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Vol. 72, No. 6, June 1999

Group & Prepaid Legal Services:
A Way to Build Your Practice?

Legal Service Plans Terminology

Automatic enrollment group plan - All members of the sponsoring organization automatically are members of the plan (although they might not use it).

Voluntary enrollment group plan - Members choose whether to join and pay the enrollment fee or premium (usually covers all household members).

Individual enrollment plan - Not sponsored by a group, this plan is marketed to individual consumers.

Prepaid plan - Members, employers, or sponsoring organizations pay in advance to participate. All voluntary and individual enrollment plans are prepaid.

Access plan - Members have easy access to legal advice and services, usually in the form of free in-office or telephone consultation and basic follow-up services.

Comprehensive plan - Provides additional legal services on demand in return for a fee or premium. Benefits and fees vary considerably from plan to plan.

Open panel plan - Members choose their own lawyers under this plan.

Closed panel plan - Members must consult the lawyer or lawyers selected by the plan.

Modified panel plan - This plan has a closed panel that any lawyer can join.

Sponsor - The group or organization that endorses the legal services plan and, in some cases, pays fees for its members.

Provider - The lawyer who gives advice and assistance to members.

Member - The individual who receives legal services under the plan.

Administrator - The party who handles enrollment, billing, accounting, and so on.

State Bar Group & Prepaid Legal Services Committee

The Group & Prepaid Legal Services Committee monitors whether plans offered in Wisconsin comply with the Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules. Wisconsin lawyers can participate only in plans that pass the committee's approval. To find out whether a plan is on the Bar's approved list or if the committee has had any experience with a plan, please contact any committee member.

Another way to Generate Clients:
Register for Lawyer Referral and Information Service

The State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) offers members an opportunity to reach new clients and build your practice. Registration for the 1999-2000 Lawyer Referral and Information Service panel is underway. The new panel year begins July 1.

LRIS offers a wide variety of areas of practice to choose from including: family law, criminal law, probate, real property, business/corporate law, administrative agencies, alternative dispute resolution, elder law, constitutional law, tort/injury, school, taxes, commercial/consumer law, bankruptcy, federal issues, municipal law, immigration, intellectual property, and labor/employment law. LRIS also has added five new specific areas: Internet law, Y2K compliance issues, qualified domestic relations orders, ERISA, and school harassment.

For more information, contact Shell Goar at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6172, (608) 250-6172; or Jennifer Kersten at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6171, (608) 250-6171.