Legal Services

Bargining Unit 8 – Firefighters MOU

Bargining Unit 8 -Firefighters – MOU

Legal Department

The Legal Department’s communication with affiliates and members is strictly governed by IAFF Executive Board policy. The Legal Department may provide informal guidance, documents, and material to an IAFF affiliate or member ONLY if the affiliate’s IAFF District Vice President has provided prior approval and the inquiry is from the president or the secretary of an IAFF local or state/provincial association. An officer other than the president or secretary may obtain assistance from the Legal Department through their IAFF District Vice President only if the officer receives explicit authorization from their local or state/provincial association president. If circumstances prohibit the requesting party from satisfying these requirements, they should submit their questions and/or concerns in writing via postal mail to the General President’s office for a formal response. The inquiry will then be handled accordingly.

 

Workers Compensation Attorneys

Attorneys are recommend by or members, but are not endorsed by CALFIRE Local 2881.

Whiting & Cotter, LLP

Lisa T. Hervatin
(714) 547-0197

Legal Services via the State of California for State Employees

Direct Link to CalPERS Special Power of Attorney web page.

Special Power of Attorney

A CalPERS special power of attorney allows you to designate a representative or agent, known as your attorney-in-fact, to conduct your retirement affairs. Should you become unable to act on your own behalf, your designated attorney-in-fact will be able to perform important duties concerning your CalPERS business, such as:

  • Address changes
  • Federal or state tax withholding elections
  • Retirement benefit elections

The CalPERS special power of attorney is specifically designed for use by active and retired CalPERS members and beneficiaries. You may already have a power of attorney set up through another resource; however, it may not address your CalPERS retirement benefits.

For more information, review CalPERS Special Power of Attorney (PUB 30) (PDF).

Direct Link to CalHR Group Legal web page.

Group Legal Services Insurance Plan

The Group Legal Services Insurance Plan (Plan) is an important part of the state’s benefits package because it can help employees get sound advice and representation to quickly resolve their legal problems. Chances are, at one time or another, you may need an attorney. However, legal problems can be very confusing and costly. When they come unexpectedly, they can present a huge financial burden, not to mention the time you spend searching for just the right lawyer. Good California attorneys can cost $353 or more per hour. As a member of the State’s legal plan, you can face your problems with the confidence that solid legal coverage provides.

Enrollment

You have 60 days from your effective date of eligibility/hire to enroll in the Plan or you may enroll during open enrollment.

Open Enrollment for the State’s Group Legal Services Insurance Plan is March 1 – April 28

An open enrollment period is conducted in March and April of each year to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in the Plan. The 2017 open enrollment will be March 1 through April 28, 2017. During open enrollment, eligible employees can enroll in the Plan and current members can change their coverage from single to family, family to single, and add/delete eligible dependents. If you’re already in the Plan you don’t need to re-enroll, your coverage continues automatically. Members may cancel their membership at any time.

Reminders for 2017

Monthly premium rates will remain the same

  • Individual Coverage – $10.19.
  • Family/Registered Domestic Partner Coverage – $17.74.

The Plan was recently updated to include Identity Theft Protection. These services include:

  • Online credit and child identity monitoring
  • Internet surveillance
  • Identity theft insurance (up to $1 million)
  • Full-service identity restoration
  • Lost wallet services
  • After enrolling, be sure to sign up for monitoring at ARAGLegalCenter.com by logging in as a member

Retiree Group Legal Services Insurance Plan

We also offer a Retiree Group Legal Services Insurance Plan. For more information click here.

General Information

Covered Services

The Group Legal Services Insurance Plan is a voluntary, employee-paid plan that provides comprehensive legal coverage. It is designed to meet the most common personal legal needs of an individual and their family. Covered services include:

100% Paid-in-Full Coverage for in-office Consultation

The Plan provides 100% paid-in-full coverage for an in-office consultation with an attorney. Once you have enrolled in the Plan, you’ll receive a directory of attorneys and a listing of areas of law in which they specialize. If you need an office consultation, you can call one of the more than 500 attorneys who belong to the Plan’s California attorney network. When you use one of these qualified attorneys, the hourly fees the attorney charges will be paid-in-full by the Plan for the covered services listed below. The Plan does not provide coverage for certain fees such as filing fees, reporters’ fees, expert witness fees and other related expenses. Plan members also have the flexibility of using an attorney who is not part of the network. In this case, you would be reimbursed after filing a claim for legal fees paid up to a specified dollar limit. The Plan’s covered services include, but are not limited to:

  • Will preparation
  • Domestic matters (divorce, separation, annulment)
  • Bankruptcy proceedings
  • Consumer protection
  • Real estate transactions
  • Defense of criminal misdemeanors
  • Civil actions

You should refer to the Plan Flyer for a more detailed description of the covered services.

