Law Mutual is the unincorporated association or body of persons who contribute to the Law Mutual Fund for the purpose of obtaining professional indemnity insurance and which is:
(a) provided with administrative services by the Society as trustee of the Law Mutual Fund under the business name “Law Mutual (WA)”;
(b) by s 329 of the Legal Profession Act 2008 (WA) and under the name “Law Mutual (WA)”, continued as an entity under that Act; and
(c) a company within the definition of that term in s 995-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth).
Under the Legal Profession Act 2008 the Law Society of Western Australia is required to make professional indemnity insurance arrangements for practitioners and former practitioners. Under the Legal Profession Regulations 2009, the Law Society of Western Australia is required to enter into arrangements with one or more insurers for professional indemnity insurance for practitioners and former practitioners.
Risk Management
Risk Management Law Mutual’s risk management mandate is stated in its Risk Management Policy (for insureds). The mandate is to assist insureds to manage the risk of professional liability in the provision of legal services.
Law Mutual (WA) offers a range of Risk Management seminars for 2020/2021 insurance year that are focused on the needs of different categories of practitioners and Law Practices and various types of claims.
Please note that there is no requirement to attend a Law Mutual (WA) risk management seminar.
However, law practices will be able to obtain a 5% discount on their total Annual Contribution Amount for the 2021/2022 insurance year, if all of the partners or practitioner directors and at least 80% of the employed practitioners of the law practice have attended at least two (2) hours of Law Mutual (WA) approved risk management training in the period 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021, subject to certain requirements of declaration and documentary evidence of attendance being produced upon request.
Law Mutual (WA) also provides tools and resources such as the Risk Control Map and Practice Management and Matter Management Guidelines to assist practitioners. »read more
Insurance
The Insurance Arrangements are governed by the Legal Profession Act 2008, the Legal Profession Regulations 2009 and the Master Policy.
Insurance premiums can be paid by EFT, cheque, credit card or premium funding. Regulations require law practices to pay their full annual contribution and administration levy by 15 May preceding the commencement of the Insurance Year (Regulations 83 and 88). »read more
COVID-19 Pandemic
As a response to the COVID-19 crisis, Law Mutual (WA) has changed the payment terms for coverage under the insurance arrangements for the 2020/2021 insurance year. The details of the changes can be found here.
Claims
Law Mutual (WA) manages claims against a law practice or practitioners insureds) in accordance with its Claims Management Policy.
As stated in the Policy, Law Mutual’s aim in managing claims is to:
- ensure that insureds are financially protected and able to continue to offer legal services; and
- compensate the consumers of legal services for loss caused by its insureds professional negligence.
An insured can make a claim with Law Mutual (WA) by downloading and submit a Notify us of a Claim form. We will do our best to ensure the claim is handled as swiftly and efficiently as possible to avoid further distress. For more information please call us on (08) 9481 3111. »read more
Publications
Annual Information Booklet
Master Policy
Risk Management Presentations
2019/2020
COVID-19 Pandemic Risk Management for Legal Practices
Accountability Responsibility and Authority – its all about the limits
Practice Management – Accountability Responsibility and Limits to Authority
Matter Management Guidelines – Providing
Matter Management Guidelines – Screening
Out of Practice – Risks of Straying outside usual area of work
Focusing on information and communication – getting it right in the delivery stage
2018/2019
Client Engagement Agreements – Planning for Success
Risk Management Training Screening
Screening New Clients for Conflicts
You’re not my client; are you?
Law Mutual (WA) News
- January 2021 – COVID-19 Member Alert
- December 2020
- September 2020
- April 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- December 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- December 2018
- April 2018
- October 2017
- August 2017
- May 2017
- February 2017
Please note, the hyperlinks within some editions may not work due to reference material being removed.
Risk Alerts
- February 2021: Phishing Scam Targeting PEXA Members
- October 2020: Important Changes to Workers’ Compensation Legislation
- April 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic and Risk Management
- July 2019: Cyber Security
- February 2019: PPSR Expirations
- August 2018: The PEXA Guarantee
- July 2018: Is Email the ‘Weakest Link’?
- February 2018: 10 Tips to Protect You from Email Fraud
- December 2017: Email Scam Warning
Please note, the hyperlinks within some editions may not work due to reference material being removed.
Quick Links
Claims
Claims Management Policy
Notification of Claim or Circumstance Form
Ethical Guidance Panel
Insurance Arrangements
2020/21 Annual Information Booklet
2020/21 Master Policy
2021/22 Annual Information Booklet
2021/22 Master Policy
Legal Profession Act 2008
Legal Profession Regulations 2009
Risk Management
Risk Management Policy
2020/21 Risk Management Programme
2020/21 Risk Management Registration Form
Risk Management Approval Form
Forms
Exemption Forms
Notification of Exemption
Exemptions from Law Mutual (WA) Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements – National Law Practice Undertaking 2021/2022
Exemptions from Law Mutual (WA) Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements – National Law Practice Undertaking 2020/2021
Insurance Forms
2020/21 Form A – Sole Practitioners and Partnerships
2020/21 Form B – Low Fee Earners
2020/21 Form C – Incorporated Legal Practice
2020/21 Form 1A – Additional Practitioner
Contact
Level 4, 160 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000
Postal: PO Box Z5345 Perth WA 6831
Telephone: (08) 9481 3111
Facsimile: (08) 9481 3166
Email: info@lawmutualwa.com.au
Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and Collection Notice
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To view the Law Mutual (WA) Privacy Act Collection Notice please click here.