How we can help
POA members can count on full legal assistance and representation on any work related matter.
Full legal assistance and representation
POA members can count on full legal assistance and representation on any work related matter. There is no limit on expenditure incurred in defending an innocent member. This benefit provides cover for Police Investigations, prosecutions and providing a defence at Trial.
Free initial legal advice on any work matter
The legal benefit is funded directly from subscriptions paid by members. It is not underwritten by any third party (i.e. insurance company), and is therefore not selective to satisfy underwriters. In this way the Association remains autonomous and in full control of the defence of its members.
Trade union representation in work matters
In addition to, and often in tandem with legal cover, national and local trade union representation is available to represent members at Disciplinary Hearings, Inquiries at local and Secretary of State level, Inmate/Patient Allegations, CSAB and Nursing and Midwifery Hearings, and all pay, pension and conditions related matters with employers.
Thompsons Solicitors
Thompsons Solicitors is the most experienced personal injury and trade union law firm in the UK. It has a long, proud history of fighting for trade union and workers’ rights.
Founded in 1921, Thompsons has, throughout the last 100 years, always worked and campaigned alongside the labour movement for social justice. It has an unrivalled reputation for securing the maximum amount of compensation and for taking on and succeeding in cases that others would turn away.
Thompsons has won numerous landmark legal cases, including:
- The case that established the concept of employers’ liability
- The first industrial disease case
- The test cases on industrial hearing loss
- The first work-related stress claim
- Equal pay claims that led to the law we have today
- Establishing that prisons are responsible for prisoners who negligently injure staff while carrying out prison work.
The firm has extensive experience representing prison, correctional and secure psychiatric workers in legal cases including inquests, criminal prosecutions, personal injuries, employment cases and criminal injury claims. POA members and their families benefit from first-class legal services from specialist lawyers throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Unlike most other law firms, Thompsons, as a point of principle, never acts for employers or insurance companies. That means POA members can be confident in the knowledge that their legal service is provided by a law firm genuinely committed to trade union members and fellow workers. And unlike other law firms, who will take up to 25% of any compensation, POA members using their union legal service from Thompsons get 100% compensation with no deductions for legal fees.
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Free legal support for POA members and your families |
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As a member of the POA, both you and your family have access to a first-class legal package provided by the UK’s leading law firm for trade union members, Thompsons Solicitors. In 2021, Thompsons secured more than £4.3m in compensation for POA members. |
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You won’t get these benefits with any other non-union law firm. |
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Your comprehensive legal package Your legal package covers: |
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Your family members are also covered for: |
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Don’t miss out |
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For personal injury claims, you have three years from the date of your accident to make a claim. We recommend you get in contact as soon as possible to give your claim the best chances of success.
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To discuss a claim or seek advice from your dedicated POA legal service, contact us on 0800 587 7515 or visit our website. |
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Start here
If you require legal support, you must first download, read and agree to the terms of the legal advice, in our Legal Aid Handbook. Please find links to the relevant handbooks for your region:
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Legal Aid Handbook Scotland.pdf
0.27 Mb, pdf
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Legal Aid Handbook Eng Wal and Northern Ireland.pdf
0.72 Mb, pdf
“I was extremely grateful for the support and guidance from the POA, both locally and nationally and Thompsons solicitors, who were first class. This proved my membership of the POA was vital.”
EX-PRISON OFFICER AWARDED DAMAGES FOLLOWING CAREER-ENDING ICE SLIP
More words of thanks from our members
"I have received excellent service from the start of my claim to the end result. I am very happy would definitely recommend THOMPSONS Solicitors to my friends. I have dealt with different people at each stage and each one was very professional and helpful throughout."
"You have been very helpful in this situation and I thank you for keeping me updated. Stay safe in these difficult times, Regards."
"In light of the current pandemic conditions, Samantha French has been very helpful, professional and very helpful with her time and advice whilst dealing with my claim."
"Thank you for your email, I am really pleased with the result. I cannot thank you enough, it has been a long process and there were many moments where I was tempted to stop the process. It is finally over! Again, thank you"
"Can I say thank-you to everyone involved, you have all been amazing and I can't say how much I appreciate all the hard work. thank you all again"
"Thank you for all your help and support with regards to the settlement of my claim. I have received all the damages and appreciate all your help in getting my case resolved with a positive outcome."
Representing over 30,000 Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers, the POA is the largest UK Union in this sector, able to trace its roots back more than 100 years.