The optional legal assistance benefit allows employees two free 30-minute consultations per year with an attorney for any legal matter except income tax preparation. Excluded from the free consultation and other legal work is any matter in which the adverse party is the organization. Additional legal work is available at a 20% reduction from the attorney’s normal fees in five core areas:
- Wills & estates – will preparation, estate planning, guardianship, and other estate issues.
- Real estate – purchase or sale of residential property, disputes with landlords, property line, zoning, land use regulations.
- Domestic relations – annulment, divorce, separation, alimony, guardianship, adoption, and paternity.
- Consumer protection – creditor and finance agency disputes, proceedings with retailers concerning defective merchandise.
- Traffic violations – charges of operating under the influence, reckless driving, or other offenses involving potential loss of license, a jail sentence, and financial liability in excess of $50.
The 20% discount doesn’t apply to such matters as business dealings, bankruptcies, preparation of a defense in IRS violations, defense of criminal violations (except traffic violations where financial liability exceeds $50), and any matter in which the adverse party is the organization or an affiliate of the organization. Court costs, filing and service fees, and attorney out-of-pocket expenses are not covered.
