Legal Service FAQ
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Q: Who is eligible for the
Union Plus Legal Service?
A: Union members and their spouses
and dependents are eligible to participate in this program.
Q: I have an employment grievance
and would like to speak to an attorney. Can you help?
A: Your local union may handle your
grievance, so try contacting them first. You may also be interested
in some attorneys that handle employment. You can select that category
on the Find a Lawyer Online
form.
Q: There are no lawyers in
my area!
A: Sorry we don't have any attorneys
at this time. We are continuously updating our listing and searching
for interested attorneys. We encourage lawyers, union members and leaders
to complete our Recommend
a Lawyer Form.
Q: My lawyer asked for a case
or authorization number. What does that mean?
A: The lawyer is probably confusing
our program with another union legal program (probably a union prepaid
legal service plan). Be sure to explain to your attorney that you are
participating in the Union Plus Legal Service, the AFL-CIO's legal program,
which does not require pre-authorization.
Q: I think I'm eligible for
another legal plan. Do you have information on other plans?
A: Some local unions offer members
a prepaid legal program separate from the UPLS program. Two of the larger
programs are:
-UAW Legal Services Plan - offered to currently employed members who
work at Chrysler, Ford or GM and some other companies. Call the UAWLSP
at 1-800-521-4862.
-New York State members and retirees of the American Federation of Teachers
(AFT) have their own legal services through the New York State United
Teachers (NYSUT). These members must call 1-800-626-8101 or 1-518-459-5400
in the Albany, NY area.
-You may be eligible for another legal plan through your national
or local union. Your local union office should have more information.
Q: How much will I save on
other legal matters?
A: Some legal matters, such as closing
a mortgage loan, may require further attention from your attorney. For
such matters, you will receive a 30% discount off the attorney's normal
fee. Also, discounted flat fees may be available for some common services
such as drafting a will. The discount may be smaller for contingency
fee or percentage fee cases. The discount does not apply to ownership
or operation of a business.
Q: What's the value of the
Union Plus Legal Service to the average union member?
A: If you’re like most people,
you may not know where to turn when you need an attorney. Or you may
be afraid that you can’t afford one. The Union Plus Legal Service
helps you get the legal advice you need so you can avoid and resolve
potential legal problems, often for little or no cost.
Q: What is not covered under
the service?
A: Because this is a union program,
matters involving a union-related organization or union official are
not handled by the service. Matters involving your ownership or operation
of a business are not covered. Documents written by you, such as contracts,
rental agreements, etc., are not covered by the free document review
benefit. Participating attorneys are not obligated to take a case and
may decline if they so choose.
Q: How often can I talk
to an attorney?
A: You may consult with an attorney
as many times as you need to, provided it is about a separate matter
each time.
Q: How is quality legal service
ensured?
A: Union Plus Legal Service attorneys
are carefully selected to make sure you receive the best service available.
All participating attorneys are in active practice, with an average
of 14 years of experience. Union leaders or members have recommended
many of them to this program. All of them must go through an extensive
review process and must carry malpractice insurance.
The program continuously monitors participating attorneys, and you
will have the opportunity to complete a simple evaluation about your
attorney's performance. A program administrator reviews all evaluations.
The administrator also keeps track of any complaints filed by members
against participating attorneys. If an attorney does not measure up
to our performance standards, Union Privilege, the organization founded
by the AFL-CIO to develop and manage member benefits, can have that
attorney dismissed from the panel.
Q: I'm not happy with a lawyer
listed in the Union Plus Legal Service. How can I report this?
A: We want to track any problems members
may experience with the program. Based on your input, we revise our
listings. Please complete our Feedback
Form with more information.
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Union Plus benefits are for participating union members, retirees and their families.
Copyright © 2008 Union Privilege. All rights reserved.
Union Privilege, 1125 15th St., N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005
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