Ask the Underwriter: Can I add a contract attorney to my firm’s policy?

Many firms utilize contract attorneys to help with fluctuating workloads, manage costs, and access specialized expertise.  From time to time, I am contacted by our insureds about the possibility of adding a contract attorney to the firm’s policy. 

The answer is yes, you can add a contract attorney to the firm's policy.  Regardless whether the contract attorney’s services are needed temporarily or the arrangement is more permanent, you will need to add the contract attorney to the firm’s policy to have coverage for the work the contract attorney performs for the firm. 

Typically, mid-term additions of lawyers do not result in an additional premium mid-term.  That is, unless the additions create a material change in the risk.  Usually, they do not, and AIM evaluates who is with the firm at the time of renewal of the policy and charges for those lawyers with the firm at the renewal.  It is also important to advise us if the contract attorney is working full-time for the firm or on a part-time basis.  We do have the ability to apply part-time credits. 

For those lawyers working on a contract basis for multiple firms, it would be worth looking into purchasing their own policy.  This will ensure that the contract attorney has coverage regardless of whether the firm they work for adds them to the firm policy or not.  But it is important to know that the firm cannot gain coverage through the contract attorney’s individual policy - it only provides coverage for the contract attorney.  Thus, the need to add a contract attorney to your firm's policy.  

To add a contract attorney to your AIM policy, simply call our Underwriting department at 205-980-0009.  You can also submit the request and necessary information in your myAIM portal account at my.attorneysinsurancemutual.com. And as always, never hesitate to contact me if you have questions or wish to discuss this topic further.