LegalShield Reviews: A True Pre-Paid Attorney?
In this Legal Shield review, I’ll attempt to address the perennial MLM question, “Is it a pyramid scheme?”
Additionally, I’ll explain what Legal Shield is and whether it can give you financial freedom and a reliable source of income.
Now, because I want to be honest in my review…
Chances are you heard about LegalShield because someone – a friend or family member – introduced you to the company. Maybe you attended an online workshop or webinar, or maybe an in-person information session.
Your head’s probably spinning. This might be the first time you’ve heard about a real way to make money outside of a typical job.
So first off, congratulations!
You’ve just entered a whole new world…the world of making money on your own terms.
However, you came in through the wrong door.
Because LegalShield is – plain and simple – an MLM. Throw whatever fancy name you want on it…multi-level marketing (MLM), network marketing (NWM), direct sales, or anything else, it’s the same concept:
You pay some money upfront for the “opportunity” to sell products.
The products are typically low-quality but with high price tags (because fancy labels and stuff).
You’re told that the key to building your own successful business is selling these products to friends and family, and getting them on a subscription (so you get “monthly recurring revenue”).
Unfortunately, like most people who get taken in by these types of schemes, you’ll quickly discover that the well runs dry faster than you imagined.
After all, they make it sound really simple. “Just get 5 people you know onto this magic widget, and things will just grow from there.”
And in your head, you think “How hard can it be? I know plenty of people, 5 will be easy.”
But then you do it, and you realize people look at you like you’ve joined a cult. You’ve become “that person”, who joined an MLM, and is now trying to sell questionable products or services to everyone they meet.
It puts a strain on your relationships, and you end up stuck between two worlds.
But it’s not your fault. These companies spend millions of dollars each year figuring out exactly how to brainwash and recruit people. And that’s why we’re here.
To help you find a better way before it’s too late.
So, what if there was a way you could build a passive income stream that’s actually passive?
An income stream that doesn’t require:
- Inventory
- Selling to friends and family
- Selling to strangers
- Recruiting people
- Dealing with questionable products that weigh on your conscience
An income stream that brings in consistent revenues every single month (from a couple thousand dollars to well over $10,000)?
An income stream you could actually build in your spare time, and grow as large or as small as you want to, without having to spend hours a day chasing, selling, or managing anything?
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out Digital Leasing.
This is nothing like MLM, and that’s probably a good thing.
However, if you’d still like to know more about LegalShield, keep reading.
Legal Shield Review
LegalShield was founded by Harland Stonecipher, a life insurance carrier.
Product Name: Legal Shield
Founder: Harland Stonecipher
Best For: Individual job seekers
Product Type: Multi-Level Marketing Company and a Legal Services Provider
Summary: Legal Shield’s mission is to ensure that everyone has access to a low-cost but competent attorney. This is the only online legal service, and economical available with a monthly subscription fee of $19.95.
Product Currency: USD
Product In-Stock: https://schema.org/OutOfStock
Editor’s Rating: 1.8
Recommended: NO
What Is Legal Shield? Is It A Legal Services Provider / Law Firm?
LegalShield began providing affordable legal services more than 48 years ago and is a pioneer in this sector.
It’s a multilevel marketing company that provides low-cost legal protection to individuals and small businesses.
Customers can obtain legal representation and advice from an experienced criminal law attorney at a fixed monthly rate for various situations, instead of the expensive hourly rates typically offered by law firms.
The corporation has been in operation since 1972 and currently has 1.7 million subscribers.
LegalShield’s attorney network spans all 50 states, with 39 legal firms and 900 attorneys averaging 22 years of experience.
Small Enterprises Can Obtain The Following Legal Services In Return For A Fixed Monthly Fee:
- Legal counseling on a general basis
- Consultations about particular legal matters
- Review of documents and contracts
- Assist with collection efforts
- Telephone calls or letters on behalf of your business
- Trial defense services
In addition to this, LegalShield offers a separate website called “Launch” to establish a business.
