If you want the security of knowing that you can quickly get a response from a business attorney if you ever need it, LegalShield is a good choice. For a reasonable monthly fee, you can access a lawyer and get targeted help on specific problem areas for small businesses, such as debt collection.
What is LegalShield?
LegalShield is an online legal service that connects small businesses with attorneys. Instead of paying the steep hourly rates typically charged by law firms, customers pay a fixed monthly rate for access to legal representation and advice on a range of issues.
The fixed monthly fee gets small businesses access to the following:
- General legal consultations.
- Consultations about specific legal issues.
- Document and contract review.
- Assistance with debt collection.
- Phone calls or correspondence on your business’s behalf.
- Trial defense services.
LegalShield plans and pricing
LegalShield charges a fixed monthly fee for legal coverage. The more you pay each month, the more comprehensive the coverage will be.
Here are the costs and details for LegalShield’s small-business plans, including its add-on Business Plus supplement:
| LegalShield Plan | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $49 per month. |
|
| Plus | $99 per month. |
|
| Pro | $169 per month. |
|
| Business Plus supplement |
|
|
No matter which plan you choose, your legal work will be handled by a law firm within LegalShield’s network.
Trial defense supplement
For $14.95 a month, you can add LegalShield’s trial defense services to your Pro or Plus plan. You will be able to access 25 hours of pretrial time and 75 hours of trial time for civil lawsuits against your business. This is one of the only legal services we’ve reviewed to offer this service. If your business is taken to court, this can save you thousands of dollars and lower the stress of being sued.
LegalShield pros and cons
Pros
Affordable monthly fee for access to business attorneys.
One of the only legal services platforms to offer debt collection assistance.
Provides trial defense services and trial preparation work.
Cons
No trial membership or money-back guarantee.
Limits on lawyers’ time, as well as page limits for document review.
LegalShield customer reviews
LegalShield gets generally positive online reviews.
- Better Business Bureau: A+ rating.
- ConsumerAffairs: 4.6 out of 5 stars.
- TrustPilot: 4.6 out of 5 stars.
- SmartCustomer: 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Customers found LegalShield attorneys to be responsive and helpful when they needed legal services. Many people who left positive reviews note that the services pay for themselves over time. However, some customers said it was difficult to cancel their plan when they no longer needed it, with one person alleging their credit card was charged even after canceling.
Alternatives to LegalShield
LegalShield is a good option for businesses seeking easy access to legal advice for a low fixed price. However, there are several competing services that may be a better fit for your business's needs.
Here are some of the best alternatives to LegalShield.
LegalZoom
Best for: Standard legal help.
LegalZoom offers some of the same services, including a Business Attorney Plan that comes with attorney phone consultations, document review and legal form templates.
If you’re looking to get business tax advice, LegalZoom may be a better fit. Access to a tax professional is included in its legal plan. And if you’re the creative type, LegalZoom includes one free copyright registration per month in its membership plan.
Read NerdWallet's LegalZoom vs. LegalShield comparison review.
Bizee
Best for: Business formation.
If you’re simply looking to incorporate a new business, signing up for one of LegalShield’s monthly subscription plans for access to an attorney who can help review your documents is likely unnecessary. Instead, Bizee may be a viable, cost-effective option. Bizee offers basic formation services for free (you just pay state filing fees).
Read NerdWallet's full Bizee review.
LegalMatch
Best for: Complex legal issues.
LegalShield plans can be great if you need a quick answer to a legal question or an attorney to handle a simple matter. But for more complex problems, it may be worth considering LegalMatch.
LegalShield limits you to a handful of phone calls on more complex legal matters. With LegalMatch, you can submit a description of your legal job or legal problem, and its network of attorneys will respond with a proposal. Attorneys set their own rates so the pricing will vary.
Read NerdWallet's full LegalMatch review.
