Legal Insurance

barlos1973

Hi

I was wondering if anybofy knows of any insurance company which would cover any legal costs for solicitors.

I was checking a law firm website where it states that they did not do any legal aid, but clients could use their legal expenses insurance. Apparently, many home insurance policies also include the the above.

I may have a pending litigation case which can be really expensive, so would love to have some kind of insurance.

Any help will be much appreaciated.

Thanks!

poppy_f1

check your home insurance policy as it may be covered on that

MrChris1986

My old firm used to deal with a lot of home insurance cases ...

The easiest thing to do is to phone your insurer and ask them ... dare I ask who your insurers are and what your case would invole? Depending who your insurer is and what your problem is I might be able to save you a phone call feel free to PM me if you don't want to broadcast to the world ...

MrC

barlos1973

Chris mate I've sent you a PM, but also don't mind broadcasting my sitation to the others.

First of all I do not have any home insurance since I live in the apartment and the building insurance is covered by management company. However, about a month ago I upgraded my Lloyds TSB account to a premier account which provides me with a number of benefits such as world wde travel insurance, home emergency cover, AA Breakdown Cover, but I am not too sure if this covers any legal expences.

The case is complicated but will possibly involve litigation against my University for negligence and breach of contract. However, after speaking to solicitors I was told that the costs could be anything up to 20K. and if I lose may cost me 60K. However, thankfully they did think that I had a very strong case, but unfortunately I just don't have the amount of money to take it that far. Even the 1 hour cosultation costed me £500!!! But checking another law firm who deal with higher education matters (Maxwell Gillot) their website mentioned something about Legal Expenses Insurance. So basically,here I am!

Any views or ideas?

Thanks!!!

MrChris1986

The first thing I would say is that £500 won't be for the initial one hour consultation ... they will ask for £500 on account of future costs and bill from there ...

linky

Those rates can't be taken as exactly what you'll be charged but they won't be massively different ... you can see though ... even a big city firm's suggested charge out rate wouldn't be £500 an hour (though I'm sure there are exceptions to that rule) ...

With regard to LEI being included in your premier account ... it isn't likely ... but that isn't to say it isn't worth a phone call ... worst case scenario ... they will say "sorry but you don't have insurance for this" ...

For them to say "you have a very strong case" ... without looking at any paperwork is most likely them throwing you a line trying to get your business ... the majority of litigators that I know don't really like talking to potential new clients ... example ...

"I've just been sacked and I want to sue"

"Right, well ... where did you work"

"Doris The Cleaners Limited"

"And what are the circumstances that led to your firing"

"They didn't really give me a reason they just sacked me and I think it's really out of order ... I mean ... they can't treat people like this ... I won't have it ... I want to take them to Court"

"Right well ... if you want to come in and talk to a solicitor ... we would have to ask for £500 up front on account of future costs ..."

"Oh right ... never mind then"

Your way forward is to contact The Law Society and ask them to find a firm who does Legal Aid work in the field of Education and/or Civil Litigation ... first of all in your area ... but if there are none ... then country wide ...

With e-mail, telephones and fax machines you really don't ever need to meet your solicitor face to face ... so long as you can send him documents and phone ... your all good

Your other port of call would be to ask the Law Society if they have details of firms who work on CFA's ... but they might not have a list of firms ... and even if they do ... the firm might not take you on as a client ...

Let us know how you get on

MrC