportions. This is called in legal jargon “therapeutic
jurisprudence” or “preventive law”. Just as preventive medicine helps
prevent disease by detecting their symptoms, preventive law helps prevent
serious legal consequences by detecting early problems. In an increasingly
litigious society, there is real concern that assets you have worked long
and hard to accumulate may be attacked by creditors and litigants, through
no fault of your own. By the time a potential claim or liability is
identified, it is too late to act.
A competent attorney’s advice is your best option to minimize your exposure
to potential risks and protect yourself from legal problems getting out of
legal service scheme, to solve a legal problem or resolve an intricate
situation. Often, your lawyer’s most valuable help could be before you
get involved in legal trouble.
When you sign up for a pre-paid legal plan, you have the right to unlimited
toll-free telephone access to your attorney. The sound advice and
consultation given to you by your lawyer will help you take the necessary
steps to detect and resolve any potential legal problems before they take
more dangerous proportions. This is called in legal jargon “therapeutic
jurisprudence” or “preventive law”. Just as preventive medicine helps
prevent disease by detecting their symptoms, preventive law helps prevent
serious legal consequences by detecting early problems. In an increasingly
litigious society, there is real concern that assets you have worked long
and hard to accumulate may be attacked by creditors and litigants, through
no fault of your own. By the time a potential claim or liability is
identified, it is too late to act.
A competent attorney’s advice is your best option to minimize your exposure
to potential risks and protect yourself from legal problems getting out of
Monday, May 3, 2010
Prepaid and Small Business
Legal advice for small businesses does not have to be expensive. With
pre-paid legal plans, a wide array of legal services designed specifically
to cater for the needs of small businesses is available for a set yearly
fee ranging from $125 to $300.
Although coverage differs across the board, most pre-paid plans offer
unlimited telephone consultation with a lawyer, a valuable service that is
enough to solve many small-business matters. This encourages
“preventive law”: the process whereby you identify legal problems that
affect your business, contact your lawyer and get advice on taking steps to
minimize them.
Basic plans provide coverage for simple contracts and the drafting of
simple legal documents, like a power of attorney or a bill of sale. More
comprehensive plans will deal with more elaborate matters like equipment
lease and accounts-receivable collection work.
If you are a member of a local chamber of commerce, trade or professional
group than you can get a plan at a reduced group rate. Otherwise, buy
directly from a commercial vendor.
pre-paid legal plans, a wide array of legal services designed specifically
to cater for the needs of small businesses is available for a set yearly
fee ranging from $125 to $300.
Although coverage differs across the board, most pre-paid plans offer
unlimited telephone consultation with a lawyer, a valuable service that is
enough to solve many small-business matters. This encourages
“preventive law”: the process whereby you identify legal problems that
affect your business, contact your lawyer and get advice on taking steps to
minimize them.
Basic plans provide coverage for simple contracts and the drafting of
simple legal documents, like a power of attorney or a bill of sale. More
comprehensive plans will deal with more elaborate matters like equipment
lease and accounts-receivable collection work.
If you are a member of a local chamber of commerce, trade or professional
group than you can get a plan at a reduced group rate. Otherwise, buy
directly from a commercial vendor.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Pre-paid legal services for small business
If you are operating your own business, you cannot afford to go it alone
when it comes to legal matters. The ever increasing complexities of law,
spiralling costs of lawsuits and the proliferation of government red tape
can land you in a lot of trouble.
The flip of the coin is hardly attractive either! Hiring a lawyer can
constitute a substantial financial investment many cash-strapped small
businesses and entrepreneurs cannot sustain. Lawyers charge a minimum of
$200 per hour when it comes to “business law” and it can get very
costly if you are involved in lengthy legal procedures, complicated
contracts or business transactions.
There may just be a glitter of hope in pre-paid legal plans. For a set
monthly price, some legal providers are now bundling a whole suite of
legal services especially tailored to the needs of small-businesses.
Whether you need phone consultation on the legal complexities of a lease
contract, or require legal representation during tax audits, a pre-paid
plan can help you manage legal costs. An array of services is included as
“standard coverage” at no cost to you in the plan, and any legal matters
not covered can be provided with a discount on fees.
Before you take the leap, you need to keep some caveats in mind.
You need to know more about the quality of service you are likely to get.
While lower fees do not necessarily infer lower quality of work, it is
always necessary to bear in mind that legal specialization plays a crucial
part and lawyers are not interchangeable. Ask for references from previous
clients or ask entrepreneurs who’ve used the services of the provider about
the quality of work they have received from them. Use your state bar
association, service organizations in your locale and your local Better
Business Bureau to research law firms and the background of the attorneys
in the network before selecting them. Things to look for are the number of
years they have been operating, complaints from previous customers, the
education background of attorneys, professional track record and so forth.
With the increasing amount of small businesses involved in litigation and
fee disputes with their legal providers, I iss important to give some
thought to alternative courses of actions when dealing with disputes. Ask
your prospective provider about the way in which they settle disputes or
complaints. Do they have an in-house procedure to deal with complaints,
appoint a senior attorney to deal with such things or do you simply have to
when it comes to legal matters. The ever increasing complexities of law,
spiralling costs of lawsuits and the proliferation of government red tape
can land you in a lot of trouble.
The flip of the coin is hardly attractive either! Hiring a lawyer can
constitute a substantial financial investment many cash-strapped small
businesses and entrepreneurs cannot sustain. Lawyers charge a minimum of
$200 per hour when it comes to “business law” and it can get very
costly if you are involved in lengthy legal procedures, complicated
contracts or business transactions.
There may just be a glitter of hope in pre-paid legal plans. For a set
monthly price, some legal providers are now bundling a whole suite of
legal services especially tailored to the needs of small-businesses.
Whether you need phone consultation on the legal complexities of a lease
contract, or require legal representation during tax audits, a pre-paid
plan can help you manage legal costs. An array of services is included as
“standard coverage” at no cost to you in the plan, and any legal matters
not covered can be provided with a discount on fees.
