Law Mutual Quarterly August Newsletter - eMutual

Welcome to the 2014/2015 Law Mutual Insurance Year!

This promises to be a busy and exciting year with the introduction of a number of new initiatives.

Details of this year’s compulsory risk management intensives are contained in this newsletter. The changes are in response to your feedback and we are keen to hear from you in relation to this new format.

All firms should have sent in their applications for PI insurance and paid any premium for the 2014/2015 policy period. Certificates of Insurance have been sent out with the Master Policy and Annual Information Booklet. If you are concerned that you may not have PI insurance in place, please email Law Mutual or call 9481 3111 as a matter of urgency. 

In this quarter’s Case in Point, we are looking at some strategies in dealing with unrepresented litigants.

For more information, you can visit our website which continues to improve and develop. As a valued client, we are interested in your feedback and how we can better serve your needs.

David Price
Chief Executive Officer

2014/2017 Law Mutual Business Plan

The Law Mutual 2014/2017 Business Plan identifies the purpose of Law Mutual:
To provide professional indemnity cover and effective risk and claims management solutions for the Western Australian legal profession while recognising the public interest.

Over the last 12 months, Law Mutual has increased the amount of time and resources to improving its activities and services. Law Mutual’s focus has been on developing a range of services available to practitioners and firms. These services and activities have been designed to reflect the different levels of expertise providing practical and useful information to Insured practitioners.

Law Mutual now has dedicated personnel for each of the core functional areas of insurance services, finance, risk management and claims to address service and customer needs.

What's On

2014/2015 Compulsory Risk Management Seminars

This year’s compulsory seminars have a new look. The seminars will be split into 3 categories:

• Junior lawyers  (< 5 years)
• Sole Practitioners
• Experienced lawyers (>5 years) and Principals (2+years)

The 2014/2015 compulsory risk management seminars will consist of the following presentations:

Compulsory session (2 hours):

• Risks arising from the PPSA presented by Jackson McDonald
• Risk and Practice Management presented by Ronwyn North
• For senior lawyers:  Business Continuity Management Plans presented by RiskWest Management Consultants
• For junior lawyers: Conduct Rules presented by Ronwyn North.
• 2 CPD points (1 Ethics, 1 Legal Skills).

Optional session (1.5 hours):

• Presentations by the LPCC and LPBWA.
• Q & A session.

A schedule for the Risk Management seminars is available online, it is also the easiest way to register.

Know Your Risk – wise words

If you are not a litigator don’t litigate. If you are not a construction lawyer don’t advise on a construction dispute and if you make a mistake don’t try and fix it; that is a job for an independent objective mind.

Annual Renewal Process

All Certificates of Insurance have now been issued by email for the 2014/2015 insurance year. If you have not received your certificate please contact us by email.  

If you are intending to practise law in Western Australia, it is a statutory requirement for you to hold a current Professional Indemnity Insurance policy. A Legal Practising Certificate can only be issued if you are compliant with this requirement. Further information on Profession Indemnity Insurance arrangements can be found in Law Mutual’s Annual Information Booklet.

Please note that your insurance/exemption does not automatically renew. It is necessary to complete an application/exemption form every insurance year to ensure your continuing compliance. You will be notified by email when it is time to complete the necessary form for the 2015/2016 year.

Please remember to advise Law Mutual of any changes of email address or if it is your preference to have communications sent via the post. Unless we are advised to the contrary, all communications will be sent by post if no email address has been provided.

National e-Conveyancing

Thank you to all insureds who submitted their questions and indicated their interest in the proposed articles on National e-Conveyancing.  Landgate is currently answering the questions posed and the article will be published as soon as we have Landgate’s response.

View information on e-Conveyancing included in the May eMutual

Case in Point: Tips for dealing with unrepresented litigants

The number of unrepresented litigants (URLs) is growing, and is expected to continue to rise.  Some of the most problem areas that can result in a professional indemnity claim or a professional complaint against a lawyer acting against an URL are discussed in the article linked below.

Find out more

FAQs

Can an Incorporated Legal Practice still be classified as a Low Fee Earner law practice?

An  ILP can be classified as a LFE law practice if there is only one director; general employees work no more than a combined 20 hours per week; there are no employed practitioners and there are no service contracts with one or more other practitioners (other than a locum).