AEA Legal Services Programs

Support and Protection for Problems at Work

If you are facing discipline, or if your district is not meeting the conditions in your contract, your local association, with help from AEA experts, is ready to help. Start by contacting one of your local leaders or the OC for your region.

Get legal support

If your district has not renewed your contract for an unlawful reason, has illegally discriminated against you, or has falsely accused you, AEA is here to support you. AEA retains attorneys throughout the state to help inform and defend members.

If appropriate, an AEA-assigned attorney will defend you before your school district, the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting, or the State Board of Education, paid for by the AEA Legal Defense Fund. In addition, if appropriate, AEA staff will refer you to government agencies that provide free help for employment problems, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor.

To request legal support, use the AEA Help Desk.

Liability insurance

Your active Association membership provides you with a $1 million professional liability insurance policy. You are covered if a parent or student sues you for something that occurs while you are “on-the-job", or if you face criminal charges related to your employment and the proceeding is then dismissed or you are exonerated.² 

• You can be sued in your employment capacity for a variety of reasons, including student injury, property damage, or discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or disability. Your AEA liability policy covers all legal defense expenses and court-ordered judgments, up to $1 million for most claims and up to $300,000 for civil rights claims.
• You also could face criminal charges related to your employment, such as false accusations that you abused a student or stole school property. Your AEA insurance will reimburse you for criminal legal defense expenses up to $35,000 if the proceeding is dismissed or you are exonerated. You also can be reimbursed for up to $1,000 for a bail bond premium.
• If you are assaulted at work, your clothing or glasses could be damaged. Your AEA insurance will reimburse you up to $500 for personal property damage caused by the assault.  

Attorney Referral for Personal Legal Problems

Your membership in the Association entitles you to two free 30-minute legal consultations each year for personal legal problems in the areas of family law, consumer protection, traffic violations, wills and estates, and real estate. Many members resolve problems on their own after obtaining preliminary legal advice. If you need additional legal help, you may have legal work performed at a 30% reduction of the attorney’s normal fee.

To request an attorney referral for personal legal problems, use the AEA Help Desk.

In-Depth Legal Information 

Want to understand your rights as an educator and AEA member? We have in-depth resources on a wide variety of topics. Go to your Organizational Consultant or the Help Desk and ask for any of our booklets, including on reporting misconduct, free speech, employment discrimination, employee rights for teachers, interpreting policies, and requesting public records.