Additionally, LegalShield offers the following two services:
- Personal legal protection
- Coverage for identity theft
LegalShield is an affordable identity theft protection solution.
LegalShield Pricing
LegalShield charges a monthly subscription fee for legal coverage.
The greater the monthly cost, the broader the coverage.
The following table summarizes the costs and benefits of LegalShield’s legal membership plans, which include their personal legal plan and LegalShield business solutions:
Small Biz 10 (10 Or Fewer Employees) @ $39 Per Month
- Telephone consultations are unlimited for an hour’s worth of legal work.
- Each year, three telephone consultations on unique legal issues (half-hour calls)
- Each year, twenty documents are assessed (Max of 6 per month, totaling 16 pages)
- Each year, a total of twenty phone calls or letters are received (Max of 6 in one month)
- Each month, five debt collection letters are sent.
- 25% discount on the attorney’s hourly rate for additional work
- There can be a maximum of two designated users.
Small Biz 50 (50 Or Fewer Employees) $89 Per Month
- Telephone consultations are unlimited for an hour’s worth of legal work.
- Each year, three telephone consultations on unique legal issues (half-hour calls)
- 30 documents are examined (a maximum of six each month, 16 pages).
- Each year, a total of 30 phone calls or letters are made (Max of 6 in one month)
- Each month, ten debt collection letters are sent.
- 25% discount on the attorney’s hourly rate for additional work
- There can be a maximum of three specified users.
- 75 hours per year for trial defense, plus a maximum of 15 hours for pre-trial preparation
Small Biz 100 (100 Or Fewer Employees) @ $149 Per Month
- Telephone consultations are unlimited for an hour’s worth of legal work.
- Each year, three telephone consultations on unique legal issues (half-hour calls)
- 40 documents are examined (a maximum of six each month, 16 pages).
- Each year, a total of 40 phone calls or letters are received (Max of 6 in one month)
- Each month, fifteen debt collection letters
- 25% discount on the attorney’s hourly rate for additional work
- 75 hours per year for trial defense, plus a maximum of 25 hours for pre-trial preparation
- There can be a maximum of five designated users.
Home Business Supplement Plus Additional $9.95 Per Month
- Telephone consultations are unlimited for an hour’s worth of legal work.
- Each year, two telephone consultations on unique legal issues (half-hour calls)
- Each year, three documents (16 pages) are reviewed.
- Each year, a total of six phone calls or letters are made (Max of 6 in one month)
- Each month, three debt collection letters
- Emergency Lega Assistance with IRS audits
Trial Defense Supplement Plus Additional $9.95 Per Month
If you find yourself in the position of defending yourself or your business in court, pre-trial and trial preparation are critical.
Business Formation Services
Prices begin at $145 in addition to state filing fees.
Registered Agent
The annual fee for a Registered Agent is $120.
Bear in mind that regardless of the plan you choose, your legal work will be handled by a member of LegalShield’s network of law firms.
Regrettably, not all law firms provide all of the benefits outlined in each plan. Prices may also vary significantly by area.
As demonstrated above, charges vary significantly depending on the level of legal support required by your business.
If you work as a freelancer, the home business supplement (which costs $24.95 per month) that can be added to your legal plan may be sufficient.
For other small businesses, choose the plan corresponding to the number of employees.
As previously said, each plan places a cap on the lawyer’s time; thus, before signing up, ensure that you understand the details of each plan.
For instance, the lawyer may devote up to one hour of legal time to a general phone conversation.
Following that, you must pay the attorney’s standard hourly rate, less a 25% reduction.
You are limited to 15 pages for document reviews and can request a maximum of six per month.
If you require an attorney to call or send letters on your behalf to a third party, you are limited to six calls or letters a month.
If you exceed these limitations, you must pay the attorney’s standard fee less the 25% reduction.
