Personal Indemnity Insurance
How the Society is helping solicitors
The Law Society has created a series of advice products to help you address some of the issues surrounding Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII). We will also update members with information on market developments.
Latest news
Assigned risks pool: Society proposes alternative approach
31 January
The Law Society has prepared an alternative to the SRA's broad proposals relating to the assigned risks pool. We welcome comments from our members.
Read our alternative approach
SRA consultation paper released
6 December
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is consulting on its proposed changes to PII as part of its review of client financial protection arrangements. Responses are due by 28 February 2011. We will represent the views of the profession in our response to the consultation but we would urge all solicitors to engage with the consultation process and to also share their views with the SRA.
View the consultation documents
Read the Law Society's reaction
Assigned risks pool: get Law Society support
7 October
Early indications suggest 409 firms applied to enter the assigned risks pool (ARP) on 1 October, the deadline for professional indemnity insurance (PII) renewal. We continue to help members in the ARP to exit within the 30 day window and beyond, through our PII helpline and the SafetyNet scheme.
Read more on the ARP
Find out about the SafetyNet scheme
Society launches PII help scheme
28 September
The Law Society has launched a new scheme to assist law firms who are experiencing difficulty securing PII renewal terms.
Find out more
New insurer enters the market
2 September
Danish insurer Alpha Insurance A/S has announced that it will enter the solicitors' PII market in 2010-11. Alpha will underwrite sole practitioners and firms with 2-25 partners.
Read our updated guide to insurers (PDF, 76kb)
Frequently asked questions
Read our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the solicitors' PII market.
Download our FAQs (PDF, 110kb)
Insurer extends acceptance period
2 September
Following our letter of complaint, an insurer has extended its acceptance period from seven to ten days for quotes issued from 26 August.
Read more
PII equality and diversity action plan
25 August 2010
In 2009, the Law Society obtained evidence that black and minority ethnic firms experienced greater problems than the wider profession in renewing their professional indemnity insurance. We have put together an action plan to address the issues.
Read the latest
Quinn update
19 August 2010
We have just learned that Quinn Insurance Limited has confirmed that it will not be re-entering the solicitors' professional indemnity insurance (PII) market in England and Wales this year.
Law Society steps in over PII quotes
19 August 2010
We have stepped in after it emerged that a leading insurer, acting through its broker, has in effect imposed a time frame of just seven days for solicitors to accept its quote.
Read full story
Spread the cost of PII fees
19 August 2010
Our membership benefit offers you the ability to spread the cost of your PII fees with a competitive twelve month fixed rate loan product. This facility has been created in 
conjunction with E B Commercial Finance.
Find out more
Guide to insurers: updated for 2010
19 August 2010
Our updated guide lists the insurers that have indicated that they intend to apply to become qualifying insurers for 2010-11 and the practice sizes to which they are willing to consider providing professional indemnity insurance cover.
Read the guide (PDF, 76kb)
PII helpline re-opens
16 August 2010
Our PII helpline re-opened on Monday 16 August. The helpline is available on 020 7320 9545 from 09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday.
Transfer of the SIF run-off claims handling function
23 July 2010
The Law Society has today announced the transfer of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) run-off claims handling function to Vision Underwriting Limited (Vision). Vision has also today announced its intention to offer solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance (PII).
Read more
PII renewal period: possible delay
23 July 2010
The Legal Services Board is currently reviewing the SRA's application for approval of the Qualifying Insurer's Agreement 2010-11. We continue to press for the expeditious completion of this process. Some qualifying insurers are unwilling to quote indicatively until it's complete, which is likely to delay the start of the professional indemnity insurance (PII) renewal period.
Quinn Direct: the Court of Appeal's judgment
16 July 2010
The Court of Appeal has affirmed the Law Society's refusal to disclose privileged documents seized as part of an intervention to Quinn Direct. The insurer held that the files were pertinent to a determination of its obligation to indemnify a former partner. The implications are such that solicitors are not bound to disclose privileged documents to insurers without clients' consent.
