Download and sign a copy of the Legal Defense Fund here.

The Policemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois and the Policemen’s Benevolent Labor Committee offers, as a benefit of membership, participation in a pre-paid legal service plan or “legal defense fund,” for all police officers in the State of Illinois who are members of the Policemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois or who are members or clients of the Policemen's Benevolent Labor Committee.

The plan is designed to encourage members to pre-plan their personal legal defense matters to assure themselves quality legal representation in the event certain, employment related, legal representation needs arise. Specific services provided under this plan are detailed below.

1. Eligible Member – Eligible Member shall mean, except as otherwise specifically provided, any statutorily defined peace officer who is a member in good standing of the Policemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois or member/client in good standing of the Policemen's Benevolent Labor Committee, that has specifically contracted for these pre-paid legal services. No member shall be in good standing if the member has failed to pay his or her legal defense premium within thirty (30) days of the premium’s due date.
2. Premium Due Date – A premium of Sixty Dollars ($60.00) shall be due from each member participating in this plan on January 1 and July 1 of each year. However, if a member desires to pay his or her premium in advance, discounts may, from time to time be offered. Similarly should an entire P.B.&P.A. unit, or an entire Policemen's Benevolent Labor Committee unit desire to pay premiums for the entire local unit membership discounts may, from time to time, be offered.

1. Representation at discipline and discharge proceedings at Arbitration, before the Police & Fire Board or Civil Service Commission.
2. Representation at and during internal investigation interviews.
3. Representation during criminal investigations and proceedings where the criminal offense is alleged to have occurred within the scope and in the performance of the member’s official police duties.
4. Initial consultation and advice in civil rights violation cases including referral to a reputable civil rights attorney to represent the member at a discounted rate. Appeals of discipline, discharge, and criminal cases are not covered by this plan. However, eligible members may request additional legal assistance from the legal defense fund. Such requests shall be evaluated on a case-bycase basis.

1. Any member utilizing this benefit shall be the client of the individual attorney retained to represent them. The Policemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois and/or the Policemen's Benevolent Labor Committee cannot and will not infringe upon the attorney’s independent exercise of professional judgment in rendering legal services under this plan.
2. The attorney has the right and professional duty to decline the provisions of legal services on any matter if, after exercising due diligence in fully analyzing and researching the case, he or she determines it to be without merit, presenting a conflict of interest, or other ethical dilemma. Such a determination will relieve the Policemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois and the Policemen's Benevolent Labor Committee from any duty of representation in any matter under this plan/benefit.
3. Services will not be provided under this contract in any matter in which legal representation is provided to the eligible member pursuant to a policy of insurance or other means for which the eligible member does not have to pay for legal services from his or her own funds.
4. Legal services will not be provided for any actions or proceeding initiated prior to the effective date of the plan.
5. Legal services will not be provided in any matter under this plan where the adverse party is the Policemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois or the Policemen's Benevolent Labor Committee.