Application for Union Plus Legal Service Attorney Panel

The information below is for lawyers and/or representatives from law firms who want to join the Union Plus Legal Service attorney panel.

What is the Union Plus Legal Service?

The Union Plus Legal Service is a basic group legal services plan designed to help union members meet their legal needs by identifying experienced attorneys who are interested in serving union members and who offer high quality legal services at reasonable fees.

The Union Plus Legal Service is not a prepaid plan. Union members do not pay for the plan and the plan does not pay attorneys. Panel attorneys are paid by their clients when services beyond initial consultation are required.

Why should a lawyer or law firm join the Union Plus Legal Service panel of attorneys?

• You can expand your client base without spending money or time on marketing because the sixty national and international unions and affiliated organizations that subscribe to the Union Plus Legal Service promote you to their members through their existing communications channels. Union Plus also promotes the program through its channels, including over 3 million credit card holders.
• You can approach local union leaders about preventive law for their members with a national network of union-friendly lawyers behind you.
• You become part of the solution to the problem of access to justice for the average citizen.

What may I charge?

Union members are entitled to free initial consultation by telephone or in person (with a half-hour maximum) for each new legal matter, plus limited document review and follow-up. All other hourly or fixed fee services are at 30% off your normal retail rate or fee. No discount is required on contingent fee matters unless you specialize in them, in which case some discount, not necessarily 30%, is required.

How will union members get my name?

• from their union,
• by calling Union Plus toll-free, or
• through the Union Plus website.

Each participating union publicizes the Legal Service as it thinks best. Union Plus assists by providing brochures, ads, posters and other materials. Some unions provide directories to their locals and encourage members to contact their local when they need a lawyer. Others provide their own toll-free number for referrals. Most unions publicize Union Plus' own toll-free number and website.

What qualifications must I have?

You must be actively engaged in private law practice, have at least three years of legal experience (the average is 14 years), and maintain professional liability insurance. The Union Plus panel is limited in size to better ensure that participating attorneys receive a flow of calls and clients. The Union Plus Legal Service has been operating since 1987 and the panel is full in some areas.

What should I know about the Union Plus benefits from Union Privilege?

Union Plus is the trademarked name of the programs offered by Union Privilege, a not-for-profit corporation established by the AFL-CIO in 1986 to develop benefits and services for members of affiliated labor unions.

The labor movement led the development of prepaid legal services plans, but only a minority of unions have been able to establish collectively bargained plans, so Union Privilege made a basic legal plan a priority, and the Union Plus Legal Service began in February 1987. All but a handful of AFL-CIO unions participate, which is why the Legal Service is by far the largest legal services plan in the country. The Union Plus Legal Service is administered by Custom Legal Plans, LLC.

How do I apply?

To be considered for the Union Plus Legal Service attorney panel, interested parties must mail ALL the following information to the address below:

1. Print out and complete the application (PDF file) or your own letter substitute
2. Print out and complete and sign the contract (PDF file)
3. Write a check (payable to "UPLS") for the $99 annual participation fee
4. Make a copy of the declarations page of your professional liability policy

Mail all the materials above to:

Union Plus Legal Service
Attorney Panel Application Materials
139-30 Queens Blvd.
Briarwood, NY 11435

What happens then?

If your application is approved, you will receive a signed copy of your contract, a draft directory listing to review, and other program material. Your name will also be circulated to your state labor federation to assure that it does not object to your participation. If your application is not approved, you will be notified by mail and your participation fee will be returned.

Further questions?

Contact the Union Plus Legal Service - Custom Legal Plans at 1-718-526-6100.