Legal Resources
Legal Resources
The ATPE Protection Program consists of the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Policy and ATPE Member Legal Services.
Highlights of the insurance policy include:
- Professional liability coverage*, which protects your personal assets in the event of a lawsuit. View more details.
- Employment rights defense coverage*, which can pay the costs of defending yourself against specific claims—including dismissal and certification claims. View more details.
Note: Insurance coverage only applies to an insured’s activities that begin during the policy period. View more details.
The ATPE Member Legal Services Department boasts more staff attorneys than any other Texas educators’ association. Our legal team may provide eligible members with quick, confidential assistance with employment-related legal concerns**—in English or Spanish—at no additional cost. You can arrange an after-hours call if it’s inconvenient to speak during regular business hours.
Coverage you can understand and count on
Because the details of ATPE’s liability insurance policy are published on atpe.org, you know exactly the level of coverage provided. ATPE’s underlying employment rights defense insurance is guaranteed to cover eligible costs, whether you win or lose.
In contrast, many other organizations offer defense funds or insurance policies that provide coverage we believe is inferior and less reliable. If a member requires legal assistance, he or she must apply for it and wait for the organization to decide how much assistance, if any, will be granted—based on criteria the member might not know ahead of time. Access to those funds might not be guaranteed, win or lose. Defense funds might also run out, leaving applicants stranded.
Support that’s secure and confidential
Attorneys are bound by attorney-client confidentiality. They represent the client’s best interest, even if your conflict involves another ATPE member.
If you have a legal problem involving another ATPE member (such as another teacher or supervisor), you can rest assured. If attorneys are needed, each eligible member may retain a separate attorney from a panel approved by the insurance company. Each attorney is ethically bound to provide counsel in the best interest of his or her client. Legal costs for covered claims are simply paid through the insurance policy.
*THE EDUCATORS PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY IS UNDERWRITTEN BY NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE CO. OF PITTSBURGH, PA. ALL COVERAGE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS TERMS OF THE MASTER INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED TO ATPE AND KEPT ON FILE AT THE ATPE STATE OFFICE. Coverage applies to an insured’s activities within his/her professional capacity and does not apply to activities that predate the coverage period. View insurance policy details here. Eligibility for ATPE membership benefits is contingent upon ATPE’s receipt of the entire annual membership dues amount for your appropriate membership category. A disruption in payments to an authorized payment plan may result in discontinuation of membership benefits, including cancellation of insurance coverage. ATPE reserves the right to determine eligibility for the appropriate membership category. The membership year runs from August 1–July 31.
**Staff attorney services are provided separate from the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Program.
Contact the Member Legal Services Department
Contact the ATPE Member Legal Services (MLS) Department here.
Common Legal Questions
What happens when you need to be absent? What precautions should you take with technology? Find information on these and many other employment issues.
ATPE's Employment Rights Protection Program
Answers to members’ most common questions about ATPE's legal resources.
Archive Policy
Summary of the ATPE Member Legal Services Department Archive and Destruction Policy.
Liability Insurance
Details of the current Educators Professional Liability Insurance Policy.