THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 13, 1995 TAG: 9502130208
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANE GERRING, RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Barry Case says legal insurance soon will become commonplace as health insurance.
``Prepaid legal plans are a method of delivering legal services to a broad audience, including those who otherwise could neither find the services or afford the hourly rates (of a lawyer),'' Case said.
Case heads the Richmond division of Legal Resources of Virginia, a company based in Virginia Beach.
Legal Resources has 20,000 subscribers in Virginia.
Case compares the growth of legal insurance to the proliferation of health maintenance organizations. Like HMOs, the concept of legal insurance is not new, but it is becoming more popular as the need for legal costs climb and lawyers' fees increase.
As with other types of insurance, legal insurance is based on the premise that consumers are willing to pay a relatively low monthly fee for assistance that might cost thousands of dollars in a crisis.
``The more aware and educated the consumer becomes of the concept and benefits, the more popular it will become,'' Case said.
Educating consumers and their employers about prepaid legal insurance is a big part of Case's job.
Because Legal Resources' plan is more affordable as a group benefit, he first approaches the employers.
His message: Workers will be more productive if they aren't worried about possible legal problems. He also tells employers that Legal Resources' plan will cost them only the expense of handling payroll deductions.
``Just as you have a doctor for your health needs, a dentist for your dental needs, Legal Resources provides an attorney for legal needs,'' Case said. by CNB