Toll-free 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: (1) preparation of simple wills and codicils, (2) childcare authorizations, (3) credit report requests, (4) challenges to denials of credit, (5) bad check notices, (6) credit card inquires, (7) Health Care Powers of Attorney and revocations, (8) Advanced Health Care Directives, (9) preparation of standard testamentary trusts for minor children, and (10) review of legal documents up to four (4) pages, excluding those related to trust or real estate property transfers.

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 5:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., PST.

100% Paid-in-Full Coverage
The Plan also provides for in-office consultation with an attorney. Once you have enrolled in the plan, you'll receive a directory of attorneys in the State 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. A plan member also has the flexibility of using an attorney who is not part of the network. In this case, you are 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, and defense of criminal misdemeanors, traffic charges and civil actions. You should refer to the plan brochure for a more detailed description of the covered services.

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, 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.

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 allows you to create your own legally valid documents.

• Identity Theft Services
  Insured members have unlimited toll-free access to an Identity Case Manager, who will explain identity theft, outline the steps you can take to recover and how to prevent it. The Case Manager will monitor the resolution of the situation and if necessary refer the case to a Network Attorney for representation.

• 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, UltimateAdvisor" by direct payment to the carrier.

• Retiree/annuitant
  Coming soon employees who retire from State service will be eligible to enroll in the State's retiree legal plan.