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Section Intro
American Legal Services, Inc. is based in Rhode Island. Our company is incorporated under the laws of the state and is registered with the Secretary of State's office and the Better Business Bureau. We provide comprehensive legal protection plans to consumers, company employees, union members, and small businesses. We conduct business in the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
General Information - Introduction to the Small Business Plan
Note: Check on us by calling the Secretary of State or the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
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Unfortunately, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are two of the most litigious states in the country. The odds are good that at some point you or your business is going to need the services of a competent attorney. With the average rate for legal services approaching $250 per hour, legal expenses can really mount up fast. Aside from the possibility of being sued, businessmen and women are regularly faced with making a number of routine business decisions ranging from signing or preparing leases, contracts and other business documents to dealing with employee issues or trying to collect debts. In all of these activities, most businesspeople would benefit from having the advice of an attorney. Unfortunately, small businesses do not have legal departments or staff attorneys to help them make the right decisions.Our legal protection plans offer an affordable way for your business to obtain quality legal assistance if the need should develop. Plan members receive free representation time with an attorney of their choice from within our participating attorney network. Because of this, you will have peace of mind knowing that if a legal issue develops, affordable assistance is just a phone call away. For matters as simple as advice over the telephone to as complex as major litigation, our legal protection plan is something your business cannot afford to be without. That is why there are over 15,000,000 people and small businesses enrolled in some form of legal protection plan nationwide.
General Information - Why you need the Small Business Plan
Note: Statistics show that 1 in every 3 small businesses will need an attorney each year.
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As a Small Business Plan member, whenever a business legal issue presents itself, quality legal assistance is just a telephone call away. All Small Business Plan members receive unlimited telephone and office consultations at no charge. This means you can call or visit an attorney whenever the need arises. Having the benefit of being able to call an attorney and get quick advice helps to keep a small legal issue from developing into larger more costly one. If the issue requires more than just advice, your business will receive free time with the attorney of your choice from within our participating attorney network. The amount of free time each issue received depends on the details of the case; the more complex the legal issue the more free time the issue receives. Consider this simple example: “ Kurt, a local contractor, was called by a former client to do some work on their home. The two agreed that the client would pay for the materials and pay half the labor cost now and the other half when the job was done. When Kurt finished, the client claimed they agreed on a different, lower price and refused to pay the balance of Kurt's bill.”If this example actually took place, Kurt would need an attorney to help recover the money that was owed to him. As a plan member, his business would receive free representation time from an attorney*. Initially, he would have a consultation with an attorney who will then send a letter or make telephone calls to the client in an attempt to resolve the problem. If the matter could not be resolved at this level, additional free time would be assigned to the case for further action. The more complex the legal issue, the more free time your issue receives. For example, something simple (like an on-the-job speeding ticket) would receive a half hour of time. Something more complex (like an on-the-job auto accident) would receive up to ten hours. Major legal issues like civil lawsuits receive up to fifty hours. There are even issues that receive more than fifty hours. There is no limit to the number of times you can use your Small Business Plan each year. This means that you can call an attorney any time you have a legal issue for matters as simple as a quick question or as complex as a potential lawsuit.
General Information - How the Small Business Plan works
Note: Both our Personal & Small Business Plans have free time for every area of law.
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In Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts alone there are hundreds of attorneys participating in American Legal Services programs; hence, there is legal counsel available in every area of law. However, most people do not have a lot of experience dealing with an attorney never mind our legal system. It can be both intimidating and costly and leave the member confused. Selecting the right attorney is one of the most important steps in resolving a legal problem, and yet it is usually done on the recommendation of a friend or family member or simply by some form of advertisement. This is where ALSI can really help.First, we assist members in selecting an attorney that best fits their needs. We will listen to what type of attorney the member is looking for keeping in mind not only the area of law but other key issues such as the requested geographic location, gender, age, experience, personality and so on. After a list is compiled, we review each attorney with the member discussing the attorneys history with our company and the feedback we have received from other members who have used that attorney in the past. After the member retains the attorney we stay involved until the case is complete answering questions, checking case progress, reviewing invoices and periodically checking with the client to make sure their needs are met. If there ever is a problem, we act on behalf of the client and contact the attorney to resolve the matter. All the member has to do is call our office with their concerns and we take if from there.This take-the-member-by-the-hand approach provides members with piece of mind knowing that ALSI is watching over their case to make sure it is handled professionally and that it gets the attention and service it needs.
General Information - Participating attorneys
Note: Hundreds of participating attorneys in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts.
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DIRECT BILLING AUTOMATIC DEBIT & CREDIT BILLING Installment Price Installment Price Monthly n/a Monthly $ 20.90 Quarterly $ 59.25 Quarterly $ 57.10 Semi Annually $ 116.50 Semi Annually $ 110.50 Annually $ 229.00 Annually $ 219.00
General Information - Small Business Plan sample pricing
Note: Discounts available for purchasing both business and personal plans.
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1) There is no area of law excluded or that does not have free time. (business matters only)2) There are hundreds of participating attorneys to choose from.3) There is legal assistance for issues that would normally be too small to persue.4) Having the plan makes larger legal issues more affordable.5) You will have peace of mind knowing you are protected for just pennies per day.6) We have attorney history reports and selection assistance.
General Information - Small Business Plan Highlights
Note: We are a Rhode Island based company that has been in business for more than 20 years.
Business Plan - Subject
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