The document discusses how pre-paid legal services can benefit small businesses and employers. It provides examples of how two small business owners used pre-paid legal services to deal with identity theft issues and regulatory compliance. These services offer a range of basic legal help for a low monthly fee. They are seeing increased demand during the recession as individuals and businesses seek affordable legal assistance. The services also provide a steady stream of work to law firms who partner with them.
The C M Legal Issue is a newsletter owned by C Mputhia
Advocates and its vision is to keep you informed. C Mputhia
Advocates' vision is to be a leader of change and growth in the
legal and business environment and this publication is one of the
tools we use to achieve this.
The Obama Stimulus and WMBEs, Diverse Suppliers Feeling Good as Delta Aims High with Northwest Merger, Darden, a Food Service Company that’s the Benchmark for Success, Managing the Multicultural Workforce, 10 Best Practices for Supplier Diversity Initiatives
The Legal Council is comprised of lawyers and judges representing various specializations in the field of law. The Council advises and assists the AMBCC with issues related to small business, contracts, mediation, procurement, civil, criminal, and others matters affecting AMBCC members and its targeted population.
The C M Legal Issue is a newsletter owned by C Mputhia
Advocates and its vision is to keep you informed. C Mputhia
Advocates' vision is to be a leader of change and growth in the
legal and business environment and this publication is one of the
tools we use to achieve this.
The Obama Stimulus and WMBEs, Diverse Suppliers Feeling Good as Delta Aims High with Northwest Merger, Darden, a Food Service Company that’s the Benchmark for Success, Managing the Multicultural Workforce, 10 Best Practices for Supplier Diversity Initiatives
The Legal Council is comprised of lawyers and judges representing various specializations in the field of law. The Council advises and assists the AMBCC with issues related to small business, contracts, mediation, procurement, civil, criminal, and others matters affecting AMBCC members and its targeted population.
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1. RNAL SMALL BIZ sacramento.bizjournals.com
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Offering legal services benefits employers
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Pre-paid basic legal advice boosts
productivity, keeps costs down
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s, Kathy Robertson | Staff writer
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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-