Pre-Paid Legal was formed in 1972 by Harland C. Stonecipher shortly after he had a costly brush with lawyers stemming from an automobile accident. Although he was not at fault, his legal bills accumulated. Stonecipher had auto insurance, medical insurance, and life insurance. The one type of prepaid protection he didn't own was a prepaid legal plan.
Stonecipher had a vision to make legal services accessible to millions of Americans. Pre-Paid Legal is the realization of that vision.
Pre-Paid Legal products are attorney fees what prepaid medical plans are doctor and hospital bills. Designed to help middle-income Americans get quality legal assistance without first having to make a decision. Our plans were among the first to be marketed in the United States. Today, in parts of Europe, legal expense plans are as commonplace as auto insurance in America.
The company's first product of an individual's legal costs in automobile-related matters and was marketed solely to to employee groups. This early product required members to find an attorney on their own. Many had never consulted an attorney on their own. Many had never consulted an attorney: they had a difficult time finding lawyers who understood their needs, who would return their calls in a timely manner, and who were willing to work with them on even minor legal matters. As a result, Pre-Paid Legal developed a plan that was easier to use and and took the burden from the member of finding a dependable lawyer who would treat them as one of their largest clients.
Pre-Paid Legal plans currently marketed are known as Life Events Legal plans. These plans make services available through a network of independent lawyers who are paid on a per-capita basis under contract with the company. Access plans take the confusion and worry from the decision of which attorney will provide the best service and keep their best interests in mind.