About LAWPRO
Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO) is owned by the Law Society of Upper Canada and is licensed to provide professional liability insurance and title insurance in numerous jurisdictions across Canada. Through its malpractice insurance program, LAWPRO insures over 25,000 practising lawyers in Ontario, as well as providing them with risk and practice management information under the practicePRO banner.
LAWPRO's Posts
How to really communicate with clients and avoid malpractice claims
It seems so simple and yet a primary reason for a client to proceed with a malpractice claim against his or her lawyer is the failure of that lawyer to communicate effectively. To successfully step into the lawyer-client relationship in a malpractice – or any – claim, one needs to understand certain underlying concepts about… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsThe facts on the overdraft protection in the LAWPRO policy
The expanded protection against counterfeit bank instruments was announced by LAWPRO in October 2009. This column by Kathleen Waters, President & CEO of LAWPRO, was in response to calls and emails form lawyers seeking clarification of how this coverage works. 1. This is an enhanced protection The Law Society insurance program has generally provided protection… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention, LAWPRO Errors and Omissions CoverageThe Kenora gambit: Why it pays to know Ontario has two time zones
Did you know Ontario has two time zones? Veteran Claims Counsel Doug Scott was able to exploit that fact to help one of our insureds “repair” a problem and avoid a claim. Late one afternoon, Doug took a call from a frantic Toronto area lawyer who explained that a limitation period to sue on a… Read More »
Categories: LAWPRO Errors and Omissions Coverage, Limitations ClaimsFranchise Law Tenet: Disclosure! Disclosure! Disclosure!
LAWPRO is seeing an increase in claims against lawyers by franchisees and franchisors. These claims tend to involve significant damages which often approach or exceed the available limits under the primary LAWPRO policy. Franchises are governed by the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure), 2000 (the “Act”) which was enacted by the Ontario government to provide… Read More »
Categories: Franchise LawHow lawyers can help their clients become better communicators – and vice versa
Some solicitors may think that the responsibility for maintaining appropriate solicitor/client communications lies solely with them. It is true that solicitors who fail to adequately communicate with their clients risk losing those clients – or even facing a malpractice claim. But it is also true that clients have reciprocal obligations to disclose relevant facts, to… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsTendering correctly: Preserve your client’s rights (and avoid a claim!)
Tendering, in real estate practice, is a strategy real estate lawyers can use to demonstrate a client’s willingness and readiness to close a transaction in circumstances where there may be doubts about the other party’s ability or willingness to close on time. done properly, tendering can help to preserve a client’s rights in the event… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateSteps to take when leaving your current law firm
Lawyers who change firms, contact information, or practice status should notify both LawPRO and the Law society separately of these changes because LawPRO and the Law society maintain separate information databases. Joining a new firm Send an email to LAWPRO Customer Service ([email protected]) and include your new contact information and the effective date of the… Read More »
Categories: LAWPRO Errors and Omissions CoverageDoes title insurance bring benefits to the primary professional liability program?
We all know that notwithstanding the rise of title insurance in Ontario, claims arising from real estate practice are still a large (and in many years, the largest) exposure for the primary professional liability program that LAWPRO provides for the Law Society’s lawyer-licensees (the “E&O program”). We have explored why in other articles and settings…. Read More »
Categories: LAWPRO Errors and Omissions Coverage, Real Estate, The TitlePLUS Program & Title Insurance