Legal Service FAQ

Who is eligible for the Union Plus Legal Service?

Union members and their spouses and dependents are eligible to participate in this program.

I have an employment grievance and would like to speak to an attorney. Can you help?

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.

There are no lawyers in my area!

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.

My lawyer asked for a case or authorization number. What does that mean?

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.

I think I'm eligible for another legal plan. Do you have information on other plans?

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.

How much will I save on other legal matters?

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.

What's the value of the Union Plus Legal Service to the average union member?

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.

What is not covered under the service?

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.

How often can I talk to an attorney?

You may consult with an attorney as many times as you need to, provided it is about a separate matter each time.

How is quality legal service ensured?

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.

I'm not happy with a lawyer listed in the Union Plus Legal Service. How can I report this?

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.