8/28/08

Legal program gives peace of mind

by Beckye Randall

Insurance is based on the concept of shared risk. We all pay a little bit each month, whether it’s to our health, auto or home insurance agent, hoping that we won’t need to use that coverage but grateful for the security it affords.

In 1969 a man named Harland Stonecipher was involved in a serious head-on collision. He had auto insurance, medical insurance and even life insurance, but nothing to help with the mounting legal bills.

After researching European models of pre-paid legal services, Stonecipher founded the Sportsman’s Motor Club, offering legal expense reimbursement services to drivers. In the mid-1980s the company became Pre-Paid Legal, using the network marketing concept to introduce the idea of legal insurance to the American mass market.

Today Pre-Paid Legal is a publicly-traded company with more than 1.5 million members in the United States and four Canadian provinces. The company made the Forbes Magazine list of the 200 Best Small Companies in America for five consecutive years.

Linda Booth, a Marysville resident, retired in 2005 after a lifetime of work experience in accounting and employee relations. An active woman, Booth found herself immersed in volunteer work to fill her days. But she soon recognized that she missed the challenge of professional work and, after much investigation and training, she became an independent associate representing Pre-Paid Legal.

“I was really drawn to the idea of justice for all,” said Booth. “Legal services should be affordable for everyone, not just the very wealthy.”

Pre-Paid Legal’s success is largely due to its network of attorneys, Booth continued. “We work with the top law firms in the country, with attorneys who are motivated and customer-friendly.”

Affordable individual plans help provide peace of mind, with legal consultation available to review contracts, help draw up wills and personal documents, assist with traffic violations and much more. Members also receive a 25 percent discount off the attorneys’ hourly rates for matters not covered by the plan.

Pre-Paid Legal also offers programs for businesses that include help with collections, lease and contract reviews, employee tax questions and other legal matters. Business members also have access to GoSmallBiz.com, a consulting service founded by Fran Tarkenton that offers marketing, technical support, HR and even tax advice to small businesses.

An important part of the Pre-Paid Legal plan is its identity theft protection, which goes beyond financial monitoring to include assistance with drivers license or medical records theft, among other problems.

“It’s estimated that victims of identity theft spend countless hours and an average of $1,200 to clear their names,” Booth explained. “This coverage allows access to our experts who can cut through that mound of red tape on their behalf.”

Booth recently completed training and a rigorous exam to become a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist. The CITRMS program was developed for professionals who are dedicated to educating and assisting clients, businesses and the general public in combating identity theft and related fraud.

“My biggest joy is helping others,” said Booth. “Pre-Paid Legal represents a paradigm shift in how people view legal services. The program helps ensure equal protection under the law for everyone.”

She is also enthusiastic about the company’s customer care reputation. “Our customer service center is in Ada, Oklahoma,” she said with a smile, “not somewhere overseas.”

“My goal is not to sell a product,” she continued. “It’s to provide peace of mind.”

To find out more about Pre-Paid Legal, contact Linda Booth at (425) 330-2615 or visit www.prepaidlegal.com/info/rnbooth.