Why do lawyers and attorneys need insurance?
As an attorney, you’d rather practice law than be named as a defendant. From premises liability to advertising injuries, you know exactly how costly litigation can be. Business insurance can pay for settlements and other expenses from a lawsuit, allowing you to carry on with your work.
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Lawyers and attorneys can save money on insurance by comparing quotes from top-rated providers.
Fill out Insureon's easy online application to get free quotes and advice from a licensed agent.
What types of business insurance do lawyers need?
These business insurance policies cover the most common risks faced by lawyers, attorneys, and law firms.
Note: Insureon cannot provide quotes for professional liability insurance for lawyers, also called legal malpractice insurance.
Business owner’s policy
A business owner's policy, or BOP, is a cost-effective way to buy general liability coverage and commercial property insurance together. Most small firms are eligible.
- Accidents that harm a client
- Stolen or damaged business property
- Business interruption insurance
General liability insurance
General liability insurance protects against basic third-party risks at a law firm. It can help pay medical expenses and legal costs if a client sues over an injury at your office.
- Client slip-and-fall injuries
- Accidental damage to client property
- Copyright infringement lawsuits
Workers’ compensation insurance
Most states require workers' comp for law practices with employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work injury costs that health insurance might deny.
- Employee medical expenses
- Disability benefits
- Lawsuits from employee injuries
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance covers financial losses when a legal help firm's vehicle is involved in an accident. Most states require this coverage for vehicles owned by a business.
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Bodily injuries from an auto accident
- Vehicle theft and vandalism
Cyber insurance
This policy helps legal professionals survive data breaches and cyberattacks. It’s strongly recommended for small businesses that store personal information.
- Data breach notification costs
- Fraud monitoring services
- Ransomware payments
Fidelity bonds
Fidelity bonds, a type of surety bond, reimburse customers in the event of employee theft. Some clients, like those in financial services, may require a bond before they'll work with your law firm.
- Employee fraud
- Identity theft
- Illegal electronic funds transfer
How much does insurance cost for lawyers?
A lawyer who works independently will typically pay less for insurance than a larger law firm.
Factors that affect insurance costs for lawyers include:
- Area of practice, like family law, estate planning, insurance law, probate law, or debt collection
- Value of business property, equipment, and real estate
- Years of experience
- Number of employees
- Types of insurance purchased
- Policy limits, deductibles, endorsements, and exclusions
- Claims history
How do I get insurance for law firms?
It's easy to get law firm insurance if you have your company information on hand. Our application will ask for basic facts about your business, such as revenue and number of employees. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application
- Compare insurance quotes and choose policies
- Pay for your policy and download a certificate
Insureon's licensed insurance agents work with top-rated U.S. providers to find the right insurance coverage for your legal advice, whether you work independently or hire employees.
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Common questions about insurance for attorneys
Take a look at answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about business insurance for lawyers and attorneys.
Are lawyers and other legal professionals required to obtain business insurance?
Yes, there are several reasons a lawyer, attorney, or firm that handles legal issues may be required to carry insurance. Some of these reasons include:
- Your practice area mandates legal malpractice insurance. Your state, municipality, or city may require legal firms and attorneys to carry lawyers professional liability insurance or LPL, also called malpractice insurance or errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. Even when not required, you'll likely have to disclose whether or not your law office has this coverage, per your local Bar Association.
- You have employees and need workers' comp coverage. Most states require law firms with employees to carry workers' compensation insurance.
- You need commercial auto insurance coverage. Almost every state requires business auto insurance for vehicles owned by a law firm, and each state has its own requirements for how much auto liability insurance you need for any vehicle.
- You're asked to carry insurance or a bond by clients. Even if you're an independent contractor, your clients might ask you to carry insurance to make sure they're not affected by a malpractice claim. They also might request a fidelity bond if they entrust you with financial assets and other legal documents.
- Insurance is a crucial part of risk management. Accidental injuries and malpractice lawsuits can happen at any law firm, or to any solo attorney. Business insurance covers costly attorney’s fees and other expenses that could otherwise shutter your firm.
What other types of insurance coverage do attorneys need?
While the policies mentioned above, like workers' compensation and professional liability coverage, provide valuable protection for lawyers, attorneys, and law firms, businesses that offer legal services often also invest in the following types of coverage:
- Business income insurance can be included with your commercial property coverage or in a business owner's policy. This policy covers day-to-day expenses during a forced temporary closure from a fire or other covered peril. You may also see it called business interruption insurance.
- Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance is a must have if you drive your personal vehicle to meet clients. That's because your personal auto policy won't cover work-related claims. HNOA covers vehicles used but not owned by your business, including personal, leased, and rented vehicles.
- Employment practices liability (EPLI) insurance covers employment-related issues, such as wrongful termination, discrimination, and other violations of employee rights.
- Directors and officers (D&O) insurance protects officers and board members financially in the event of a lawsuit related to a decision they made on behalf of your business.
- Commercial crime insurance, which includes fidelity bonds, protects your clients from dishonest employees. You can also add commercial crime insurance to your property insurance to safeguard your own business against employee theft and fraud.
- Commercial umbrella insurance boosts the coverage of your general liability, commercial auto, or employer's liability insurance when the policy reaches its limit on a claim.
- Surety bonds act as a contract between a business, a client, and an insurance company. They guarantee the surety company will reimburse the client if the business fails to deliver contracted services.
Although not an insurance policy, another coverage to consider is a hold harmless agreement. Sometimes called an indemnity agreement, this protection ensures your clients won't sue your business in certain situations.