Summary Of LegalShield Customer Reviews
LegalShield, formerly known as Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., has garnered overwhelmingly positive online reviews.
Positive LegalShield Reviews
Contrary to my own experience, most folks had a favorable impression of LegalShield‘s attorneys. They were attentive and responsive, and their legal difficulties were successfully resolved.
The bulk of persons awarded LegalShield excellent reviews were long-term subscribers and frequent consumers of their services.
They claimed to have saved a significant amount of money since employing LegalShield’s services.
Negative LegalShield Reviews
On the negative, a frequent criticism was that it was difficult to terminate their subscription.
And other members learned that their credit card had been charged even after canceling it.
Others asserted that the items required of law firms as part of their membership benefits were not given.
LegalShield Competitors And Alternatives
LegalShield is a fantastic choice for businesses that require immediate access to legal counsel at a fixed charge.
They do, however, face competition from the following:
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is a larger, more well-known competitor to LegalShield that offers many of the same services as LegalShield.
You gain access to the following with their business plan:
- Telephone discussions with attorneys
- Legal structures
- Examinations of documents
- Additionally, they offer business formation services.
All consultations with attorneys are restricted to 30 minutes, and document reviews to ten pages.
LegalShield offers exceptional value in this regard—the time limit applies only to specialist legal consultations and document assessments of up to 15 pages in length.
IncFile
IncFile is a significantly more affordable alternative to LegalShield’s Launch, a business incorporation service, for firms looking to establish a new entity.
While LegalShield charges $145 for business creation plus state filing fees, IncFile charges only $49 plus state filing fees.
That is the lowest price I could find online for business formation, unless, of course, you want to handle everything yourself.
UpCounsel
LegalShield plans are great if you require a rapid resolution to a legal issue or require an attorney to assist you in resolving a minor issue.
However, a service such as UpCounsel may be appropriate for more complex matters.
Can You Really Make Money With LegalShield?
You certainly can!
But…
There’s a lot that comes along with Network Marketing that many people struggle with.
In fact, check out our Top 5 Reason Why Most Network Marketers Fail.
Now, don’t get me wrong…
You can certainly make money with LegalShield, but if you’re gonna put in the amount of grueling work to do this business (which, trust me, isn’t easy), you might as well bring in some REAL money while you’re learning the ropes.
The Bottom Line: Is It A Scam?
So, is LegalShield a scam?
Not technically. You can make money with this program, but it’s definitely not as easy as the company makes it sound.
There’s a ton of work to be done upfront, no real guarantee of success, and – most importantly – the actual commissions are pretty small.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with front-loading the work and making the money later.
But if you’re grinding it out for 3 months and then your reward is a $50 commission, it’s not really worth it.
What if, instead, you could do that same 3 months of work (in your spare time), and your reward was a $500 to $2,000 payment that came in every single month?
And what if you actually didn’t need to wait 3 months? What if you could get started today and have your first payment in a week?
And what if you could double it next week?
Well, that’s the power of Digital Leasing.
And, unlike an MLM, you can legitimately do this from anywhere. It’s a true lifestyle business.
Your laptop and an internet connection is all you need.
Some of the most successful students in this program run their entire 6-figure businesses from:
- A camper in the middle of the woods
- A beach chair on the water in Mexico
- A small villa in Greece
They’re able to travel around, living their lives first, and focusing on their income second.
Because even if they stop working for an extended period of time, the money keeps coming in.
So adventure, memories, and experience are the top priority.
And they never have to worry about how to pay for the next trip, or consider asking for time off.
If this sounds more like the type of life you want to lead, just click here to find out more about Digital Leasing.
Are There Alternatives to LegalShield?
Yes, there are plenty of MLM companies to choose from if you want to pursue this business model. Here are just a few:
What Is Our #1 Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2024?
Our review team has spent months researching, reviewing, and vetting dozens of business models and thousands of programs.
