About Us
The Insurance Management Committee manages the Professional Liability Reserve Fund (the “Fund”) established and operated pursuant to the New Brunswick Law Society Act and Rules. The Insurance Management Committee is composed of the following members:
David R. Ames, K.C. (Chair)
C. Paul W. Smith (Treasurer)
Matthew M. Tweedie, K.C.
Robert G. Boyd
Sonia St-Pierre
Enrico Scichilone
Trisha E. Perry
Justin J. Robichaud, K.C.
The Fund provides the mandatory professional liability insurance program and facilitates the purchase of excess insurance for the benefit of Insured members of the Law Society of New Brunswick through the Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association.
Looking for more information? Contact us via email at elandry@lsbnb.ca
Recent Updates
Changes to deductibles and surcharges effective July 1, 2024 (added July 10, 2024)
July 2024 LAWgical Claim Prevention (added July 10, 2024)
2023-2024 Annual Report of the Professional Liability Reserve Fund(added June 24, 2024)
Pre-authorized Debit (PAD) Agreement (updated June 10, 2024)
CLIA - Not So Risky Business Roundup - June 2024 (added June 10, 2024)
Voluntary Excess Insurance Program
Overview of CLIA Voluntary Excess Program
Why purchase excesss liability insurance?
Insurance Coverage for Solo Practitioners and Small Firms
Insurance Coverage for Retirees
Guide for New Brunswick Lawyers Transitioning in Practice
For more information regarding the Voluntary Excess Insurance Program, feel free to contact us via email at elandry@lsbnb.ca
Loss Prevention Tips
The Professional Liability Reserve wants to help lawyers reduce the likelihood of being sued for malpractice. We will periodically provide you with news, updates and information to assist in your practice. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us.
REMINDER: Under your professional liability insurance policy you have an obligation to report claims made against you, and also an obligation to report any POTENTIAL claims.
Coverage is provided for you, for any claims or potential claims reported: “provided that the Insured had no knowledge before commencement of the policy period of the Claim or potential Claim and could not reasonably have foreseen before commencement of the policy period that a Claim might arise.” (Policy paragraph 4.2)
If you are in circumstances in which a claim might arise against you, please go to our website and complete the Claim Report form found here: Claim Report
Forms
-
Submit a report of a potential claim - Professional Liability Claim Report
-
Voluntary Excess Policy - New Application Form
-
Insurance Exemption first application - Form 25
-
NOTICE: Annual Renewal of Form 25 no longer required as of January 1, 2019
For information on membership and insurance change of status please click here.
Insurance Billing and Payment Options
Council of the Law Society of New Brunswick sets the net insurance fees for the mandatory insurance coverage on an annual basis.
Members have the option of making insurance fee payments in one of the two following ways:
- Default method - annual billing with invoices emailed to individual members in one instalment due on July 1.
- Upon request by the member, monthly pre-authorized automatic debit (PAD) from an account with a participating bank or credit union in instalments paid on the 1st day of each month.
- A member must make request in writing by the 20th day of the month to be added to or removed from PAD payments effective the first day of the next month. To be added to PAD payments or change account information, please submit a signed Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement along with a copy of a void cheque.
- If a member fails to fulfill two monthly pre-authorized payments in a policy year, the Insurance Director shall have the discretion to remove the member from the monthly pre-authorized payment plan and return the member to the annual payment plan.
All payments that are returned for any reason must be replaced within 10 days. A processing fee of $30.00 plus HST shall be applied to all such payments to cover banking charges.
Three month minimum - Each insured member must have paid three consecutive months of insurance fees prior to being granted an exemption from the professional liability insurance program.
Guide to Retention and Destruction of Closed Client Files
Adapted from the Guide to Retention and Destruction of Closed Client Files for Lawyers by the Law Society of Ontario. ©2010-14, Law Society of Ontario. Reproduced and adapted with permission of the Law Society of Ontario.
Introduction
Reasons for File Retention
The Client File
Closing Client Files
Retention of Client Files
Destruction of Client Files
COMPLETE GUIDE INCLUDING APPENDICES
This guide is not intended to replace a lawyer’s professional judgment or to establish a one-size-fits-all approach to the practice of law and the retention and destruction of closed files. Subject to the guide provisions that incorporate legal or Code of Professional Conduct requirements, a decision not to follow the provisions will not, in and of itself, indicate that a lawyer has failed to provide quality service. Whether a lawyer has provided quality service will depend upon the circumstances of each case.
New Brunswick Lawyers' Assistance Program
The Lawyers' Assistance Program (NBLAP) is a confidential service offering counselling, coaching and support to respond to any circumstance that affects your health, well-being and professional life. Services are available in person, by telephone or online at no cost to you. Appointments can be made quickly and locally, with your convenience in mind. Register using NBLAP as your company name to access the Homewood website homeweb.ca resources, assessments and articles.
This program is available to New Brunswick lawyers, employees, judges, articling and law students and their families.
For free confidential help call:
1-888-315-2244
Bilingual Service available
24 hours a day 7 days a week
Staff
 |
|
|
Robert B. Jackson |
|
 |
|
|
Erin Landry |