Offering pre-paid legal services benefits small businesses
1. RNAL SMALL BIZ sacramento.bizjournals.com
| 11
s:
r,
p-
ir
NOVEMBER 6, 2009
ng
ty
Offering legal services benefits employers
s-
o
s.
of
t-
lp
?
rs
ly
S.
le
Pre-paid basic legal advice boosts
productivity, keeps costs down
tier,
s, Kathy Robertson | Staff writer
o ap-
i-
heir
or DENNIS McCOY | SACRAMENTO BUSINESS JOURNAL
ving
re Mimi Silvestre usesChavez’s Legal Services for her benefits business,
When Jackie Pre-Paid purse was stolen industry … and we need adequate legal protection,” she says of the
ility
es Pacific Benefits Consultants.a“We’re a small company in a growing
in September, she called toll-free number service she’s used for 16 years.
ofes-
n to get a lawyer to track how the crime was
oles.
Offering legal services benefits employers
o- affecting her credit.
rs of
n
Her boss, Mimi Silvestre, used the same
out-
nt
help
e- service this fall to learn how to comply
ny with the Federal Trade Commission’s new
tors
ally Pre-paid basic legal advice boosts
“Red Flags Rule” on identify theft preven- in the 1960s and contracts with law firms
tion. across the country to provide pre-paid le-
Why legal services?
U.S.
hile
he productivity, keeps costs down
Both turned to a pre-paid legal service gal services to individuals, unions, busi- • One in three people will encounter a legal
nesses and their workers. problem within the next year
rds,
e- that charges a monthly fee and provides a “It’s pooling risk, like you do for every- • 65 percent of Americans don’t have a will
edi-
o- KATHY ROBERTSON | STAFF WRITERwhen needed — sort thing,” Virtue said. “ It’s not insurance, • At least 80 million lawsuits are filed per year
range of basic services
he or
c of a health maintenance organization for we don’t indemnify, but we’re here when • 42 percent of employees take time off each year DENNIS McCOY | SACRAMENTO BUSINESS JOURNAL
ri-are When Jackie Chavez’s purse complicated, you benefits business,
Mimi Silvestre uses Pre-Paid Legal Services for her need it.”
was stolen industry … and we need to deal with legal problems she says of the
adequate legal protection,”
ypes legal issues. If things get more
ve in September, sheConsultants. “We’re a small company in a growing
Pacific Benefits called
fees are added, but at a toll-free number
a discount. Around
service she’s used for 16 years.
• An employee with legal problems uses medical
Dennis McCoy | Sacramento Business Journal
s,an
t to get a lawyer to track how the crime was A ‘SAFETY NET’ benefits four times more than the average
Offering legal services benefits employers
pro- Mimi Silvestre uses Pre-Paid Legal Services for her benefits business, Pacific Benefits Consul-
for 40 years, the business is booming dur- Chavez, a benefits administrator at Pa-
ui- affecting her credit. worker
tors
nd ing the recession, as businesses and indi- cific Benefits Consultants in Sacramento,industryemployee with legal hassles takes sick leave
Her boss, Mimi Silvestre, used the same tants. “We’re a small company in a growing • An … and we need adequate legal protection,”
rent
rd service this fall to learn how to legal help pays $26 per the service she’s used for 16 years. twice as much as the average employee
viduals scramble for low-cost comply she says of month for benefits from Pre-
rate-
b- with the Federal Trade Commission’s Paid Legal Services. That adds up to $312 a • An employee bogged down with legal woes
any with collections, lease negotiations and
n new “Red Flags Rule” on identify theft year — the average cost for one hour with
to individuals, unions, businesses and their is likely to show a significant decline in
nd
other matters.
Pre-paid basic legal advice boosts
prevention. a local lawyer. and contracts with law firms productivity
in the 1960s The fee provides access to
“Most can’tto a pre-paid legal service a lawyer for help withto provide pre-paid le- Source: Caldwell Legal U.S.A.
afford to hire a lawyer these workers. country simple legal issues
across the
Why legal services?
m, Both turned
t-
ngthe productivity, keeps costs down
days; we’re just too expensive,” said Rob-
that charges a monthly fee and provides
a ert LoPresti, a partner with Parker Stanbury
range of basic services when needed —
gal services to individuals, pooling busi- • One in three people will encounter a legal
“It’s unions, risk,
such as credit assis-
‘It’s pooling risk, tance, do for every- problem within and signed
nesses and their workers. contract re- up can become, the next year on for peace
like you
are-
s, sort of a health maintenance organization “It’s pooling risk,viewyoubankrupt- of • 65 percent of Americans don’t have a will
like or do for every-
ngo-
ho
LLP, a Los Angeles-based law firm that
KATHY ROBERTSON |If things get more com-
for legal issues. STAFF WRITER like Virtue said.thing,”not said. “ •mind. 80 needed help, she got year
“ It’s Virtue
thing,”you do for cy matters.insurance, When she million lawsuits are filed per a re-
At least
the provides the lawyers at the other end of we don’t indemnify,It’s not insurance, we sponse within 24 hours. take time off each year
but we’re here when • 42 percent of employees
plicated, fees are added, but at a discount. Silvestre, vice
opri-
ot theWhen 40 years, California clients stolen you need it.” It’s president of opera-
phone line for the business was of an
Around forJackie Chavez’s purse is boom-
everything. don’t indemnify, but “If anyone triesproblemsmy credit, they
to deal with legal to use
rove in September,recession,aas businesses
she called toll-free number
Oklahoma company called Pre-Paid Legal not insurance, we tions at Pacific Ben- willAn employee withfor me,” Chavez said. “I
ing during the we’re here when you • investigate it legal problems uses medical
nts, Services lawyer to track how the crime was
to get a Inc.
