In today’s world, most people will seek the services of an attorney. When that time comes, bargaining unit members can turn to the Legal Service Plan endorsed by NYSUT Member Benefits Trust.

For a modest annual enrollment fee, the plan provides many benefits for personal legal matters. Toll-free access to an attorney is available weekdays during normal business hours. There’s also a toll-free hotline for emergencies occurring beyond these hours.

The plan includes two, hour-long office consultations with a plan attorney, legal document review and legal letters written.

A referral to a plan attorney will be made if a problem can’t be resolved by letter or phone. Referral attorneys are located throughout the continental U.S. and charge plan members $200 an hour or 40 percent less than their standard hourly rate, whichever is lower. Many personal legal matters have fees that are capped, and there are guaranteed discounts on probate fees and personal injury cases.

Also included is a Legal Security Package for each enrollment year. This package includes forms to initiate a simple will, power of attorney, living will and health care proxy. The plan offers advice and guidance with identity theft issues, debt consoli-dation and mortgage foreclosure.

An elder law rider can also be purchased; it will assist with health and estate planning. Members with their own businesses may purchase the business protection rider to obtain business legal services.

To find out more, call NYSUT Member Benefits at (800) 626-8101. Or go to www.memberbenefits.nysut.org to view or print a brochure and enroll-ment form. You can also enroll online.

For information about contractual endorsement arrangements with providers of endorsed programs, please contact NYSUT Member Benefits.

LEADING THE SIRENS

Agency fee payers to NYSUT are eligible to participate in NYSUT Member Benefits-endorsed programs.