the basic fees established in the Guidelines for the NJEA/NEA Legal Services Program. 3. NJEA reserves the right to review and question the cost of each case with the attorney and may request the attorney to reconsider those costs. NJEA also reserves the right to examine all time sheets and records related to any case in question. 4. Every effort shall be made to establish a set fee with the attorney for pursuit of a case. E. Program Sharing A network attorney shall submit to the program manager copies of all case briefs and other pertinent case material. F. Billing A network attorney shall submit detailed bills with receipts for costs to the program manager, which shall include: 1. the designated NJEA case number; 2. litigation hours, including pleadings, answers, motions and appearances; 3. conference hours; 4. research hours; 5. principal attorney hours and associate attorney hours in the above areas; 6. fixed costs of filing fees, etc. 7. transcripts (by prior approval of the program manager); and 8. other pertinent information. G. Meetings A network attorney will be expected to attend at least two meetings per year regarding implementation of the program. 92 – AR Handbook H. Legal Services Guidelines Each network attorney shall be provided with current NJEA policies regarding legal assistance to members and affiliates. I. Compliance In order to participate in the network, an attorney or firm: 1. shall not conduct arbitration hearings unless the UniServ representative has good reason to believe that the issue requires the presence of an attorney and has the approval of the program manager. 2. shall not participate in an affiliate contract negotiation without approval of the UniServ representative and the program manager. J. Annual Review Continued participation as a network attorney in the program shall be subject to an annual review. Either party may terminate the relationship upon thirty (30) days written notice. Administrative Procedures A. Intent These procedures are designated to implement expeditiously the NJEA/ NEA Legal Services Program. B. Payment of Legal Fees 1. Retainers shall be paid on a yearly basis. Payments shall be in six (6) equal installments. 2. Bills shall be paid within thirty (30) days of approval by the program manager for network attorneys on an hourly rate. C. Reports 1. PR&R Committee The committee shall receive at each regularly scheduled meeting: a. a report of the present status of the PR&R budget including costs to date and the present balance; b. an oral report and description of any case(s) where financial assistance has been denied; c. in cases of appeal of the denial of financial assistance, the committee shall receive the written description of the matters as well as the reasons for the denial of financial assistance. 2. Executive Committee a. In cases of appeal of the denial of financial assistance, the PR&R Committee shall provide the Executive Committee with the description of the matter(s) and the reasons for the denial of financial assistance. The PR&R Committee chair and/or his/her designee(s) shall be present to state the views of the committee. b. Executive Committee Approvals i. All grants shall be presented by the PR&R Committee to the NJEA Executive Committee for approval. ii. All requests for funding for fact-finding and additional monies for arbitration shall be presented by the PR&R Committee to the NJEA Executive Committee for approval. iii. There shall be an annual report to the NJEA Executive Committee and the Delegate Assembly in January of each year.
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