State Bar Seeks Public Comment on Amending California’s Legal Malpractice Insurance Rules

The State Bar is seeking public comment on options under consideration as part of its statutorily mandated malpractice insurance study. The deadline to submit public comment is November 5, 2018.  Currently, malpractice insurance is not required for attorneys licensed in California. However, attorneys without this insurance are required to disclose this fact to clients for whom legal representation will exceed four hours.

The State Bar is currently seeking public comment on the following options regarding malpractice insurance for attorneys licensed in California:

  • Amending rules to require attorneys to disclose to clients that they do not carry legal malpractice insurance;
  • Mandating legal malpractice insurance for attorneys as a condition of licensing, except for in-house counsel and government attorneys;
  • Developing a Continuing Legal Education or Practice Management program that provides an interactive self-assessment of law practice operations in an effort to examine legal malpractice liability;
  • Mandating such a program for attorneys who choose not to carry insurance;
  • Promoting the voluntary purchase of insurance.

Additional details, including how to submit public comment, can be found here. 

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