Attorneys Need LegalShield

Prepaid Legal Plans Help Bolster Attorney’s Practices

Business of Law
By Douglas J. Levy
The majority of Randy J. Ordway’s practice
involves personal injury, civil, family
and employment law. But by being part of
a prepaid legal plan network, he gets to engage
in other general practice sectors, from
wills and trusts to deeds and adoptions.
Best of all, “It creates a large client base
and provides a source for business and
revenue that doesn’t require a lot of the
overhead costs associated with advertising
and that sort of thing,” said Ordway of
Troy-based Powers Chapman DeAgostino
Meyers & Milia PC.
Since 1994, his firm has been a member
of Ada, Okla.-based LegalShield,
one of several nationwide companies
of its kind.
Prepaid legal plans are usually offered
as part of an employee benefit program,
and provide coverage for a range of legal
services. Depending on what plans are offered,
employees pay $70-$400 annually
for the coverage via payroll deduction or
monthly fees, according to the American
Prepaid Legal Services Institute (API).
The plans cover a range of basic legal
services, including consultations, power of
attorney, assistance with traffic violations
and accidents, audits and identity theft.
About one-third of the Fortune 500 companies
offer group legal plans, and Michigan
employers with legal plans include
Chrysler, Herman Miller, Detroit Diesel,
Domino’s Pizza, Dow Corning, and the
University of Michigan.

LegalShield handles more than 1.5 million inbound
calls and 200,000-plus e-mails each year.
There has been some attrition in membership
because of layoffs and cutbacks at
large corporations during the recession.
But usage by plan members is up
particularly in bankruptcy and debt
collection defense cases.

Rich Figley
614-395-2313
email
website
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