Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) will utilize its 2009 Las Vegas Summit, September 9-12, as a stage for introducing a marketing platform that will revolutionize the way the company markets its legal service plans throughout the U.S. and four Provinces of Canada. Building upon a successful foundation of direct selling, the new marketing process represents the first re-launch in the 36 year history of the company.

"We're not replacing our existing marketing methods," said Pre-Paid Legal Services Founder and CEO Harland C. Stonecipher. "We are introducing a new web-based marketing process that is so comprehensive it impacts our entire marketing program and enhances our existing business model."

Although PPD is keeping the specifics of this initiative under wraps until the Las Vegas event, the company introduced a package of special August promotions to encourage more U.S. and Canadian Associates to come to the 2009 Summit to be a part of the company's historic marketing re-launch and to be on the front line during the roll-out of the new marketing platform.

Launching an Industry

When Pre-Paid Legal Services launched on February 9, 1973 in Ada, OK, the concept of prepaid legal service plans was still in its infancy in the U.S. PPD took bold steps to spread the word about this approach to providing quality legal services in a cost-effective legal service plan. With this core vision, the company grew, and in the process garnered accolades from national news media, such as Forbes, Fortune, Money, Financial World, Black Enterprise and others. On August 22, 2007, USA Today published an article, based on its own database study of company stock value at corporations where the founder remained at the helm. In this broad ranging study that included 63 companies, PPD ranked third on the list with a 15-year stock gain of 4,302 percent.

PPD has also been the recipient of a number of awards and corporate recognition. In 2006, the Foundation for Fair Civil Justice designated PPD for the "Line in the Sand" award for the company's battle against abuse of the legal system. In addition, PPD was pleased to see the National Association of Attorneys General adopt the "Resolution in Support of the Concept of Prepaid Legal Services Plans" in 2008.

Marketing Re-Launch

"If ever there was a time when we needed to make affordable legal services available to people, the time is now," Stonecipher said. "As a result of the prolonged recession, all too many citizens are facing significant challenges, such as foreclosure, bankruptcy and credit issues." Armed with the right legal services, including direct access to designated, customer-focused attorneys, individuals have the best means for meeting these financial and personal issues.

Pre-Paid Legal Services now provides legal service plans to approximately 1.5 million families, yet even with the combined coverage of all legal service plan providers, there remains a large segment of the population without access to legal services. The re-launch of PPD will help us reach a much greater audience within the U.S. and Canadian markets. It will also provide a means for extending the reach and impact of our Independent Associate network.

During a recent teleconference in which he spoke to thousands of PPD Associates, Stonecipher said, "You may not have been here for the launch of Pre-Paid Legal Services in 1973, but you can be a part of our corporate history in September when we announce the re-launch at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. We're taking it to a new level from there."