“Prepaid Legal” services are becoming an increasingly popular benefit among individuals and employer groups nationally. Our litigious society has created a niche for legal services companies to provide an employee benefit that provides access to legal advice for a flat monthly fee (about $16 per month). A “network” of attorneys agree to provide legal services to members who enroll and pay the monthly fee. Most plans offer unlimited toll free service for help in preparing a will and document review. They also provide limited legal advice in the event of an auto accident, trial or audit. Additional services can be purchased at discounted fees. Think of these plans as legal “HMO’s”, where there is a network of attorneys who agree to fixed fees and you must stay within the network to receive services at a substantial discount. The goal of these plans is to provide affordable legal advice to keep minor legal problems from becoming serious and potentially financially devastating.

Why should I as an employer, consider a legal services plan?
First, legal services can be offered on a “voluntary” or employee pay all basis or as an employer paid benefit. Second, your employee’s legal problems WILL cost you money in terms of lost work productivity, absenteeism, and potentially increase your health insurance costs.

Think about how your employee’s legal problems are affecting your bottom line and give us a call to discuss how we can help.