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My mom is signed up for a LegalShield program that seems to cost about $300/year.
Basically the only point of it is so that you have a lawyer you can call BEFORE you get charged with a crime.
The way the system works is, if the cops are trying to get you to incriminate yourself, first of all, it seems that it's really not till they've slapped the cuffs on you that they're even required to give you any Miranda warning. I think if they just invite you courteously down to the station to talk to them, they can have the tape recorder rolling, and ask you a bunch of questions without even telling you that you have the right to an attorney.
But most people are probably aware they have a right to a lawyer. Problem is, the average person doesn't just have some lawyer on retainer, the way that, say, the mafia would. So if you ask the cop, "Hey, I can't afford a lawyer but are you going to appoint one for me" they'll be like, "You get a court-appointed lawyer AFTER you're charged," which is true. If you want a lawyer BEFORE you get charged, it's on your own dime.
And that's where the prepaid legal services like LegalShield come in. The sole purpose is so that if the cops are wanting to question you, you can call up a lawyer who works for LegalShield and they'll tell you, "Don't talk to the cops." You might argue, "Yeah, but I think I can talk my way out of this" and they'll say, "No, don't talk to the cops." That's literally all you're paying them to do, is just pick up the phone and tell you that you shouldn't talk to the cops.
If you get charged and need a lawyer to defend you, then you have to pay extra for that, because LegalShield doesn't pay the full cost of a criminal defense; . But a lot of the time, if you just don't talk to the cop, you'll never even get charged.
Theoretically, you don't need a lawyer to tell you, "Don't talk to the cops." You could just make that decision on your own. But most people, the first time they're ever questioned by cops, will be unable to keep their mouths shut unless there's a lawyer telling them, "Keep your mouth shut." These cops are experts in getting people to talk, and a lot of people kinda want to talk anyway, so it takes some pressure from a lawyer to get the person to remain silent.
Basically the only point of it is so that you have a lawyer you can call BEFORE you get charged with a crime.
The way the system works is, if the cops are trying to get you to incriminate yourself, first of all, it seems that it's really not till they've slapped the cuffs on you that they're even required to give you any Miranda warning. I think if they just invite you courteously down to the station to talk to them, they can have the tape recorder rolling, and ask you a bunch of questions without even telling you that you have the right to an attorney.
But most people are probably aware they have a right to a lawyer. Problem is, the average person doesn't just have some lawyer on retainer, the way that, say, the mafia would. So if you ask the cop, "Hey, I can't afford a lawyer but are you going to appoint one for me" they'll be like, "You get a court-appointed lawyer AFTER you're charged," which is true. If you want a lawyer BEFORE you get charged, it's on your own dime.
And that's where the prepaid legal services like LegalShield come in. The sole purpose is so that if the cops are wanting to question you, you can call up a lawyer who works for LegalShield and they'll tell you, "Don't talk to the cops." You might argue, "Yeah, but I think I can talk my way out of this" and they'll say, "No, don't talk to the cops." That's literally all you're paying them to do, is just pick up the phone and tell you that you shouldn't talk to the cops.
If you get charged and need a lawyer to defend you, then you have to pay extra for that, because LegalShield doesn't pay the full cost of a criminal defense; . But a lot of the time, if you just don't talk to the cop, you'll never even get charged.
Theoretically, you don't need a lawyer to tell you, "Don't talk to the cops." You could just make that decision on your own. But most people, the first time they're ever questioned by cops, will be unable to keep their mouths shut unless there's a lawyer telling them, "Keep your mouth shut." These cops are experts in getting people to talk, and a lot of people kinda want to talk anyway, so it takes some pressure from a lawyer to get the person to remain silent.