Insights from VITAL WorkLife

Need a Lawyer? Legal Assistance Is Just a Phone Call Away

Written by VITAL WorkLife | December 30, 2014

According to the American Bar Association, 70% of US Households needed a lawyer last year. Some of the many reasons they contacted an attorney included:

  • Family Issues: Divorce or separation, child custody, child support, adoption, juvenile issues, guardianship, elder law
  • Property & Contracts: Contractor issues, lease agreements, buying or selling a home, foreclosure
  • Criminal Offenses: Traffic tickets, Driving Under the Influence (DUI), domestic violence
  • Financial Issues: Estate planning, probate, tax audits, insurance, bankruptcy, debt collections, identity theft
  • Personal Injury: Social Security/disability, personal injury lawsuits
Contacting a lawyer can be intimidating. How much will it cost? How do you find a lawyer you can trust? Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit makes it easy to get the advice you need by providing a free, 30-minute confidential consultation with an attorney in our network who can help you understand whatever legal issue you're facing.

For general legal questions, your initial 30-minute consultation can often give you the answers you need to resolve your issue. Services provided free as part of your initial consultation can include:

  • Simple Dispute Resolution When a dispute arises with a third party and the Plan Attorney determines that a simple letter or a phone call to your opposing party is likely to resolve the dispute, this service is provided at no charge.
  • Short Document Review A free review of any legal document six pages or less is provided as part of your benefit.
  • Simple Wills If your needs and circumstances fit the parameters of a Simple Will by your state's definition, creation of your will is covered 100%.

Simply call and ask to speak to one of our legal consultants, whenever you have questions you'd like an attorney to answer.

And, if you need additional assistance beyond the free initial consultation, plan attorneys will provide a 25% discount off the attorney's normal hourly rate.

Supportive Services For You & Your Family

An EAP consultant will not only help connect you to an attorney but also check to see if you'd like to take advantage of any of the other support services you and other members of your family are entitled to as part of your EAP benefit.

"Most legal issues don't happen in a vacuum," notes Jane Pauly, senior EAP consultant for VITAL WorkLife. "For example, contract disputes can be associated with feelings of betrayal, depression and fear of financial insecurity. Divorce and custody issues impact not just parents, but children and grandparents, as well."

VITAL WorkLife consultants take a global approach to ensuring you get all the support you want and need as you move forward through what may be a difficult process.

Contact VITAL WorkLife, Anytime— Day or Night

Your benefits include free and confidential professional support services—24 hours a day, 365 days per year—either by phone or in face-to-face counseling with master's- and doctorate-level professionals as well as legal and financial consultants, who are available during normal business hours.

The attorneys you'll consult through your benefit have a minimum of ten years experience and can help you with matters in all 50 states.

Simply call any time of the day or night and we'll ensure you get the help you need in a timely manner.

Online Legal Resources:

Your benefit also includes unlimited access to a wealth of web-based legal information and resources at the VITAL WorkLife website through your member portal, with information, self-help tips and commonly-used legal forms. Subjects covered include:

  • Common legal issues among families
  • Contract basics
  • Domestic violence
  • Elder care
  • Estates and wills
  • Identity Theft
  • Immigration
  • Small Claims (issues under $5,000)
  • Traffic and speeding tickets

To find these resources, log on to your member website at VITALWorkLife.com and click member login