Before you take the leap, you need to keep some caveats in mind.
You need to know more about the quality of service you are likely to get.
While lower fees do not necessarily infer lower quality of work, it is
always necessary to bear in mind that legal specialization plays a crucial
part and lawyers are not interchangeable. Ask for references from previous
clients or ask entrepreneurs who’ve used the services of the provider about
the quality of work they have received from them. Use your state bar
association, service organizations in your locale and your local Better
Business Bureau to research law firms and the background of the attorneys
in the network before selecting them. Things to look for are the number of
years they have been operating, complaints from previous customers, the
education background of attorneys, professional track record and so forth.
With the increasing amount of small businesses involved in litigation and
fee disputes with their legal providers, I iss important to give some
thought to alternative courses of actions when dealing with disputes. Ask
your prospective provider about the way in which they settle disputes or
complaints. Do they have an in-house procedure to deal with complaints,
appoint a senior attorney to deal with such things or do you simply have to
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Look before you take the leap into pre-paid legal services
Choosing a pre-paid legal plan is a good way to save big bucks, but
choosing a plan you need and a provider you can trust is a different
matter. Here is a number of things to look for in a legal plan from the
very start:
Look for what’s covered: Legal plans are offered in different models and
differ in the specifics of what they cover. While phone consultation and
simple drafting and reviewing of simple contracts are included across the
board, more elaborate and complicated legal matters are not covered.
It’s best to review your own legal needs before you choose a legal plan.
Ask which legal services will you need most and then choose a plan that
provides the best coverage given those needs. For instance, if you are a
business owner, lawsuits, lease and contract negotiations could be high on
your list and you would be looking for a legal plan that provides coverage
accordingly.
Know what legal coverage you already have Don’t pay for coverage twice! If
you have car insurance, then you are covered for liability and medical
protection, home insurance covers you for injuries sustained on your
property… Your existing insurance policies already cover some of your
legal costs and there is no need to pay for that coverage when you select
with a legal plan.
Does the company have an in-house procedure to handle complaints? One of
the stumbling blocks of pre-paid legal services is quality of service.
Newly-licensed attorneys, phone calls not getting answered and that
ointment on any client –lawyer relationship: fee disputes, typically
involving bills made to your credit car to cover for services not included
in your contract… This is just a specimen of the many problems people face
with their plan providers.
Make sure you select a plan that has clear guidelines as to how to settle
dispute when they arise. A company that has a good in-house mechanism to
handle complaints will generally assign a senior attorney with the
authority to handle customer complaints of and disputes with any attorneys
in the network. Secondary sources of resolution may include your state
insurance department or bar association. Check their outlet for complaints
against pre-paid services.
Checking out the business you’ll need to do some homework before you
select your legal provider. Ask these questions: What’s the firm’s
reputation in my area? How many years have they been in business? Have they
been operating in my local area for at least a year without complaints? How
skilled are they attorneys? Do they cover the locale where my business
operates? Some good places to start your background research are your state
bar association, the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Affairs
choosing a plan you need and a provider you can trust is a different
matter. Here is a number of things to look for in a legal plan from the
very start:
Look for what’s covered: Legal plans are offered in different models and
differ in the specifics of what they cover. While phone consultation and
simple drafting and reviewing of simple contracts are included across the
board, more elaborate and complicated legal matters are not covered.
It’s best to review your own legal needs before you choose a legal plan.
Ask which legal services will you need most and then choose a plan that
provides the best coverage given those needs. For instance, if you are a
business owner, lawsuits, lease and contract negotiations could be high on
your list and you would be looking for a legal plan that provides coverage
accordingly.
Know what legal coverage you already have Don’t pay for coverage twice! If
you have car insurance, then you are covered for liability and medical
protection, home insurance covers you for injuries sustained on your
property… Your existing insurance policies already cover some of your
legal costs and there is no need to pay for that coverage when you select
with a legal plan.
Does the company have an in-house procedure to handle complaints? One of
the stumbling blocks of pre-paid legal services is quality of service.
Newly-licensed attorneys, phone calls not getting answered and that
ointment on any client –lawyer relationship: fee disputes, typically
involving bills made to your credit car to cover for services not included
in your contract… This is just a specimen of the many problems people face
with their plan providers.
Make sure you select a plan that has clear guidelines as to how to settle
dispute when they arise. A company that has a good in-house mechanism to
handle complaints will generally assign a senior attorney with the
authority to handle customer complaints of and disputes with any attorneys
in the network. Secondary sources of resolution may include your state
insurance department or bar association. Check their outlet for complaints
against pre-paid services.
Checking out the business you’ll need to do some homework before you
select your legal provider. Ask these questions: What’s the firm’s
reputation in my area? How many years have they been in business? Have they
been operating in my local area for at least a year without complaints? How
skilled are they attorneys? Do they cover the locale where my business
operates? Some good places to start your background research are your state
bar association, the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Affairs
Friday, April 30, 2010
Look before you take the leap into pre-paid legal services
These are some of the question you should ask if you are considering a
pre-paid legal plan.
What is covered? Legal plans are offered in different models and differ in
the specifics of what they cover. While phone consultation and simple
drafting and reviewing of simple contracts are included across the board,
more elaborate and complicated legal matters are not covered.
It’s best to review your own legal needs before you choose a legal plan.
Ask which legal services will you need most and then choose a plan that
provides the best coverage given those needs. For instance, if you are a
business owner, lawsuits, lease and contract negotiations could be high on
your list and you would be looking for a legal plan that provides coverage
accordingly.
What legal coverage do I already have? Don’t pay for coverage twice! If
you
have car insurance, then you are covered for liability and medical
protection, home insurance covers you for injuries sustained on your
property… Your existing insurance policies already cover some of your
legal costs and there is no need to pay for that coverage when you select
with a legal plan.
Does the company have an in-house procedure to handle complaints? One of
the stumbling blocks of pre-paid legal services is quality of service.
