Prepaid Legal Services.

• Author: Lueckert, Kelli
• Position: Annual Reports of Committees of the Florida Bar: 2018-2019

The Prepaid Legal Services Committee of The Florida Bar is--as it has been for all times since the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar first created this Public Service Standing Committee in 1974--entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that legal services plans submitted by members in good standing of The Florida Bar are in full and complete compliance with the rules and regulations of Ch. 9 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.

The committee was established to further The Florida Bar's policy to promote and improve citizens' access to justice and the legal system. And in doing so, there are entrepreneurial benefits in creating and managing legal service plans, which include expanding a client base.

In addition to fulfilling its stated mission, the committee has expanded its scope and focus to include 1) educating the membership of The Florida Bar on the various rules and regulations that govern the operation of legal services plans in Florida, including a) the entrepreneurial aspects of the creation and establishment of plans by and under Ch. 9 and b) the availability of those certain other legal and business opportunities provided in the "Legal Expense Insurance Act," by and under the provisions of F.S. Ch. 642; and 2) creating a greater awareness among Florida consumers that membership in plans affords members with tangible, real-life, benefits, and, most importantly, the opportunity to better gain access to the legal system. Plan application forms can be found on The Florida Bar website at https://www.floridabar.org/ public/prepdsrvs/.

During this 2018-19 Bar year, the committee successfully carried out its responsibilities upon undertaking and completing various tasks and projects throughout the year. First and foremost, the committee had the opportunity to review, discuss at length, and, ultimately, approve, amend, or deny the submission of...