What is US Law Shield and CCW Safe?
Each of the on-going legal protection programs has different backgrounds, but come to similar solutions. US Law Shield was established in 2006. Their mission statement is: "We are in business to protect you during the times of uncertainty and high stress that comes with being accused after a self-defense situation."[1] They aim to educate the public about their legal rights regarding the use of force, as well as provide guidance on self-defense tactics.
The other major self-defense legal protection company is CCW Safe. It was founded in 2013 . Their mission statement is: "Our goal is to give you the money and the peace of mind to enjoy the natural right of self-defense without fear of the devastating financial losses from a self-defense incident."[2] Its motto is "Peace of Mind for the Armed Citizen."
Both companies cover all civil and criminal defense expenses incurred in criminal or self-defense situations involving guns, knives, and other weapons. For example, immediate legal representation, expert witness fees, court costs, investigator fees, defense attorney fees, civil suit defense expenses, civil damages, etc. Both companies offer members unlimited legal consultations 24/7.
Plan Offerings and Pricing
US Law Shield offers three plans – Individual, Family, and Business as well as an enterprise level. The Individual and Family plans are fairly similar. For $12.95 per month, an individual can obtain coverage for both civil and criminal cases arising from self-defense scenarios. The family option allows a family of four (living at the same address) to be covered for $16.95 per month. A single family plan covers four named individuals and each additional individual adds $2.95 to the monthly premium.
The basic business plan charged $34.95 per month, but now it is being replaced by an entrepreneur plan that is in the process of rolldown, and going down to $24.95 per month or $249 annually.
As of March 2017, the corporation is using Law Shield, Frequently Asked Questions, to define the coverage plans.
CCW Safe has different plans based on membership levels. They offer 5 membership levels, ranging from a Basic Plan for $9 per month to a Premium Plus Plan for $29 per month. The Basic Plan is designed for individuals who carry a firearm for personal protection, and includes no courtroom representation. The Premium Plus Plan includes unlimited direct representation for both civil and criminal cases and provides services to more than one person. This is very different than US Law Shield, which only offers one person covered under the monthly fee.
CCW Safe also has an additional $500 charge if you use non-CCW Safe attorneys. Non-member attorneys must be approved in the State in which the incident takes place, and the defendant must contact an approved CCW Safe attorney in that State to request approval prior to using a non-member attorney. Members engaging in activities that are excluded must pay this fee as well, which is one of many exclusions.
Legal Aid and Representation
Both US Law Shield and CCW Safe provide access to legal representation in the event of a critical incident. Both companies’ services are very similar and cover pre-trial investigations, criminal prosecutions and civil litigation. Here’s a breakdown of what they each mean:
Criminal Defense
Criminal defense issues can arise for several reasons after a self-defense or critical incident occurs. When that happens, it’s good to know your organization has you covered during a potentially expensive and stressful situation.
US Law Shield and CCW Safe both provide access to criminal defense attorneys in the area of the incident with no caps on legal expenses. So long as you did not "cause" your legal troubles, you are completely covered. That means if you find yourself in the aftermath of a justifiable or unjustifiable shooting (or other critical incident), you have access to your membership benefits. It does not cover incidents where you become a criminal by doing something illegal such as brandishing or showing a firearm in a threatening manner.
Criminal Prosecutions
Criminal prosecution will be necessary when a law-enforcement agency or prosecutor examines the shooting incident you were involved in. US Law Shield and CCW Safe both cover all criminal prosecution including interviews, hearings, etc. If you are exonerated and released, your membership will still provide defense against civil liability suits as well.
Civil Suits
The difference between civil suits and criminal prosecution is primarily punitive and monetary. To simplify, civil suits may be filed by victims, family members or others that feel you need to pay them in some way. They may sue you for vehicular manslaughter, wrongful death or negligent infliction of emotional distress. These types of civil suits are not criminal prosecutions. A civil suit is separate from any criminal matters you might be involved in following a self-defense or critical incident. CCW Safe and US Law Shield have the same process available for those non-criminal matters too.
Customer Support and Response
While there are many benefits and features US Law Shield and CCW Safe offer their members, how quickly can one get a hold of the lawyer on standby to answer a legal question when a self-defense situation arises? When comparing the customer support options of US Law Shield and CCW Safe, we tried reaching out to both companies and were happy with how quickly we received a response.
