LegalShield Review: Debt Disputes and Other Legal Services
Legal issues can arise at any moment, often coming with a hefty price tag. LegalShield is a company that aims to provide affordable legal solutions for individuals and families. They offer a wide range of services, from legal advice, to document review, to representation, for a fixed monthly fee.
What is LegalShield?
LegalShield is a legal services company with the mission of making legal protection both accessible and affordable to everyone. They’ve operated for over five decades and offer a wide range of services for a set monthly fee.
Here’s what you can expect from the Personal Plan service:
- Access to The Network: When you subscribe to LegalShield, you’ll get access to a network of experienced attorneys. Their job is to provide you with professional advice on your concerns.
- A Provider Law Firm: LegalShield will match you with a Provider Law Firm. This is the law firm assigned to you as a customer.
- Consultations with Your Provider Law Firm: Speak with your Provider Law Firm directly to explain your situation. They will return your call with details and advice on what they believe your situation needs.
- Professional Support: Lawyers with LegalShield are there to support you. They can help review documents, inform you of your rights, and provide tips for how to negotiate your case better. In some cases, your lawyer may even write a letter or make a call on your behalf to seek resolution for your situation.
LegalShield’s Debt Disputes Service
If you’re navigating a debt-related incident, like a billing dispute or a debt being placed in collections, it’s wise to have a lawyer on your side. Being informed of your rights as a consumer is crucial to negotiating properly and getting the result you’re looking for. Here’s what LegalShield can do for you, depending on the type of debt you’re navigating:
Student Loans
Failure to pay student loans may land you in collections with a substantial ding to your credit score. If you’re in this scenario, contact your lender immediately and ask about other payment options that may suit your budget.
If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to make any payments, deferment or forbearance may be viable options. LegalShield lawyers can help you navigate those decisions, as well as any legal ramifications of landing in collections.
Collection Agency Harassment
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) forbids collection agencies from harassing or threatening debtors. However, it still happens. If you’re being harassed by a collection agency, it’s wise to seek legal representation.
LegalShield lawyers are aware of your rights throughout the collection process and can give advice about how to respond to those that contact you.
Medical Billing
If you receive a surprise or incorrect medical bill, contact your insurance company to verify the bill. If the bill is for a service you simply forgot you had, you’ll need to pay it. If the bill contains incorrect services you did not receive, is of an astronomical amount, or is for a procedure where you were not the patient, you may want to seek legal advice.
LegalShield can help review your documents and interpret the billings and insurance. If there are larger issues at play, your assigned lawyer can call or write letters on your behalf to resolve the matter.
The Pros and Cons of LegalShield
As with all legal services, there are pros and cons to be aware of.
Benefits of LegalShield
More Affordable
LegalShield Personal Plans start at $29.95 per month, or $24.95 per month if you pay for the entire year upfront. Independent debt settlement attorneys, however, can charge anywhere from $200 to $400 in some cases.
This makes LegalShield a much more affordable alternative if working with an individual attorney isn’t in budget.
24/7 Availability for Certain Emergencies
Unlike law firms with set hours, LegalShield offers 24/7 emergency access if:
- You’re arrested
- You’re facing an injury from an auto accident
- You’re served a criminal warrant
- The state is attempting to take your child(ren)
Streamlined Process
When working with a local law firm, you may need to schedule consultations with several lawyers before you find one willing to take on your case (and who you like working with). With LegalShield, you’re matched with a Provider Law Firm, meaning you won’t need to engage in the lawyer search process on your own.
Downsides of LegalShield
No Free Trial
LegalShield is a subscription service, but unlike Netflix and Hulu, there is no free trial. If you want to try the service, you’ll need to pay upfront.
Plan Limitations
LegalShield offers customers a sweet deal, but it comes with limitations — which makes sense given the price you’re paying. For example, you’re limited in the following ways:
- You don’t get unlimited time to discuss with your assigned lawyer.
- Depending on the plan, you can only send a certain number of documents for review each month.
How Much Does LegalShield Cost?
LegalShield offers three plan options with the following services, starting as low as $24.95 per month.
*Customers can receive a 25% discount on their Provider Law Firm’s services that are not included in their LegalShield subscription.
*Member Perks include discounts on brands like Verizon, T-Mobile, and Costco.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LegalShield Lawyers Good?
LegalShield lawyers have been with their respective law firms for an average of 20 years, according to LegalShield themselves. While each individual lawyer will have a different level of experience, you can rest assured that any lawyer you speak with via LegalShield has ample experience.
Does LegalShield Work?
LegalShield cannot guarantee that you receive your ideal outcome. Each individual situation is different, and each lender and creditor is different as well. In some cases, even a lawyer’s negotiation skills will yield little results. That said, this can happen with any lawyer you work with.
Is LegalShield a Good Option?
If you cannot afford to work with an independent attorney, LegalShield is a great alternative. While it’s impossible to provide 100% of clients with their ideal outcome, LegalShield does receive rave reviews — 4.5 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot, to be exact. This is solid supporting evidence that using the service is a sound decision.
If you’re in need of affordable legal advice, give LegalShield a try.
