Learn More About the CLIA Team
Canadian law societies protect the public by requiring each lawyer to maintain one million dollars in errors and omissions insurance. Initially each law society purchased insurance from the private market. During a hard insurance market in the mid-1980s, premiums increased dramatically. In 1988, law societies could not purchase errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for members.
Law societies such as Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec had the volume and capacity to form their own self-insurance plans. The other law societies banded together to form a Reciprocal Insurance Exchange called Canadian Lawyer’s Insurance Association (CLIA). By banding together, the law societies would have access to direct insurance markets (akin to shopping wholesale) that would recognize the years of Canadian-specific claims history the law societies had built. Stable and fair rates and a permanent source of coverage were now within reach.
From 1988 until 2015 a representative board with a member from each Subscriber’s jurisdiction governed CLIA. Management was delegated to an external consultant. In 2015 the Subscriber Agreement was amended to create a skills-based board appointed by the Subscribers and to employ a CEO model. Meet our current Board and see our Board Chair Report for 2023 by current Chair, Allan Fineblit, for more information on the Board’s activities.
In 2016, the current CEO, David Jackson, was retained and the administration office opened in Regina. Dave has handpicked a team of professionals to help better meet the needs of our Subscribers and has created a culture that embodies his primary value. “People mean a lot to me,” says Dave. “We have a team that works incredibly hard and yet have never had an environment where people are punching the clock. Our team members deliver their very best to our clients, giving me full confidence that we will surpass every clients’ expectations.”
“I see insurance as being synonymous with a healthy relationship”, says Dave. “We do a lot of listening to make sure we get it right, and that makes a real difference. We also tend to be a team of compulsive problem-solvers”. The CLIA team is collaborative and can quickly and calmly get to the heart of the best insurance solutions. “It is important to all of us that clients feel that they can leave their insurance needs to us. Our role is to let them do what they do best: practice law. We do what we do best to provide the best insurance solutions quickly and easily.”
When Dave looks forward, he sees key opportunities to expand the organization and deepen relationships with clients. “This is a long game for us,” says Dave. “We know we make a difference to every law firm and law society we serve, which is the best feeling!”
Meet the rest of the CLIA team to better understand the personal touch and wealth of experience each bring. And that the way to our hearts is clearly through our stomachs – we are a group of foodies!