Newly-licensed attorneys, phone calls not getting answered and that
ointment on any client –lawyer relationship: fee disputes, typically
involving bills made to your credit car to cover for services not included
in your contract… This is just a specimen of the many problems people face
with their plan providers.
Make sure you select a plan that has clear guidelines as to how to settle
dispute when they arise. A company that has a good in-house mechanism to
handle complaints will generally assign a senior attorney with the
authority to handle customer complaints of and disputes with any attorneys
in the network. Secondary sources of resolution may include your state
insurance department or bar association. Check their outlet for complaints
against pre-paid services.
What is the quality of the work they provide? You’ll need to do some
homework before you select your legal provider. Ask these questions:
What’s the firm’s reputation in my area? How many years have they been
in business? Have they been operating in my local area for at least a year
without complaints? How skilled are they attorneys? Do they cover the
locale where my business operates? Some good places to start your
background research are your state bar association, the Better Business
Bureau and the Consumer Affairs Office.
pre-paid legal plan.
What is covered? Legal plans are offered in different models and differ in
the specifics of what they cover. While phone consultation and simple
drafting and reviewing of simple contracts are included across the board,
more elaborate and complicated legal matters are not covered.
It’s best to review your own legal needs before you choose a legal plan.
Ask which legal services will you need most and then choose a plan that
provides the best coverage given those needs. For instance, if you are a
business owner, lawsuits, lease and contract negotiations could be high on
your list and you would be looking for a legal plan that provides coverage
accordingly.
What legal coverage do I already have? Don’t pay for coverage twice! If
you
have car insurance, then you are covered for liability and medical
protection, home insurance covers you for injuries sustained on your
property… Your existing insurance policies already cover some of your
legal costs and there is no need to pay for that coverage when you select
with a legal plan.
Does the company have an in-house procedure to handle complaints? One of
the stumbling blocks of pre-paid legal services is quality of service.
Newly-licensed attorneys, phone calls not getting answered and that
ointment on any client –lawyer relationship: fee disputes, typically
involving bills made to your credit car to cover for services not included
in your contract… This is just a specimen of the many problems people face
with their plan providers.
Make sure you select a plan that has clear guidelines as to how to settle
dispute when they arise. A company that has a good in-house mechanism to
handle complaints will generally assign a senior attorney with the
authority to handle customer complaints of and disputes with any attorneys
in the network. Secondary sources of resolution may include your state
insurance department or bar association. Check their outlet for complaints
against pre-paid services.
What is the quality of the work they provide? You’ll need to do some
homework before you select your legal provider. Ask these questions:
What’s the firm’s reputation in my area? How many years have they been
in business? Have they been operating in my local area for at least a year
without complaints? How skilled are they attorneys? Do they cover the
locale where my business operates? Some good places to start your
background research are your state bar association, the Better Business
Bureau and the Consumer Affairs Office.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Limitations of Pre-Paid Legal Services
Pre-paid legal plans are promoted under the promise of cheap legal
coverage, an attractive alternative to the high fees charged by regular
attorneys and law practices. But under the gloss of accessible legal
services for the general public, lie a number of limitations.
First, there is a limit on the scope of the legal services provided. Most
of what is provided on an unlimited-basis is phone based: calls to your
attorney for advice and consultation on legal matters, or phone calls made
on your behalf to third parties. Other benefits bundled in the plan are
limited: regular visits to your attorney’s office is restricted to a dozen
or so hours per month, the wills you want drafted or sample contracts
reviewed will be carried out on two or three copies per year. More complex
legal matters involving more time and effort on the part of your attorney
are not provided outright. If you need representation in a court for a
lawsuit on the recovery of damages, or a complex lease contract reviewed
and approved, then you have to pay regular lawyer fees. Some discounts of
up to 25% apply, but you could get the same discounts if not better by
the simple virtue of simple negotiations and clever comparison shopping.
Second is the restriction on your choice of attorney and the quality of
legal work provided. Although you are free to choose your own attorney,
client-lawyer relationship and the building of rapport are harder to come
by in this scheme.
Pre-paid legal plans are fraught with the “rookie” syndrome: the providers
usually resort to employing newly-licensed or trainee attorneys in a
cost-cutting exercise. Someone who does mostly wills, trusts and sample
contracts is probably not a good fit for a more complex legal issue like
the custody of children. In this day of age of increasing specialisation,
it is better to ask someone with specialised knowledge and years of
experience then it is to rely on a novice with a limited professional
track-record.
If you go down the traditional way, then there is restricted “pool of
attorneys” you can choose from. Your research will be easier and a lot
more comprehensive. You can set up interviews with lawyers, ask for
referrals from friends, previous customers or check your local bar
association. You are more likely to get a top-notch lawyer with who to
build rapport get competent advice and trust the judgement.
coverage, an attractive alternative to the high fees charged by regular
attorneys and law practices. But under the gloss of accessible legal
services for the general public, lie a number of limitations.
First, there is a limit on the scope of the legal services provided. Most
of what is provided on an unlimited-basis is phone based: calls to your
attorney for advice and consultation on legal matters, or phone calls made
on your behalf to third parties. Other benefits bundled in the plan are
limited: regular visits to your attorney’s office is restricted to a dozen
or so hours per month, the wills you want drafted or sample contracts
reviewed will be carried out on two or three copies per year. More complex
legal matters involving more time and effort on the part of your attorney
are not provided outright. If you need representation in a court for a
lawsuit on the recovery of damages, or a complex lease contract reviewed
and approved, then you have to pay regular lawyer fees. Some discounts of
up to 25% apply, but you could get the same discounts if not better by
the simple virtue of simple negotiations and clever comparison shopping.
Second is the restriction on your choice of attorney and the quality of
legal work provided. Although you are free to choose your own attorney,
client-lawyer relationship and the building of rapport are harder to come
by in this scheme.
