Group Legal Services Program for Members of the California Teachers Association
At Rothschild Wishek + Sands LLP, we provide legal services to members of the California Teachers Association (CTA) through the union’s Group Legal Services Program (GLSP).
Our attorneys represent union members in employment-related criminal investigations or proceedings and in credential discipline investigations and proceedings.
Union members who are agency-fee members are not eligible for GLSP benefits or the Educator’s Employment Liability (EEL) insurance policy benefits.
The GLSP provides valuable legal services benefits to union members. The GLSP pays our firm to represent eligible teachers in covered matters. In most credential matters, the program benefits are sufficient to cover the entire expense associated with attorney fees and costs for a credential investigation before the Committee of Credentials. If the teacher challenges a Committee of Credentials discipline recommendation, the GLSP will often cover a significant portion of the attorney fees and costs involved in that process.
To take advantage of the GLSP, the teacher enters into an agreement with the firm to pay the fees and costs not covered by the GLSP. As part of participating in the GLSP, our firm agrees to bill for attorney time at significantly reduced rates. By reducing our rates, we make it possible for the funds available under the GLSP to provide additional hours of attorney time to assist teachers.
For employment-related criminal matters, the GLSP offers an initial authorized amount to assist in investigations and defense. In addition, the EEL insurance policy benefit will reimburse a bail premium up to a limit. If the teacher prevails in the criminal case, the EEL insurance policy also reimburses legal fees and costs up to a specified limit.
If you are a teacher who needs legal assistance, contact your local union representative for further information and a referral to the appropriate GLSP lawyer or law firm.