Toll-free Telephone Legal Advice

The Plan provides a convenient toll-free number (866-762-0972) that gives the enrolled employee access to a Telephone Network Attorney for legal advice (no limitation imposed on number of calls or length of calls) and correspondence to third parties. Telephone network attorneys provide telephone calls and assistance with correspondence to third parties related to a Plan member’s personal legal matter. These telephone attorneys can also assist the member with the following covered services such as:

  • Preparation of simple wills and codicils
  • Childcare authorizations
  • Credit report requests
  • Challenges to denials of credit
  • Bad check notices
  • Credit card inquires
  • Health Care Powers of Attorney and revocations
  • Advanced Health Care Directives
  • Preparation of standard testamentary trusts for minor children
  • Review of legal documents up to four (4) pages, excluding those related to trust or real estate property transfers

Note: Telephone consultation cannot be used for legal matters that are specifically excluded from the Plan (e.g., the employee could not use the Plan for phone consultation regarding a grievance he/she had filed against the state). Telephone consultation service is available Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., PST.

Preventive Legal Services

In addition to providing 100% paid-in-full services for covered matters, plan attorneys will review and prepare documents, give advice and negotiate on the employee’s behalf in any matter not specifically excluded. At no additional cost, one hour of preventive in-office services can be received in each calendar quarter (four hours per year).

Other Legal Services at No Additional Costs

  • Reduced Fees for Non-Covered Matters. The Reduced Fee Benefit provides a guaranteed fee reduction of at least 25% by participating attorneys for benefits not currently provided, but not limited and excluded under the legal plan, when using an ARAG Group Reduced Fee Network Attorney for in-office legal advice and representation.
  • Reduced Contingency Fees. Network Attorneys will represent you under a contingency fee arrangement. The paid fee is based on the success of your case and is a percentage of the amount of money awarded.
  • Law Guide. The online Law Guide is a library of information that provides comprehensive overviews of the most common legal issues – to help you become a better-informed legal consumer.
  • Online Document Library. The Do-It-Yourself Legal Documents allow you create your own state-specific legal documents online. This is a step-by-step interactive document creation tool with over 300 state specific and legally valid documents like wills, child medical authorization, power of attorney, automobile bill of sale, child care and elder care agreements, contractor agreement, complaint letters and more.
  • Conversion Option for Terminated Plan Members. Terminated plan members leaving State service can continue legal coverage by converting to the ARAG Group’s standard legal plan, Ultimate Advisor, by direct payment to the carrier.

Limitations and Exclusions

Each coverage is limited to one use per family, per plan year. For example, services can be received during the year for the defense of one misdemeanor, preparation of one will, filing of one divorce, etc.

Several covered services have a “waiting period” which requires that new enrollees remain in the Plan for at least six months before they are eligible to receive the services.

There are certain legal services that are specifically excluded from coverage in the Plan. Some of these services are as follows:

  1. Legal actions involving the state (as either defendant or plaintiff), any of its agencies or departments, its insurers or subcontractors or any of the labor organizations representing state employees.
  2. Legal proceedings that began before you enrolled in the plan.
  3. Probating of estates.
  4. Workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation issues.
  5. Small claims court.
  6. Lawsuits covered by other insurance.

Premiums

The Plan is a voluntary employee-paid plan and premiums are paid through monthly payroll deductions. The monthly premium is $10.19 for individual coverage and $17.74 for family coverage to cover you, your spouse or registered domestic partner, and any eligible dependent children.

Enrollment

The open enrollment period is conducted in March and April of each year to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in the Plan.

During open enrollment, eligible employees can enroll in the Plan and current participants can add or delete dependents. You don’t need to re-enroll if you’re already in the Plan; your coverage continues automatically. Enrollees may cancel membership at any time.

Enrollment Forms

Contact Information

If you would like to get further information about the Plan, you should pick up a Plan Flyer from your department’s personnel office.

If you have any questions regarding the covered services once you’ve reviewed the flyer, you can contact ARAG’s (the plan Administrator) Customer Care Center Monday-Friday, 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., PST.

ARAG Customer Service:

Toll-free 866-762-0972

TTY 800-383-4184 (or 711 to reach a relay operator)

ARAG Group – Use Access Code: 10202soc (Active Employees)