Pre-paid legal plans are fraught with the “rookie” syndrome: the providers
usually resort to employing newly-licensed or trainee attorneys in a
cost-cutting exercise. Someone who does mostly wills, trusts and sample
contracts is probably not a good fit for a more complex legal issue like
the custody of children. In this day of age of increasing specialisation,
it is better to ask someone with specialised knowledge and years of
experience then it is to rely on a novice with a limited professional
track-record.
If you go down the traditional way, then there is restricted “pool of
attorneys” you can choose from. Your research will be easier and a lot
more comprehensive. You can set up interviews with lawyers, ask for
referrals from friends, previous customers or check your local bar
association. You are more likely to get a top-notch lawyer with who to
build rapport get competent advice and trust the judgement.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Legal plans: An Intro
What if you could pick up the phone and call an attorney to get advice
about any and all legal matters of interest to you? The attorney would
draft your will, review it and update it for every other year, make phone
calls and write letters on your behalf negotiate your contracts and
represent you in court. If you are traveling in another state and need any
form of legal advice, he will refer you to a competent attorney in that
state for no extra cost to you.
This all seems great on paper, but the mere thought of paying hundreds of
dollars an hour to put an attorney on retainer is enough to persuade most
people not to seek legal coverage.
You will be surprised to know that such coverage does indeed exist under
an arrangement similar to your health or insurance plan. Pre-paid legal
plans offer you access to all these legal services, for a monthly charge
of $10 to $25. If you are employed, you may incur no charge if your
employer provides legal services as a fringe benefit.
about any and all legal matters of interest to you? The attorney would
draft your will, review it and update it for every other year, make phone
calls and write letters on your behalf negotiate your contracts and
represent you in court. If you are traveling in another state and need any
form of legal advice, he will refer you to a competent attorney in that
state for no extra cost to you.
This all seems great on paper, but the mere thought of paying hundreds of
dollars an hour to put an attorney on retainer is enough to persuade most
people not to seek legal coverage.
You will be surprised to know that such coverage does indeed exist under
an arrangement similar to your health or insurance plan. Pre-paid legal
plans offer you access to all these legal services, for a monthly charge
of $10 to $25. If you are employed, you may incur no charge if your
employer provides legal services as a fringe benefit.
Monday, April 26, 2010
How to enrol for a legal plan?
Are you thinking of getting on the pre-paid bandwagon? Choosing a
particular enrolment method can be very important in determining the
benefits, costs and conditions of coverage of your legal plan.
A voluntary enrolment refers to a membership of a legal plan where people
“voluntarily” subscribe to a pre-paid legal service in response to a direct
email offer, during an employer’s open enrolment period or during
individual sales representations. In this arrangement, you pay the prepaid
charge, get the standard discounts open to all other members of the plan
and get the coverage as per the terms and conditions of the plan.
In a group plan, all members are automatically included in the plan because
of their status as a group. For instance, many employees enjoy a 100%
participation in legal plans sponsored by their employers. They do not have
to pay any pre-paid charge or premium, as legal coverage in the work place
is now regarded as an employee fringe-benefit.
Some universities also provide legal coverage for their students, financing
the plans from their general tuition fees.
particular enrolment method can be very important in determining the
benefits, costs and conditions of coverage of your legal plan.
A voluntary enrolment refers to a membership of a legal plan where people
“voluntarily” subscribe to a pre-paid legal service in response to a direct
email offer, during an employer’s open enrolment period or during
individual sales representations. In this arrangement, you pay the prepaid
charge, get the standard discounts open to all other members of the plan
and get the coverage as per the terms and conditions of the plan.
In a group plan, all members are automatically included in the plan because
of their status as a group. For instance, many employees enjoy a 100%
participation in legal plans sponsored by their employers. They do not have
to pay any pre-paid charge or premium, as legal coverage in the work place
is now regarded as an employee fringe-benefit.
Some universities also provide legal coverage for their students, financing
the plans from their general tuition fees.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
How to choose an attorney?
Throughout the course of your legal problems, you will have to make some
tough decisions – If you were involved in an accident then you have to
choose between bringing criminal damages or press with a plaintiff case, if
you have a small business and you were involved in a deal, then you have to
decide whether to sign it or let it pass. There is no clear-cut answer in
many of these dilemmas, and getting the right lawyer is crucial to you. We
examine the perks of choosing a lawyer in a pre-paid legal plan as opposed
to hiring your own lawyer, and some simple steps you can take to choose a
good attorney.
The number one criterion has to do with a lawyer’s legal ability: someone
who lays the law down for you, present you with options, explain the
ramifications of each decision you make and give you recommendations on the
best course of action. In this day and age of complicated legal matters,
many lawyers are increasingly specialised and you stand to get better
information from someone with a practice focus in a particular area of the
law than a generalist who deals with a broad spectrum of legal issues.
Building rapport is also very important: your relationship with your lawyer
can make or break your case. You need a lawyer who gives you candid advice
and council you can trust, someone with enough perspective to step back
from an issue and look at it from all perspectives.
Client-lawyer relationships are very limited within a pre-paid legal plan.
Because of “preventive” nature of most plans, your contact with your
lawyer will be limited on many occasions. You seldom get to talk to your
lawyer face-to-face – as most of the consultation is done over the phone
– and even when you get to talk to them, it’s difficult to build rapport
when your office consultations are limited to a dozen hours a year.
The good news, however, is you still have some options left. When you sign
up for a legal plan, you get to choose your lawyer and there is a number of
steps you can take to increase the likelihood of getting a good lawyer.
First, you need to ask for referrals from previous clients. Ask around
about good attorneys in the network. Once you get a few names, check their
educational background, their qualifications and their professional track
record with your state’s bar association.
After you receive your referrals, don’t shy away from setting up interviews
with attorneys in the network. Most don’t mind receiving enquiries about
what they do and how able there are. |Ask tough questions: How long have
they been in practice? How satisfied are their previous clients? How many
legal problems of interest to you have they taken recently?
tough decisions – If you were involved in an accident then you have to
choose between bringing criminal damages or press with a plaintiff case, if
you have a small business and you were involved in a deal, then you have to
decide whether to sign it or let it pass. There is no clear-cut answer in
many of these dilemmas, and getting the right lawyer is crucial to you. We
examine the perks of choosing a lawyer in a pre-paid legal plan as opposed
to hiring your own lawyer, and some simple steps you can take to choose a
good attorney.