and individuals scramble for low-cost legal
A ‘SAFETY NET’ efits, pays less than don’t have to get involved.” the average
benefits four times more than
12 need it.”
qui- affecting her credit. lease negotiations
help withare a number of national companies
collections, don’t indemnify, $100 per month at Pa- Pre-Paid Legal Services founder Har-
Chavez, a benefits administrator for worker
and There
Her boss, Mimi Silvestre, used the same cific Benefits Consultants inthat range land Stonecipher started the companyleave
Sacramento, • An employee with legal hassles takes sick in
andthe market; most offer business plans for
in other matters. to learn how to comply pays $26 per monthservices net’ Pre-
oard service this fall A ‘safety
but we’re here from legal advice on 1969twice asamuch as thecollision resulted in
for benefits from
“Most can’t afford to hire a lawyer these after head-on average employee
tab- employers,just too expensive,” group plans
days; we’re who can also offer said Rob-
with the Federal Trade Commission’s Paid Legal Services. That adds upato $312 a hefty legal fees. Cardown with legal woes
Chavez, compli-
regulatory ben- • An employee bogged insurance covered
tion to workers a partner up on identify theft when— the average ancefor one hour with damage to the vehicle and medical in-
new “Red Flags Rule” the monthly tab
ert LoPresti, who pick with Parker Stan- year you need it.’ cost administrator at
efits to document is likely to show a significant decline in
and prevention. payroll deductions. firm
themselves via
bury LLP, a Los Angeles-based law a local lawyer. The review and collec- to surance paid for his hospital stay, but he
fee provides access productivity
Pacific Benefits Con-
eam, that Both turned than pre-paid legal service Crystal Caldwell Virtue with simple legalSacra- had no protection from the legal bills that
to a
provides the lawyers at the other end a lawyer for help tion letters. issues Source: Caldwell Legal U.S.A.
Act- “We’re busier we’ve ever been,” said sultants in
of thatphone line monthly fee and provides
the charges a Virtue
Crystal Caldwellfor California Sacramento
clients of Caldwell Legal U.S.A. mento, as credit assis-
such
‘It’s pooling risk,companycontractper accumulated. researched Europeansuch as
“We’re a small
sing an aOklahoma company in when needed —
range of basic services the Pre-Paid
called
pays $26 re- for can become, and legal issues peace
tance, in a grow- up help with simple signed on for
Stonecipher legal
ords, headquarters of Caldwell Legal U.S.A. The ing industry, benefits from Pre-Paid Legal expense assistance,started a similar idea as
of a health maintenance organization month for providing view or bankrupt- credit plans and contract review or bank-
sortServices Inc.
who
Legal likeThat do forupcy matters. year — ofWhen she needed help, she got a re-
you adds services to more mind.
family venture was founded in more com- than 500 clients ... and we need adequate a benefitmatters. with a motor services
for legal issues. If things get the 1960s Services. to $312 a
There are a number of national com- ruptcy associated
and contracts are added, firms across the the average cost for one Silvestre, local sponse within 24targets businesses with
plicated, fees with law but at a discount. everything. It’s president of aopera- Silvestre, vice hours. my credit, they
said. The vice
panies in the market; most offer busi- legal protection,” Silvestrehour with com- club. The company president of operations at
not ness plansfor 40 years, the business services pany has The fee provides access to a lawyer 100 or fewer workers. It currently provides
Around can boom-
is “If anyone tries to use
country tofor employers, who businesses lawyer. used Pre-Paid Legal Services for
provide pre-paid legal also
ing during the recession, as not insurance, we tions at Pacific Ben- Pacific Benefits, itpaysme,” Chavez said. “I
will investigate for less than $100 per
offer group plans to workers who pick up 16 years. “You always have it, like life in- legal services to more than 1.5 million fam-
GE 12 the monthly tab themselves via payroll surance. It’s not that you want to less than ilies across the U.S.involved.”
and individuals scramble for low-cost legal efits, pays use it; don’t have to get and Canada.
help with collections, lease negotiations it’s a safety indemnify, $100 per month for “It’s helped Legal Services founder Har-
deductions. don’t net.” Pre-Paid companies with absentee-
and other matters.
“We’re busier than we’ve ever been,” Chavez signed up for the service about a ism; workers are not taking the company in
services that range land Stonecipher started care of prob-
