Students from Howard University are becoming instant entrepreneurs through a program called Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
The service, which has been around since 1972, has started million-dollar careers and business owning rewards for students still in school.
According to H. Anthony Moore, sophomore history major and an independent associate for Pre-Paid Legal, the service strives to provide ordinary people with equal justice under the law.
"It is a great program because 80 percent of people in the country can't afford the fees that come with good lawyers," Moore said, "Pre-Paid Legal allows us to build a bridge between the lower and upper classes.
Fard Bell, a Howard alum with a background in music started the service in Drew Hall five years ago after becoming tired of the typical Roman Noodle freshman diet and minimal funds.
"I knew having a job wasn't going to fulfill what I wanted for my family. I knew that I had to become an entrepreneur," Bell said.
Like most, Bell admits going into the business made him a bit doubtful because it seemed all too good to be true.
"I saw people who were earning six figure incomes in just five years and I was skeptical at first because I didn't know if they really did what they said they did," Bell said.
However, after using the service to help himself in a legal matter, Bell said that he found Pre-Paid Legal to be just what it said it was.
"Within four days I made over $500. It was incredible that I doubled the money I had gotten from someone else just in four days, he said, " I retired from corporate America at the age of 22".
Bell was not the only associate that greatly benefited from Pre-Paid Legal. Kyle Bacon, a graduate of the School of Business left the University making a $70,000 salary.
"There have been so many successful students here at Howard that have contributed greatly to Pre-Paid Legal," Bell said.
Those who participate seem to value the experience even more than the money behind it all.
"The biggest impact is the person you become in the process. The life education and business education is truly changing people's lives," Bell said.
According to Moore, Pre-Paid Legal is currently at a 2 percent market penetration and is at a good time for other to come in as the business is always welcoming new associates.
"People we want need to have a burning desire, a willingness to learn, and be teachable. This is the best time to get in because it's a ground floor industry and one day everyone's going to need Pre-Paid Legal," Moore said.
After hearing about the service, others are interested in getting involved with the successes.
"I would like to go and see what Pre-Paid Legal is really about because if what these people are saying is true, it seems like a great way to make money and be successful," said Quinton Reed, sophomore film productions major.
Those who are interested are invited to attend the business briefing meetings held every Monday to get more information.
"I see Pre-Paid Legal as a great way to change my life and my family. It only took one Michael to change the Jordan tree, one Oprah to change the Winfrey tree, and now hopefully it'll only take this H. Anthony to change the Moore tree," Moore added.