While there may be no “perfect business”, the research IS conclusive:
Digital Leasing is the #1 online business model for those just starting out.
Whether you’ve never made a dollar online, or you’ve been in this space for a while but never really “made it,” Digital Leasing is for you.
Why?
1) It’s Flexible: got an hour a day? You can do this. Ready to drop everything else and dive in full time? You can do this. Yes, the more time you put in, the faster you see results. But even with a little time each day, you can move the needle in a Digital Leasing business.
And because this system is so flexible, you don’t have to constantly be working to make more money. It’s called PASSIVE INCOME because if you stop working, the money doesn’t.
Imagine taking 3 months off to just tour around Europe, rent a cabin in the woods to write a book, hike the Appalachian Trail, or live on the beach and surf all day.
This is only possible if you have an income stream that’s not tied to your time.
2) You Own & Control EVERYTHING: With MLMs and Network Marketing, you don’t really own anything. You have no control over the quality of products. You don’t even own your “team”.
Look at the fine print for most of the agreements folks sign when they join one of these companies. At any point, the company can change your commission structure, reduce your profit margins, or kick you out entirely.
With Digital Leasing, you own the assets, which means you have all the power and all the control.
3) Little To No Startup Costs: It’s possible to get into Digital Leasing with zero dollars upfront. Because, using the strategies outlined in this program, you can get a client to pay you BEFORE spending a penny out of your own pocket…even before you do any work.
Even without getting paid in advance, you can have your first Digital Rental Property up, running, and generating profits for less than $100.
4) No Inventory: Alright, so most MLMs don’t make you buy the products and fill your garage with them anymore (unlike the good ol’ days), but you’re still in a physical products business.
And physical products always have physical limitations. Even if you don’t have to manage the inventory, you still have to deal with supply chain shortages that cause major delays.
Imagine finally landing your first customer, and then losing them after one sale because they had to wait 6 weeks to get their order.
With Digital Leasing, a 100% online business, you never even have to think about that risk.
5) Easy To Duplicate: Ok, here’s the best part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up and running, you can literally DOUBLE your income with a few clicks, a couple keystrokes, and a single phone call (and you don’t actually need the phone call).
Remember: each Digital Rental Property is worth $500 to $2,000 a month in semi-passive income (over 95% profit). Every time you decide to create another one and increase your income, it gets easier.
Because you have more knowledge, more experience, more results, and more momentum.
If you wanted to double your income with an MLM, you’d have to double your customers OR double the average order size of your existing customers. And, guaranteed that’s a lot harder than a few clicks and a few minutes of your life.
6) Make Money Helping Real People: This part is what makes it all worth it. In an MLM, your “upline” might convince you that what you’re selling improves people’s lives, but deep down, you likely know that’s not true.
Most of the time, you’re either selling a dream or a poor-quality, overpriced product with a fancy label.
And that makes it pretty hard to sleep at night.
But with Digital Leasing, you’re actually helping people by solving your clients’ biggest problem:
Small, local businesses need more customers, and with Digital Leasing, you are unleashing a flood of happy, paying customers for these businesses.
You make money by helping them make money.
Not a big, faceless corporation either…a small business owner who’s using that money to put food on the table for their family, start a college fund for their kids, or take care of a sick parent.
Once you see how Digital Leasing makes a real impact in the lives of real people, you’ll sleep like a baby with a big smile on your face.
Now, the choice is yours.
You could continue browsing, looking at opportunities like LegalShield which could one day make you money.
You could continue researching, never making a decision.
OR, you could take a look inside, consider what you really want, and join a program that makes your dreams a reality. At the same time, joining a community of over 2,000 successful students that are living life on their own terms thanks to Digital Leasing.
A consistent, reliable, semi-passive stream of income that doesn’t depend on you or your time to keep producing profits.
All while genuinely helping real people who are grateful and happy to pay for it.
If this sounds more like what you want out of life (or if you just want some nice side income), click here to learn more about Digital Leasing.