The number one criterion has to do with a lawyer’s legal ability: someone
who lays the law down for you, present you with options, explain the
ramifications of each decision you make and give you recommendations on the
best course of action. In this day and age of complicated legal matters,
many lawyers are increasingly specialised and you stand to get better
information from someone with a practice focus in a particular area of the
law than a generalist who deals with a broad spectrum of legal issues.
Building rapport is also very important: your relationship with your lawyer
can make or break your case. You need a lawyer who gives you candid advice
and council you can trust, someone with enough perspective to step back
from an issue and look at it from all perspectives.
Client-lawyer relationships are very limited within a pre-paid legal plan.
Because of “preventive” nature of most plans, your contact with your
lawyer will be limited on many occasions. You seldom get to talk to your
lawyer face-to-face – as most of the consultation is done over the phone
– and even when you get to talk to them, it’s difficult to build rapport
when your office consultations are limited to a dozen hours a year.
The good news, however, is you still have some options left. When you sign
up for a legal plan, you get to choose your lawyer and there is a number of
steps you can take to increase the likelihood of getting a good lawyer.
First, you need to ask for referrals from previous clients. Ask around
about good attorneys in the network. Once you get a few names, check their
educational background, their qualifications and their professional track
record with your state’s bar association.
After you receive your referrals, don’t shy away from setting up interviews
with attorneys in the network. Most don’t mind receiving enquiries about
what they do and how able there are. |Ask tough questions: How long have
they been in practice? How satisfied are their previous clients? How many
legal problems of interest to you have they taken recently?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Group legal plans
Group legal plans in the workplace have experienced rapid growth recently
because of their usefulness to both employer and employee alike.
For the employee, a group legal plan is a cheap way to get legal coverage
in much the same way as other traditional benefits. For as little as $20
per month deducted from payroll, an employee is put in touch with an
attorney who can draft his will, buy or refinance a home, adopt a child
and plan an estate. Unlimited legal advice is offered at no cost to the
employee.
The benefits for the employer include increased efficiency and
productivity from their workforce, and reduced administration costs to
handle personal matters. Another very attractive benefit is the very low
cost involved in researching and implementing a group legal plan. In fact,
such plans cost employers very little in terms of time and investment.
Group plans are structured on a voluntary basis, paid for through payroll
deductions from the workforce. Additionally, the carrier handles all the
claims, redundant paperwork and customer service related to the plan.
because of their usefulness to both employer and employee alike.
For the employee, a group legal plan is a cheap way to get legal coverage
in much the same way as other traditional benefits. For as little as $20
per month deducted from payroll, an employee is put in touch with an
attorney who can draft his will, buy or refinance a home, adopt a child
and plan an estate. Unlimited legal advice is offered at no cost to the
employee.
The benefits for the employer include increased efficiency and
productivity from their workforce, and reduced administration costs to
handle personal matters. Another very attractive benefit is the very low
cost involved in researching and implementing a group legal plan. In fact,
such plans cost employers very little in terms of time and investment.
Group plans are structured on a voluntary basis, paid for through payroll
deductions from the workforce. Additionally, the carrier handles all the
claims, redundant paperwork and customer service related to the plan.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Group Legal plans benefits for employer and employee
A properly developed group legal insurance plan can be the perfect
complement to any employer’s work life initiative. Considering that many
employees are nowadays increasingly swayed by benefit options when making
career decisions, Legal insurance is a viable product for many employers.
However, there is no single fit-for-all group legal plan for all
organizations. For a start, each organization has a distinct list of
requirements when contracting for legal insurance. A requirement built on
the premise of reduced administrative costs will require a different set
of legal services than requirements built on enhancing a benefits package
or protect against liability.
Legal plans also vary in what they offer: the quality of their customer
service, flexibility of plan design and finally the experience and
professional track record of their panel of attorneys.
In order to minimize the risk of poor service and plummeting employer
satisfaction, an employer should conduct both requirements analysis
amongst its employee base to cover for their difference needs, and a due
research to select the most appropriate legal plan to fit those
requirements based on experience, integrity and track record.
complement to any employer’s work life initiative. Considering that many
employees are nowadays increasingly swayed by benefit options when making
career decisions, Legal insurance is a viable product for many employers.
However, there is no single fit-for-all group legal plan for all
organizations. For a start, each organization has a distinct list of
requirements when contracting for legal insurance. A requirement built on
the premise of reduced administrative costs will require a different set
of legal services than requirements built on enhancing a benefits package
or protect against liability.
Legal plans also vary in what they offer: the quality of their customer
service, flexibility of plan design and finally the experience and
professional track record of their panel of attorneys.
In order to minimize the risk of poor service and plummeting employer
satisfaction, an employer should conduct both requirements analysis
amongst its employee base to cover for their difference needs, and a due
research to select the most appropriate legal plan to fit those
requirements based on experience, integrity and track record.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Differences between Pre-Paid and Legal Plans
It is not uncommon to see the terms “legal plans” and “pre-paid legal
services” used interchangeably. While they share a lot of characteristics
in common, there are a number of differences you should be aware of.
Both of these terms refer to an arrangement whereby you pay a fixed monthly
or yearly fee in exchange for legal services. The idea behind them is to
save consumers on high legal fees whilst offering a valuable service.
That’s where the differences lie: what kind of service is offered and what
is covered. What are you entitled to in both schemes?
Pre-paid services cover for specific legal services: free phone
consultation and advice, drafting of simple wills and trusts, review of
sample contracts and writing of letters on your behalf. Legal services not
provided will get charged at regular attorney fees, but you may be eligible
for discounts.