Read more
Solicitors' Indemnity Insurance Rules: changes announced
8 July 2010
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has made several changes to the Solicitors' Indemnity Insurance Rules, which will take effect from 1 October 2010.
Find out more
PII tools: guide to choosing an insurance broker
21 June 2010
In the lead up to the PII renewal deadline, the Law Society has published a guide to choosing insurance brokers. Produced with assistance from the British Insurance Brokers' Association, the guide provides a checklist of points to consider in selecting the right broker for your requirements.
Download the guide (PDF 53kb)
PII advice: read our updated practice note
10 June 2010
We have updated our advice on professional indemnity insurance (PII) to reflect recent developments in the solicitors' PII market, including the upcoming changes to the Assigned Risks Pool and the definition of successor practice.
Read the practice note
Quinn Insurance: update for PII policy holders
25 May 2010
Following a meeting with Quinn and its administrators, we can confirm that no decision has been made about whether Quinn will be renewing or issuing new professional indemnity insurance (PII) policies in the UK from 1 October 2010. However, we continue to work on the assumption that Quinn will not be doing so.
Read full update
Insolvency of a qualifying insurer: new practice note
This practice note will provide our members with greater certainty about their position should their qualifying insurer become insolvent. It does not indicate that the Society holds information about the financial position of any qualifying insurers beyond what is publicly available, and does not change our current position on Quinn.
Read the practice note
Changes to the Assigned Risks Pool (ARP) and successor practice rules
The SRA Board decided at its meeting on 4 May to make changes to the ARP and successor practice rules.
Full details
Help and advice
Insurance Matters
Insurance Matters will keep members informed of key issues, changes and trends in both the general insurance market and the solicitors' PII market.
- Download the first issue (PDF, 673kb)
- Download the supplement (PDF, 278kb)
- Download the second issue (PDF, 1.4mb)
- Download the third issue (PDF, 1.8mb)
- Download the fourth issue (PDF, 1mb)
Law Society practice note
Our practice note describes PII requirements in the current market and details how you should apply, alongside related issues. It also covers what you should do if you're having difficulties obtaining insurance.
Read the practice note
PII buyers guide: free download
The Law Society has collaborated with the British Insurance Brokers' Association and Association of British Insurers to produce a guide to buying PII for solicitors. It provides information about the rights and responsibilities of solicitors, brokers and insurers in the renewal process.
Download the guide (PDF, 200kb)
Dispelling the myths around indemnity insurance
We have addressed some common member misconceptions about professional indemnity insurance as the renewal deadline approaches.
Read more in the Gazette
List of brokers and insurers
Contact details for qualifying insurers and brokers can be found at:
View the list of brokers (PDF, 362kb)
View the list of qualifying insurers
Please note: Neither the Law Society nor the Solicitors Regulation Authority approves, vets or regulates the qualifying insurers or brokers.
PII helpline
Call our helpline on 020 7320 9545 from 09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday.
Model retainer letter
We have drafted a model retainer letter which you may wish to consider when engaging a broker. The model sets out the service standards that you should expect from your broker when organising your PII. We have been unable as yet to secure an agreed model and terms with either the British Insurance Brokers' Association or individual broking firms, but will continue to work towards this goal.
Download the model retainer letter (WORD, 41kb)
Law Society position
Society calls for staggered renewals
The Law Society is planning a professional indemnity insurance (PII) shake up and will lobby the Solicitors Regulation Authority following the Council's decision to advocate for the abolition of a single renewal date. Law Society chief executive Des Hudson said variable renewal will not resolve all difficulties in the current solicitors' PII market but this will be addressed as part of a wider review next year.
Read more in the Gazette
Read the independent advice and more about the issue
Lexcel accreditation
The Lexcel standard provides legal practices with a supportive framework for their business that focuses on key practice management areas. By implementing Lexcel's requirements across all areas, practices can more effectively manage risk and enhance client service to reduce potential complaints or claims. As part of a practice's long term strategy, Lexcel accreditation may result in lower PII rates or provide more favourable treatment from insurers.
www.lawsociety.org.uk/lexcel