Trade insurance
Insurance for attorneys.
Legal malpractice (lawyers professional liability) is required by many state bars and by clients; some jurisdictions mandate disclosure of whether you carry it.
Updated 2026-05-16 · Beaconcover editorial§ 01
Why this matters
What can go wrong on the job.
- Missed deadlines/statutes. Malpractice from procedural error
- Conflict of interest. Representation disputes
- Client data breach. Privileged information exposure
§ 02
Required vs recommended
What contracts require, and what's worth adding.
§ 04
Common gaps
Where this coverage trips people up.
Practice-area mix heavily drives pricing (e.g., securities/IP cost more)
Claims-made + retroactive date and tail coverage are critical at transitions
Some states require client disclosure of coverage status
§ 05
Before you bind
Questions to ask any carrier for attorneys.
- Does the quote include the lines listed above as typically required?
- What does a certificate of insurance cost and how fast can the carrier issue one?
- How is workers' compensation rated for this trade — by payroll or by class code?
- Is there a separate deductible for tools and equipment in transit between sites?
- If a client requires an additional-insured endorsement, is there a fee?