Legal insurance, by contrast, works much like other insurance plans, like
health or car insurance. Although specific legal services are offered at
times, your insurance provider will typically offer a policy that covers
for all legal services. The policy will pay on behalf of you, the policy
holder, or reimburse all expenses, costs or fees that you pay for legal
services up to the policy limit. For instance, your policy might reimburse
any fees incurred in your court judgments or pay your bail money – a
service not provided by most pre-paid legal plans.
Your legal insurance is also pegged to other insurance policies you may
already have. If you run into legal problems involving your other
insurance, then your legal insurance policy will protect you against loss
or liability. For instance, if you are involved in a car accident when your
auto-insurance has already run out and you are subsequently sued for
recovery of damages, you will be protected by a legal plan insurance.
The other difference between the two schemes is related to your choice of
attorney. In a pre-paid legal service, you get to choose from a restricted
number of the attorneys in the network. By contrast, a legal insurance plan
provides legal coverage regardless of attorney. You are free to set up
interviews with any number of attorneys and choose the ones you think will
provide the best service for your personal legal needs.
Finally, pre-paid legal plans are much more accessible to the general
public. Legal plans are harder to come by as only a limited number of
insurance companies offer such arrangements.
services” used interchangeably. While they share a lot of characteristics
in common, there are a number of differences you should be aware of.
Both of these terms refer to an arrangement whereby you pay a fixed monthly
or yearly fee in exchange for legal services. The idea behind them is to
save consumers on high legal fees whilst offering a valuable service.
That’s where the differences lie: what kind of service is offered and what
is covered. What are you entitled to in both schemes?
Pre-paid services cover for specific legal services: free phone
consultation and advice, drafting of simple wills and trusts, review of
sample contracts and writing of letters on your behalf. Legal services not
provided will get charged at regular attorney fees, but you may be eligible
for discounts.
Legal insurance, by contrast, works much like other insurance plans, like
health or car insurance. Although specific legal services are offered at
times, your insurance provider will typically offer a policy that covers
for all legal services. The policy will pay on behalf of you, the policy
holder, or reimburse all expenses, costs or fees that you pay for legal
services up to the policy limit. For instance, your policy might reimburse
any fees incurred in your court judgments or pay your bail money – a
service not provided by most pre-paid legal plans.
Your legal insurance is also pegged to other insurance policies you may
already have. If you run into legal problems involving your other
insurance, then your legal insurance policy will protect you against loss
or liability. For instance, if you are involved in a car accident when your
auto-insurance has already run out and you are subsequently sued for
recovery of damages, you will be protected by a legal plan insurance.
The other difference between the two schemes is related to your choice of
attorney. In a pre-paid legal service, you get to choose from a restricted
number of the attorneys in the network. By contrast, a legal insurance plan
provides legal coverage regardless of attorney. You are free to set up
interviews with any number of attorneys and choose the ones you think will
provide the best service for your personal legal needs.
Finally, pre-paid legal plans are much more accessible to the general
public. Legal plans are harder to come by as only a limited number of
insurance companies offer such arrangements.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Comprehensive access plans
If you are a member of a pre-paid access plan and are not getting the legal
services you think you need, then it is probably time to upgrade to a more
comprehensive plan.
A comprehensive prepaid legal service plan is designed to cover for the
majority of your legal service needs in a given year. Access services, such
as legal advice and information by toll-free number and follow-up service,
are provided at no cost to you. It’s in the realm of more complex legal
matters that require more time and effort from your attorney, that the
comprehensive plan is more beneficial than a basic, access plan. You can
have your trust set up, instead of a simple will, and a more complicated
business sale contract drawn up as opposed to a simple contract. Legal
representation can equally be provided in court for some cases, such as
child custody.
Comprehensive prepaid plans are most suitable for people who need business
advice, have family trusts or own real estates properties.
services you think you need, then it is probably time to upgrade to a more
comprehensive plan.
A comprehensive prepaid legal service plan is designed to cover for the
majority of your legal service needs in a given year. Access services, such
as legal advice and information by toll-free number and follow-up service,
are provided at no cost to you. It’s in the realm of more complex legal
matters that require more time and effort from your attorney, that the
comprehensive plan is more beneficial than a basic, access plan. You can
have your trust set up, instead of a simple will, and a more complicated
business sale contract drawn up as opposed to a simple contract. Legal
representation can equally be provided in court for some cases, such as
child custody.
Comprehensive prepaid plans are most suitable for people who need business
advice, have family trusts or own real estates properties.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Common Services offered by Pre-paid legal Plans
Considering a pre-paid legal plan? He’s a run-down of the services
you’re most likely to get and also some legal documents you need to sign
before you enrol.
Telephone and Office Consultation: You have unlimited telephone access to
a panel of attorneys regarding any legal matter of interest to you. You
can also make brief consultation visits to your lawyer for up to 30
minutes per day at no cost to you.
The only condition placed on these two benefits is that you enquire about
a different legal matter.
This aspect of coverage provided by legal plans is one of the most
beneficial because it promotes preventive law. Preventive law is very much
like preventive medicine – it helps in anticipating potential problems and
taking the appropriate legal steps so that unnecessary legal problems or
risks are avoided. With a simple phone call to your lawyer you can avoid
getting embroiled in a hellish legal situation, and you can even identify
legal rights you don’t even know you had.
Follow-Up Service: The panel of lawyers will write letters and make phone
calls on your behalf to adverse third parties. Such follow-up service may
be all it takes to solve many of your legal problems.
Legal document review: Simple personal legal documents, such as your
insurance policies, sales contracts and leases will be reviewed. Any
questions of legal nature that you have about the documents will also get
answered by your attorney.
Drafting of wills: A will is a written document that regulates how you want
your property distributed after your death. Your attorney will draft your
will according to your state’s laws so that it’s valid when you die. He
will also advise you on any provisions you might want to consider, such as
appointing a guardian and establishing a trust.
Discount on regular fees: Any additional services not covered in the
written fee agreement will be at regular fees – either hourly or flat –
with a discount between 20 to 30%. These services generally include family
matters, such as divorce and the custody of children, and court
representation, such as traffic tickets and lawsuits.
