KEA Legal Assistance

The Office of Legal Services of KEA administers several member-only programs.

The first goal of the office is to coordinate services to members, starting with the area UniServ offices around the state. Those offices provide the first level of employee representation and facilitate legal representation when that is needed.

Probably the program that comes to members' minds first is the Educator Employment Liability policy. The policy covers members who are sued by persons outside the district's employment for allegations of negligence within the scope of employment. Though districts carry primary liability coverage on their employees, the Association policy is frequently called upon for representation.

Another KEA program is the Unified Legal Services Program which is funded equally by KEA and NEA. It assures that KEA members receive due process in conflicts with their employers.

KEA also provides the Attorney Referral Program to assist members and their families in many legal matters not related to their employment. This program provides free half-hour consultations twice a year with an attorney in the program, as well as a thirty percent (30%) discount on the hourly rate should the member determine to use the attorney's services.

New from the NEA Office of General Counsel is practical advice to school employees on how to avoid false allegations of improper conduct with students. "Teach But Don't Touch," is available in PDF format.