The customer support options for members belong to each organization vary slightly. For US Law Shield, members have access to the phone hotline during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time). If a member is in a legal bind during weekends and holidays, a 24-hour emergency hotline is available to call. The bill review service option allows members to have legal counsel review up to two previous legal bills for any of their current or past legal cases, regardless of whether it occurred while they were a US Law Shield member.
For CCW Safe, member security defense consultants are always "on-call" and available to members 24/7, 365 days a year. Let’s say you found yourself in a self-defense situation and then realized after calling 911 that you are about to be arrested for defending yourself in a life-or-death situation, how do you know which company to call?
The answer may depend on which company you pay for your membership. If a member pays CCW Safe directly, then their legal advice must be the first contact. This rule also applies to US Law Shield. If a member stays true to the company that he/she pays (whether directly or through a firearm store), then the correct course of action is to call their respective company. The bottom line is if you pay CCW Safe, you have to call them or your attorney first; if you pay US Law Shield, you have to call them or your attorney first.
If you have 30 minutes or more to spare, it is recommended you call both companies and evaluate who is the best fit. Wait times will vary depending on which company you contact first.
Client Reviews and Satisfaction
Customer testimonials and satisfaction levels are crucial factors when considering the best self-defense legal protection service. US Law Shield and CCW Safe have garnered their share of reviews that can lend insight into how satisfied their members are with the services provided.
US Law Shield reviews tend to paint a picture of a company that goes above and beyond the call of duty in providing customer service. Some members rave about how helpful the customer service representatives are in addressing their queries and concerns. A particular area of focus, however, tends to be on the scope of coverage provided.
For instance, some members are thrilled by how US Law Shield covers them for both criminal and civil cases, whether initiated by a government agency or a private party. In a couple of instances , customers have noted that they were not aware beforehand that the plan also provided personal injury defense for non-shooting incidents and that this was an aspect that has certainly come in handy.
Though the results of user reviews associated with CCW Safe are generally positive, there are slightly less reviews available compared to its competitor, US Law Shield.
CCW Safe members tend to be quite satisfied with how the company makes the criminal legal process as painless and practical as possible. The focus on criminal preparedness is regularly noted, especially the many aspects of the criminal defense team that CCW Safe has at their disposal.
There are also a small handful of reviews, however, that note minor grievances with CCW Safe, such as issues surrounding billing. One review mentioned poor customer service as a negative, though this is something that may be isolated with newer subscribers. Overall, negative reviews are few and far between with US Law Shield and CCW Safe.
Pros and Cons of US Law Shield Against CCW Safe
Competing in the self-defense legal coverage space are two major players—US Law Shield (USLS) and CCW Safe (CCWS). It is essential to evaluate both companies to get a sense of what appeals to you most. Their service plans and other details are significantly different, and require analysis as to what fits with your preferences. The following discussion compares the two organizations and are based on information from their websites:
US Law Shield
Pros:
– In Pennsylvania and Texas, the entry-level USLS plan covers an attorney’s retainer for incidents that occur in the home. Access to legal defense services is also provided nationwide.
Cons:
– USLS offers coverage in only 40 states.
CCW Safe (CCWS)
Pros:
– This is the only company with an active case law research and development department dedicated to monitoring all published self-defense and use of force case law. This allows CCWS to publicly publish case law summaries and subjects on their site that will only help members in their defense cases.
Cons:
– Negative reports of service provided to members. These accounts generally come from the membership forums on the CCWS website.
The Verdict: Which Service Is Right For You?
In the end, there are a few guiding factors that should help you make the right decision between US Law Shield or CCW Safe: Your needs. You will want to consider your own needs when making the determination of which company is right for you. You can even consider their policies. CCW Safe will only defend you if you are using your concealed carry weapon legally, while US Law Shield does not care about the legality of the use of the firearm. Your budget. CCW Safe has a low premium for the main package , allowing you to send $24.99 a month, but they have semi-annual and annual options available. US Law Shield charges you $10 a month with an enrollment fee of $20. Ultimately, I chose CCW Safe for the lower premium cost as well as their extensive services. They offer civil trial representation as well as criminal trial representation all incorporated into a low monthly fee.