Some of the legal paperwork you need to read carefully, agree on and sign
include the following:
Written fee agreement: This is an agreement that outlines what services are
provided in the plan, how much it costs and the methods of payment.
Grievance procedure: This document details the procedures that will be
taken by the provide to resolve any complaints about attorneys or disputes
regarding service fees.
you’re most likely to get and also some legal documents you need to sign
before you enrol.
Telephone and Office Consultation: You have unlimited telephone access to
a panel of attorneys regarding any legal matter of interest to you. You
can also make brief consultation visits to your lawyer for up to 30
minutes per day at no cost to you.
The only condition placed on these two benefits is that you enquire about
a different legal matter.
This aspect of coverage provided by legal plans is one of the most
beneficial because it promotes preventive law. Preventive law is very much
like preventive medicine – it helps in anticipating potential problems and
taking the appropriate legal steps so that unnecessary legal problems or
risks are avoided. With a simple phone call to your lawyer you can avoid
getting embroiled in a hellish legal situation, and you can even identify
legal rights you don’t even know you had.
Follow-Up Service: The panel of lawyers will write letters and make phone
calls on your behalf to adverse third parties. Such follow-up service may
be all it takes to solve many of your legal problems.
Legal document review: Simple personal legal documents, such as your
insurance policies, sales contracts and leases will be reviewed. Any
questions of legal nature that you have about the documents will also get
answered by your attorney.
Drafting of wills: A will is a written document that regulates how you want
your property distributed after your death. Your attorney will draft your
will according to your state’s laws so that it’s valid when you die. He
will also advise you on any provisions you might want to consider, such as
appointing a guardian and establishing a trust.
Discount on regular fees: Any additional services not covered in the
written fee agreement will be at regular fees – either hourly or flat –
with a discount between 20 to 30%. These services generally include family
matters, such as divorce and the custody of children, and court
representation, such as traffic tickets and lawsuits.
Some of the legal paperwork you need to read carefully, agree on and sign
include the following:
Written fee agreement: This is an agreement that outlines what services are
provided in the plan, how much it costs and the methods of payment.
Grievance procedure: This document details the procedures that will be
taken by the provide to resolve any complaints about attorneys or disputes
regarding service fees.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Benefits of Pre-paid legal plan for your company
Employers are on the hunt - researching benefit tools that are low-cost,
easily administered and satisfy their employees’ needs. One such tool is
pre-paid group insurance. We examine the benefits of having such a
work-benefit option from an employer’s perspective.
The first benefit employers expect from legal insurance plans is increased
productivity and efficiency. Today’s employees are interested in a variety
of benefits to balance their work with their life requirements. Given that
most American household had an issue with law last year that might have led
them to hire a lawyer, it’s only normal that a legal benefit would increase
employees’ morale and efficiency.
Having legal benefit as part of a work-benefit package can help the company
recruit and retain the best employees. In this age of work-benefit
hysteria, many prospective employment candidates base their career choices
on the set of benefit package provided by employers.
Cost containment is another benefit. With less time and resources to be
used for personal matters, the company expects to make significant savings
on administrative costs.
easily administered and satisfy their employees’ needs. One such tool is
pre-paid group insurance. We examine the benefits of having such a
work-benefit option from an employer’s perspective.
The first benefit employers expect from legal insurance plans is increased
productivity and efficiency. Today’s employees are interested in a variety
of benefits to balance their work with their life requirements. Given that
most American household had an issue with law last year that might have led
them to hire a lawyer, it’s only normal that a legal benefit would increase
employees’ morale and efficiency.
Having legal benefit as part of a work-benefit package can help the company
recruit and retain the best employees. In this age of work-benefit
hysteria, many prospective employment candidates base their career choices
on the set of benefit package provided by employers.
Cost containment is another benefit. With less time and resources to be
used for personal matters, the company expects to make significant savings
on administrative costs.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Benefits of Pre-paid legal plans
Pre-paid legal services can be a very attractive alternative to hiring a
lawyer for many people. You should consider the importance and relative
priority of these benefits in light of your own legal needs.
So what are the benefits going pre-paid compared to conventional hire of
lawyers?
Benefit Number 1: Cost-Effective
Pre-paid legal plans can take the sting out of hiring a lawyer. Lawyers’
fees are prohibitive for most people: you can run bills of thousands of
dollars and this is simply out of reach of most working and middle-class
families.
With pre-paid plans, what you get charged is more in line with what you
pay for your health or home insurance. Plans start as low as $9 per month
and typically don’t exceed the $30 mark.
Benefit Number 2: Simplicity
There is a number of very complicated set of fees lawyers charge:
contingency fees, flat fees, statutory fees and hourly rates. In the case
of contingency and statutory fees, you have to get into the intricate
details of how these fees are computed – say for a contingency fee how
much is the lawyer’s commission? – and their regulatory nature – who
regulates the statutory fee and how do I know if these fees are in line
with regulatory guidelines?-.
The other two types of fees can be equally as complex. Increasingly,
attorneys choose to incorporate any overheads they incur, like secretarial
expenses, parking charges and travel fees into their flat and hourly fees.
They can also set a minimum number of billing units, like three tenths of
an hour (18 minutes), irrespective of how long it takes them to deal with
your problem.
This is just a sample rundown of what might influence the various fees
charged by lawyers, other factors and arrangements can apply too. Contrast
this with the simplicity in which pre-paid legal services are priced and
furnished. The process is simple and straightforward: you sign an agreement
to pay a fixed monthly fee and that’s about it. If what you’re looking for
is not covered, your plan provider will give you a prior notice of a
different billing so that you know exactly how much you will be charged.
Benefit Number 4: Pre-emptive Law
Pre-paid plans offer unlimited phone consultation and advice. This aspect
of the service can save you a lot of trouble, money and time in the
future. Most legal problems you are likely to face in your day-to-day life
can be solved if you take the necessary steps in line with the law. With
the right advice and consultation with your lawyer, you can detect legal
blunders before they occur and hence minimize the risk of litigation and
lawyer for many people. You should consider the importance and relative
priority of these benefits in light of your own legal needs.
