3.3
4.1
Overall Score
LegalShield is a legal service provider that works with a network of law firms throughout the United States and Canada. The company aims to modernize legal services by offering monthly membership plans that give consumers access to qualified and experienced lawyers 24/7 for help with legal issues.
Prepaid Legal changed its name to LegalShield in September 2011.
LegalShield is not a law firm and does not employ lawyers. Instead, the company has built long-standing partnerships with law firms from every state and throughout Canada.
Instead of hiring one attorney who only practices a specific type of law, LegalShield's membership plans give you access to an entire law firm. Ensuring you are matched with an experienced attorney to handle your immediate legal needs.
This benefits consumers because you get coverage for various legal issues for one affordable monthly payment. With more traditional legal services, you pay hundreds by the hour for a lawyer who can only help with one specific problem.
LegalShield's memberships give you unlimited access to legal assistance or advice. The company offers three membership plans that provide a variety of coverage.
The Individual and Families Plan includes help with estate planning (last will and testament, power of attorney, trusts, etc.) traffic assistance, tax audit services, document reviews, etc. There are even a few add-ons such as gun owners supplement, ride share and delivery supplement, trial defense supplement, and home business supplement.
The Small Business Plan includes assistance with tax audit services, designated consultations, collection letters, etc.
The Start a Business Plan offers features such as LLC formation, business name check, collection letters, obtaining an LLC Federal Tax ID, and more.
We appreciate LegalShield offering three different plans to consumers, as it provides valuable legal information and coverage to individuals and their families, small businesses, and start-up companies.
The cost of LegalShield will depend on which type of plan you choose. A personal legal membership generally costs $29.95 a month, but the price may vary depending on where you live.
Small business plans start at $49 per month. And the start-up business plan costs $149 plus state filing fees.
The company has a 25 percent discount off your lawyer's hourly rate if you require additional legal services outside your LegalShield coverage. The average cost for independent lawyers ranges from $100 to $400, so a 25 percent discount is a good deal.
LegalShield doesn't force consumers to wait a week before they can start using their plan benefits. In most cases, you can contact your attorney as soon as your membership application is reviewed and your account is set up. The company states that this generally takes about 12 to 24 hours (or less on regular business days).
Something unique to LegalShield is the company's MEMBERPerks. Members can save up to 50 percent on big-name brands such as Verizon, Costco, and Amazon. The company website doesn't offer much more information on its perks program, so we recommend asking about this just to ensure you are receiving the full benefits of being a member.
If you choose to work with LegalShield, you have to be willing to give up a little bit of control.
Because of the way LegalShield operates, you do not have a say in which law firm represents you. You also don't get a say in who your lawyer will be.
LegalShield does its best to find an attorney qualified to handle your case, but it might not always be the perfect fit. You can request to work with another attorney, but you'll have to consider their availability and areas of expertise.
LegalShield offers a unique approach to helping people afford legal assistance and services.
As with most subscription services, you need to consider how often you'll be using the services. If you think you will use LegalShield's services repeatedly, it's worth it. If you only plan on using the services once in a blue moon, then a monthly subscription might not be the best choice. However, the low monthly payment and 25 percent discount off your lawyer's hourly rate may be handy in an emergency.
Legal Shield is a subscription service, and you can cancel your subscription anytime. If you find yourself in a bind, you can pay the $29.95 for the month and receive unlimited advice and access to an attorney and law firm, which could cost thousands of dollars with an independent lawyer. Once your legal issue has been resolved, you can cancel your membership.
Additionally, LegalShield not only saves you money but time. Instead of spending hours of research into reputable law firms and searching for experienced, qualified attorneys, LegalShield has done all the leg work for you. The company has partnered with over 39 law firms and employs over 900 lawyers with a vast array of expertise and experience.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of working with LegalShield is that you have to give up some control. With this company, you have to work with the partnered law firm in your state and one of their attorneys. You don't have a choice in which law firm represents you. Additionally, you may have to work with a different attorney from the firm on every case.
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1 month ago
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Sep. 18th, 2024
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3 months ago
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3 months ago
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Jul. 19th, 2024
Kat Kal Mount Laurel, NJ
1 year ago Edited May 19, 2023
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May. 19th, 2023
Brigitte Forrey Pasadena, CA
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Zeke Cervantez Sugar Land, TX
3 years ago
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Sheryl S. Toronto, ON
4 years ago Edited March 14, 2022
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11 months ago
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Dec. 12th, 2023
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Hiker Girl Graham, NC
1 year ago
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May. 23rd, 2023
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1 year ago
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JD Tokyo, 13
1 year ago
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Dec. 13th, 2022
Entrepreneurs R Us Philadelphia, PA
8 years ago
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