Hiring a lawyer is expensive, and most of us put it off until we cannot anymore. The APEA-AFT Legal Trust Fund exists so that members don’t have to. It is one of the most valuable and least used benefits we have.
What it covers
The Trust pays attorney fees for most legal matters of a personal nature, including:
- Wills and estate planning — the single most common use, and the one most members mean to get around to
- Family matters, such as divorce, custody, and adoption
- Real estate transactions involving your own residence
The benefit currently covers up to $3,172.50 in attorney fees per plan year.
Ask the Trust before you assume you are covered. The list above is a general description, not a guarantee. The Trust — not the union, and not this page — decides what is and is not covered, and coverage depends on the specifics of your matter. Contact the Trust for guidance before you run up legal fees, rather than hiring an attorney and assuming you will be reimbursed. A phone call up front is free; an unreimbursed legal bill is not.
One important distinction: this is a personal legal benefit. It is separate from union representation in workplace matters — grievances, discipline, and other job-related issues are handled through APEA/AFT and your employee representative at no cost to you, not through the Legal Trust.
How to use it
- Pick an attorney. The Trust maintains a list of attorneys who have agreed to restricted fees. You may use an attorney who isn’t on the list, but they may charge more than the Plan reimburses, and you would owe the difference.
- Bring the paperwork to your first appointment. You’ll need a printed Legal Services Benefit User Agreement and a blank Case Description form. Both are available from the Trust.
- Your attorney submits the claim — the invoice, case description, and signed user agreement go to the Legal Trust office.
- The Trust pays your attorney directly and mails you a check stub.
Forms, attorney list, and coverage questions
The Trust administers this benefit itself and keeps the current forms, the participating attorney list, and the full Plan Booklet on its own site, so what you find there is always up to date:
Whether your particular matter is covered is a question for the Trust, and it is worth asking early. Reach the Legal Trust administrator in Juneau at (907) 586-9855.