So what are the benefits going pre-paid compared to conventional hire of
lawyers?
Benefit Number 1: Cost-Effective
Pre-paid legal plans can take the sting out of hiring a lawyer. Lawyers’
fees are prohibitive for most people: you can run bills of thousands of
dollars and this is simply out of reach of most working and middle-class
families.
With pre-paid plans, what you get charged is more in line with what you
pay for your health or home insurance. Plans start as low as $9 per month
and typically don’t exceed the $30 mark.
Benefit Number 2: Simplicity
There is a number of very complicated set of fees lawyers charge:
contingency fees, flat fees, statutory fees and hourly rates. In the case
of contingency and statutory fees, you have to get into the intricate
details of how these fees are computed – say for a contingency fee how
much is the lawyer’s commission? – and their regulatory nature – who
regulates the statutory fee and how do I know if these fees are in line
with regulatory guidelines?-.
The other two types of fees can be equally as complex. Increasingly,
attorneys choose to incorporate any overheads they incur, like secretarial
expenses, parking charges and travel fees into their flat and hourly fees.
They can also set a minimum number of billing units, like three tenths of
an hour (18 minutes), irrespective of how long it takes them to deal with
your problem.
This is just a sample rundown of what might influence the various fees
charged by lawyers, other factors and arrangements can apply too. Contrast
this with the simplicity in which pre-paid legal services are priced and
furnished. The process is simple and straightforward: you sign an agreement
to pay a fixed monthly fee and that’s about it. If what you’re looking for
is not covered, your plan provider will give you a prior notice of a
different billing so that you know exactly how much you will be charged.
Benefit Number 4: Pre-emptive Law
Pre-paid plans offer unlimited phone consultation and advice. This aspect
of the service can save you a lot of trouble, money and time in the
future. Most legal problems you are likely to face in your day-to-day life
can be solved if you take the necessary steps in line with the law. With
the right advice and consultation with your lawyer, you can detect legal
blunders before they occur and hence minimize the risk of litigation and
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Are Pre-paid services worth the money?
You may be covered when it comes to health, life, car or home insurance…
but what about legal coverage?
The question is not if you'll need a lawyer, but when: according to the
American Bar Association (ABA) “Americans have come to view legal
assistance as a necessity”. Yet, most Americans have not used a lawyer
more than once due to the sky high attorney fees – anywhere from $100 to
$1000 per hour – and the trepidation involved in the search for legal
services.
Prepaid legal insurance might just be the answer you have been looking
for. The concept is simple: for a fixed monthly subscription, you get
telephone access to advice from a lawyer. You pay a fixed amount in
advance each month to defray the cost of legal services furnished in the
future. These services span various areas of the law, anywhere from reviews
of simple legal documents and the writing of a simple will to more
comprehensive coverage of trials, divorce, bankruptcy and real estate
issues.
Pre-paid legal coverage is a very attractive proposition for people who
don’t have the resources to retain a lawyer on a regular basis whenever
they need assistance. You effectively have a network of attorneys you can
use as retainer to seek preliminary advice about what the issues are and
how the procedures work whenever legal matters arise. Services not covered
by the plan are available to members for a discount on regular hourly rates
or flat fees.
A hard fact, however, is that more than half of new subscribers drop out of
a prepaid
plan after their first year. One reason could be that many members do not
require any legal assistance during their first year, so opt out. Another
reason is the scope of services offered, which are very basic and limited
in nature. Most plans have certain caps or maximums as far as benefits
provided are concerned, and purport to offer discount on standard attorney
fees instead. However, by virtue of simply calling around by yourself you
could probably negotiate a lower rate.
Another problem with pre-paid legal plans is the likelihood of getting
assigned to a novice attorney. Because of cost considerations, many of the
companies behind per-paid services assign trainee or inexperienced
attorneys to handle phone consultation and drafting of simple legal
documents. You are also less likely to build rapport and understanding,
two of the most important attributes of choosing a good attorney, as over
90% of the work is done over the phone.
but what about legal coverage?
The question is not if you'll need a lawyer, but when: according to the
American Bar Association (ABA) “Americans have come to view legal
assistance as a necessity”. Yet, most Americans have not used a lawyer
more than once due to the sky high attorney fees – anywhere from $100 to
$1000 per hour – and the trepidation involved in the search for legal
services.
Prepaid legal insurance might just be the answer you have been looking
for. The concept is simple: for a fixed monthly subscription, you get
telephone access to advice from a lawyer. You pay a fixed amount in
advance each month to defray the cost of legal services furnished in the
future. These services span various areas of the law, anywhere from reviews
of simple legal documents and the writing of a simple will to more
comprehensive coverage of trials, divorce, bankruptcy and real estate
issues.
Pre-paid legal coverage is a very attractive proposition for people who
don’t have the resources to retain a lawyer on a regular basis whenever
they need assistance. You effectively have a network of attorneys you can
use as retainer to seek preliminary advice about what the issues are and
how the procedures work whenever legal matters arise. Services not covered
by the plan are available to members for a discount on regular hourly rates
or flat fees.
A hard fact, however, is that more than half of new subscribers drop out of
a prepaid
plan after their first year. One reason could be that many members do not
require any legal assistance during their first year, so opt out. Another
reason is the scope of services offered, which are very basic and limited
in nature. Most plans have certain caps or maximums as far as benefits
provided are concerned, and purport to offer discount on standard attorney
fees instead. However, by virtue of simply calling around by yourself you
could probably negotiate a lower rate.
Another problem with pre-paid legal plans is the likelihood of getting
assigned to a novice attorney. Because of cost considerations, many of the
companies behind per-paid services assign trainee or inexperienced
attorneys to handle phone consultation and drafting of simple legal
documents. You are also less likely to build rapport and understanding,
two of the most important attributes of choosing a good attorney, as over
90% of the work is done over the phone.
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