Benefits Proudly Offered to Empathia Employees

Members Can Feel Prepared and Confident

 with the Legal Plan

Product Administered By: Legal Access Plans

Legal Access Plans works with Empathia counselors and team members to provide our members with excellent service and assitance with legal help. 

How Does it Work?

If and when a legal issue arises for a Legal Plan Member, Legal Access Plans takes immediate action to match the right attorney for the member's specific legal matter. Legal Access Plans has implemented a process and the technology to greatly reduce the high costs and lost time when a legal matter arises. Legal matters can be stressful and Legal Access Plans is there to help every step of the way.

• Initial 30-minute consultations by phone or in person with Plan Attorney.
• Simple Will or Living Will prepared for eligible family members, one per plan year.
• Document Review for many types of legal documents, up to 6 pages in length.
• Dispute Resolution to attempt to resolve simple legal disputes, such as a simple contractor dispute.
• Guaranteed Reduced Rates – Plan Members receive a 25% discount on Plan Attorney’s hourly rates when legal representation is needed.

• Employer Related Matters: We do not offer hourly rate discounts if the member is wanting to take action against their employer. Ex. Wrongful termination, discrimination, contract negotiation
• Government Entities
• Taking Action Against Empathia
• International Matters: Such as wanting to buy a French Chateau is an example of an excluded benefit.

• Appellate Court Proceedings

• Class Action Lawsuits

• Interventions

• Malpractice Proceedings

• Actions in which punitive damages are being sought

• Derivative actions and amicus curiae filings

• The preparation and filing of individual, partnership or estate tax returns, appellate or administrative proceedings related to tax returns, litigation before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Claims or any other federal, state or other courts with respect to tax matters. 

• Legal services that are fully paid for or provided at no cost by any governmental agency, organization or insurance company. 

• Matters that the attorney deems frivolous, spurious, harassing, or unethical or otherwise prohibited by the Model Rules of Professional Conduct of the state in which the attorney is licensed. 

• Costs associated with covered legal services, including but not limited to, all fines, court costs, penalties, sanctions, expert witness fees, bonds, bail bonds, attorney fees awarded as part of a judgment, exhibits, deposition costs, filing fees, transcripts, postage, telephone, photocopying, recording fees, messengers, judgments, jury fees, court reporter fees, investigative costs, mediator or arbitrator fees, and all other incidental and out-of-pocket legal and litigation costs. 

• Any services on behalf of a Covered Family Member against the interests of the Member. 

• Any dispute or proceeding against the following persons or entities, their officers, directors, employees, or agents: any person or entity involved in the sale, marketing, administration or other processes related to the Policy; Legal Plan Administrator or its subsidiaries; Claims Administrator or its subsidiaries; Policyholder; Member’s employer; Virginia Surety Company, Inc. and it’s parents, subsidiaries or any affiliated or successor company, plan underwriter or reinsurer; Plan Sponsor; or any Participating and/or Non-Participating Attorney, if the dispute or proceeding pertains to services provided under the Policy. 

• Matters relating to: securities, trademark or patent matters; business or commercial interests, including, but not limited to, professional, partnership and/or corporate matters; matters arising out of a Member/Covered Family Member’s role as an officer or director of an organization;

• Matters involving the law or laws of jurisdictions other than the United States and its territories, except as specifically described under Covered Services;

• Any matters involving a government (domestic or foreign) entity or agency except as specifically described under Covered Services;

• Farm Related Issues

• Matters involving commercial or rental property transactions, including the purchase, sale or lease of investment or income-producing property. A multi-family residence, whether or not used by the Member/Covered Family Member as his or her primary residence, is deemed an investment or income producing property.

• Any Employment-Related Matter. This includes, but is not limited to, any dispute involving the Member’s employer or its affiliates, their officers or directors, the Member’s employee benefit plans, credit unions, programs or arrangements sponsored by an employer, or cases involving workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, sex harassment, and age discrimination.

• Pre-Existing Matters. Except for consultation, the Policy will not provide benefits in connection with pre-existing matters, which includes any matter where the Member/Covered Family Member is on notice as to a pending legal dispute or has previously contacted an attorney.

• Experience in the Legal Matter Needed
• Quality Time Spent in Consultations
• Years of Legal Training and Experience
• Up-to-date Legal Training Each Year
• Lawyers Who are Service-Oriented
• Lawyers Who Have a Solid Local Reputation in their Communities
• Exceptional Backgrounds
• Years of Courtroom and Trial Experience

• To comply at all times with the Rules of Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure and the Rules of Professional Conduct applicable to the jurisdiction.
• To return member's calls promptly, within one business day, and communicate with members such that a member and the member's family do not voice substantiated concerns over promptness or frequency of your or your firm's communication.
• To not enter continuances, adjournments, or the like without the member's comfort and consent.
• To not arrange for substitutions or stand-ins unless the member has been previously advised and that the member understands that you remain responsible for the case and to contact you if there is any concern or if proceedings do not go as planned.
• To always respect a member, their needs and family.
• To maintain a professional office, in staffing and appearance.
• To fully explain yourself such that a member has an understanding for the reasons behind your recommendations and suggestions, even if a member may not hire your firm.
• To not complete any additional work that will result in a fee to the member, where not covered by the member's plan, until a fee arrangement is fully understood by the member and there is a written agreement.
• To help each member individually and ensure that everything you do is in the interest of the member.
• To notify Legal Access Plans if there is or may be the possibility of a conflict of interest or violation of ethical codes.
• To notify Legal Access Plans if there may be a misunderstanding or potential service issue where there may be a complaint without breaking any client confidences.
• To direct any grievances or concerns, such as process procedure or billing, to Legal Access and not a member.
• To not refer any member to another attorney without the knowledge and consent of Legal Access if you cannot assist.
• To take responsibility and uphold the highest standards of customer service delivered by any and all firm staff or employees that have interaction with members.
• To communicate and cooperate with Legal Access Plans on any concern, inquiry or issue and return any communication from Legal Access within one business day.