Legal Malpractice Insurance & Claim Avoidance 101
Selecting legal malpractice insurance can be a daunting undertaking. Due to lack of understanding, lawyers often find themselves without adequate coverage when a claim occurs. This “too little too late” scenario could have been avoided if they had purchased coverage knowing some basic insurance concepts. In addition, many policies provide coverage outside the realm of legal malpractice coverage, such as coverage for disciplinary actions and employment practices liability. Often unaware or having forgotten such coverage was part of their policy, many lawyer-insureds never avail themselves of these and other protections they have under their policy of insurance. During this informative, eye-opening program, you’ll learn about:
- Policy pricing
- Assessing carriers
- The importance of the insurance application
- Interpreting your coverage
- Claims-made coverage
- How to choose coverage limits
- How to select your deductible
- Policy endorsements
- Policy “add-ons”
- Why you should avoid coverage gaps
- What to do when changing firms and carriers
- Which claims are the most prevalent
- The ABAs top 10 traps that can get you into trouble
Join JoAnn Hathaway as she helps to demystify the world of legal malpractice insurance. Becoming an informed insured will help you protect your practice and sleep at night.
Speaker:
JoAnn L. Hathaway is a practice management advisor for the State Bar of Michigan, where she developed, launched, and oversees the Bar’s practice management program. She previously worked as a legal liability claims director, risk manager, paralegal, and legal administrator. She holds undergraduate degrees in Paralegal Studies, and Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University, and a graduate degree in General Administration from Central Michigan University.
She is an Adobe Certified Expert, is a Certified Clio Product Pro, and holds software certifications in LexisNexis Time Matters and Billing Matters software. She is a Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, a licensed property and casualty insurance agent, and the author of the ABA publication Legal Malpractice Insurance in One Hour for Lawyers. She is active in the ABA Law Practice Management Division, serving on the Publishing Board and Law Practice Today Editorial Board, and is a frequent speaker on law firm technology, insurance, and risk and practice management topics.
Disclaimer: All views or opinions expressed by any presenter during the course of this CLE is that of the presenter alone and not an opinion of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the employers, or affiliates of the presenters unless specifically stated. Additionally, any materials, including the legal research, are the product of the individual contributor, not the Oklahoma Bar Association. The Oklahoma Bar Association makes no warranty, express or implied, relating to the accuracy or content of these materials.