How Our Members Have Saved Money with Legal Benefits

Workers in Need of Help

People are spending more than ever on goods and services, from household groceries and appliances to deliveries and dental visits. Legal assistance is no exception. 

One-third of those surveyed in July 2021 expected to spend upwards of $5,000 on legal services in the next year. The average spent per year is also growing, with a nearly 15% increase from 2019 to 2020, and 2020 representing the third consecutive year of growth. 

As inflation stretches consumers thin financially, workers are looking for more ways than ever to avoid unexpected expenses that could lead to extreme debt.

Real Savings

Divorces have long been one of the most-used legal services by the average household, coming in as the third-highest legal service in 2021 and accounting for over 10% of legal cases.

Divorces can also be an expensive legal process to go through. A national survey found that divorce proceedings cost, on average: $4,100 for uncontested, $10,600 for contested and then resolved, and $20,000 or more for those that go to trial.

Employers and Unions have agreed to provide workers with the Member Resources Legal and Personal Protection Plan as a solution for unexpected and costly events that require professional legal assistance. The plan offers participants the ability to access a network of partner attorneys who have agreed to provide legal services at a discounted rate and in some cases, for free. The plan also eliminates the time and cost it takes to research and find an attorney independently. 

In one recent case, a member who used the benefit for a contested divorce saved an estimated $1,680. 

The union’s members saved a collective $18,605 on legal services in a five-month period as a result of offering the Member Resources Legal and Personal Protection Plan. 

Fears of Unplanned Expenses

Many Americans today do not have enough savings to cover the cost of an emergency. A 2021 survey of American households found that less than 4 in 10 could afford a $1,000 unexpected expense. Legal fees can easily exceed that and leave someone with two choices: delay necessary legal action until they can afford it or incur additional debt to cover the costs.

The Member Resources Legal and Personal Protection Plan safeguards against the financial impacts of legal services and offers easy and convenient access when needed.

For more information and guidance on legal benefit plans schedule a call or fill out the form below to receive more information.

You can also learn more here on our website.