TexasCHLforum.com

How does this differ from the Armed Citizen's Defense Network?

We were offered [Pre-paid legal service] at my CHL class. I've done some investigating and I think it will be well worth the 110 bucks. Lawyer all the way down the line in the event of a legal shoot.

Winchster wrote:We were offered [Pre-paid legal service] at my CHL class. I've done some investigating and I think it will be well worth the 110 bucks. Lawyer all the way down the line in the event of a legal shoot.

Since you've investigated, maybe you could answer this question: Are the lawyers w/ [Pre-paid legal service] (the actual lawyers that
would be representing YOU in a shoot) or any of these other pre-paid services, all Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorneys?
If the answer is no, then you're probably wasting your money IMHO. If the answer is yes, are the attorneys part owners in the business, paid to be on retainer year round, or are they "picked up" (hired) only when needed? Thanks in advance.

Are the lawyers w/ [Pre-paid legal service] (the actual lawyers that
would be representing YOU in a shoot) or any of these other pre-paid services, all Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorneys?

I keep looking for that information, haven't found it yet. They are a criminal defense law office since 1994.

If the answer is yes, are the attorneys part owners in the business, paid to be on retainer year round, or are they "picked up" (hired) only when needed?

The attorneys that will represent you all work for the firm, the contract price you pay is the retainer fee. No other legal fees, all the way through trial both civil and criminal, if it goes that far.

To me, all the pre paid stuff is great for quick questions and “cut a nasty letter for me” type situations; where you don’t want to pay 200 an hr

If I’m going to court, I want someone I have a relationship with.

CJATE wrote:To me, all the pre paid stuff is great for quick questions and “cut a nasty letter for me” type situations; where you don’t want to pay 200 an hr

If I’m going to court, I want someone I have a relationship with.

How do you intend to develop a working relationship wit a criminal attorney?

Pawpaw wrote:

CJATE wrote:To me, all the pre paid stuff is great for quick questions and “cut a nasty letter for me” type situations; where you don’t want to pay 200 an hr

If I’m going to court, I want someone I have a relationship with.

How do you intend to develop a working relationship wit a criminal attorney?

Well if it's me...I would do it by having him get me off the hook for all the non-firearms related felonious things I do...and for the other high crimes and misdemeanors I rack up virtually on a daily basis...

I am suspicious of almost all insurance because, if I buy it, I'm betting that I will need it whereas those who sell the insurance are betting that I won't need it. Looks like I'd be on the wrong side of the bet if I bought it. I self insure wherever possible.

Seems to me having a phone number that I can call 24/7 and get one of my attorneys on the line instead of a para or an answering service is relationship enough for me.
As far as being on the wrong side of the bet, I would be grateful that I made the bet and had an attorney on retainer for 120 bucks out of my pocket. I don't know if you've priced retainer and legal fees for lawyers lately, I haven't either, but I would imagine that they are far more than I could afford if I needed one.

I try to stay out of prepaid legal discussions, but remember the old saying "you get what you pay for." $100/yr buying a lawyer all the way through trial on a murder charge?

Chas.

i dont think $100 would get me out of a traffic ticket.

I try to stay out of prepaid legal discussions, but remember the old saying "you get what you pay for." $100/yr buying a lawyer all the way through trial on a murder charge?

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I try to stay out of prepaid legal discussions, but remember the old saying "you get what you pay for." $100/yr buying a lawyer all the way through trial on a murder charge?

Chas.

Normally I would agree with you Mr. Cotton, but look at it like this: State Farm is gambling that with enough volume the risks of paying out $250,000 or more on your home owners insurance is offset by the $900 a year they collect simply due to the odds. Places like this firm in Houston are gambling that CHL holders, non-felon, non Class A or Class B misdemeanor, offenders, are most likely to only ever be involved in a justifiable shooting. They are betting that all they really have to do is file the paperwork to make sure you get "no-billed" and file the motion to dismiss in the civil suit if it happens. I'm willing to wager that there are some of you that have been CHL holders since 1996 and that had you had their services since then you've paid a little over $2000. If you've never been in trouble, and never been arrested for a shooting, answer me this. Who is winning in the gamble at that point? They've made two grand from you and never even spent a billable hour doing anything. I think that volume is the key to their idea. The number of CHL holders that are justified in their shooting, that actually go as far as a criminal trial for murder, is probably extremely low. I am pretty sure that the lady told us that if you just go out and shoot somebody that they aren't going to help you. It's insurance, and like all insurance companies its a gamble that they make enough volume to justify the next to nothing that they really do. With enough volume, they can afford to take the occasional, albeit very rare, case all the way through trial.

This is all just my opinion, and I am not a client of theirs yet, I've just been thinking about it, and I don't have the resources to put an attorney on retainer or pay the bill if I need one in case of a shooting. I also don't want to trust my life to a public defender.

I'm not familiar with the offering you mentioned, but pre-paid legal is not insurance, it's more like a given level of representation for a fixed fee.

You're correct, volume is absolutely the key. However, how much volume is there in that practice area? Of all the CHL's I know, not one has insurance or pre-paid legal. There are at least three firms I am aware of that are offering this, so the entire book of business is divided between at least three firms, if not more. If you have a 1,000 people sign up with a firm, then an entire year's pre-paid fees can be eaten up in one or a few cases. Also, what is provided for your annual fee? Is it only an attorney? Do they hire any expert witnesses? I'm not saying they won't because I don't know.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of participating in a pre-paid legal program if they wish. Just understand what you get, what you don't, and what are the qualifications of the people who will represent you?

Chas.

I know it costs me $30 a month for my TMPA coverage for LE related things. I have not needed their services, but those that have, were very impressed and grateful for it.