So What is CLIA Anyway?

For an organization that has been around for 35 years, we have an image problem. Or perhaps a lack of image problem. Many of the lawyers we insure have never heard of us.

CLIA is a reciprocal insurance exchange formed in 1988 as a direct response to a need for more effective professional liability coverage for Canadian lawyers. By banding together to form an insurance company, law societies were given access to direct insurance markets (akin to shopping wholesale) that would recognize the years of Canadian-specific claims history the law societies had built. Member law societies include:

·       Manitoba

·       New Brunswick

·       Newfoundland and Labrador

·       Northwest Territories

·       Nova Scotia

·       Nunavut

·       Prince Edward Island

·       Saskatchewan

·       Yukon

If you are a lawyer practicing in one of the above jurisdictions, you are insured by CLIA. CLIA issues a master policy to each member law society to benefit its practising insured members. The participating law societies agree on standard limits and policy terms, and each selects a member society retention appropriate to their circumstances. CLIA administers claims exceeding society deductibles and performs a coordinating role.

Why is there still the confusion? Well, some member societies manage their own programs, including claims management, within their retained limits. For example, the Saskatchewan Lawyers Insurance Association (SLIA) does just that and has a similar name/acronym to boot. We also occupy office space in the same building in Regina.

We understand not knowing us yet – we haven’t done much to introduce ourselves. Stay tuned for weekly posts about CLIA and get to know us better. To receive notifications each time we post, please subscribe.