Legal malpractice insurance policies provide insurance coverage for some but not all professional liability (negligence) claims made against a lawyer. Most legal malpractice policies are written on a "claims-made" basis. This means that the insurance company providing the policy has agreed to cover claims that are made against the lawyer during the term of the policy. In other words, the policy that applies to a particular claim is the policy that is in effect at the time the claim is presented to the insurance company with a demand for payment-not the policy in effect when the lawyer's alleged negligence or mistake took place. Malpractice insurance policies typically limit the amount that the insurance company can be required to pay on each claim and the total amount that the insurance company can be required to pay on all claims made against the lawyer during the term (or effective period) of the policy. The maximum amount of coverage provided by a malpractice insurance policy is called the "limits" of the policy.
The following is a list of questions that a prospective client might ask before entering into an lawyer-client relationship with a particular lawyer:
- Do you presently maintain legal malpractice insurance coverage?
- What are the limits of your coverage? Have any of those limits been used in the payment of other claims?
- What is the deductible under your policy?
- Does your policy cover the type of work you are doing for me?
- What is the term of your current coverage?
- Will you advise me if you discontinue your coverage or change your limits?
- Could you provide me with a Certificate of Insurance (evidence from an insurance company that the lawyer is insured)?
