Law Mutual (WA) Overview

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

Quick Links

Claims

Claims Management Policy
Notify us of a Claim form
Senior Advisors Panel

Insurance Arrangements

2020/21 Annual Information Booklet
2019/20 Annual Information Booklet
2020/21 Master Policy
2019/20 Master Policy
2019/20 Master Policy Explanatory Notes
Legal Profession Act 2008
Legal Profession Regulations 2009

Risk Management

Risk Management Policy
2020/21 Risk Management Programme
2020/21 Risk Management Registration Form

Forms

Exemption Forms

Notification of Exemption
Notification of Exemption 2019/20 – Update of Details Only
Notice by National Law Practices in relation to Exemptions from Law Mutual Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements 2019/2020
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
2019/20 Form 1A – Additional Practitioner
2019/20 Form A – Sole Practitioners and Partnerships
2019/20 Form B – Low Fee Earners
2019/20 Form C – Incorporated Legal Practice

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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