LAWPRO® CLE Premium Credit reduces Premiums up to $100 List of qualifying programs File your Declaration FAQs about the LAWPRO CLE Premium Credit

Would you like to hone your legal skills, learn new strategies and techniques, reduce your exposure to claims, and lower your 2011 insurance premiums? LAWPRO's CLE Premium Credit program makes all this possible.

LAWPRO believes it is critical for its members to incorporate risk management strategies into their practices, and that the use of risk management tools and strategies will help reduce claims.

To encourage participation in CLE programs that include risk management content, LAWPRO will offer a $50 Premium Credit (to a maximum of $100) for each CLE qualifying program you complete by mid September. To qualify, you must complete the online Declaration on LAWPRO's website by September 15, 2010. The maximum $100 credit will be applied to your 2011 insurance premium. You are also eligible for the Premium Credit if you chair or speak at a qualifying program, provided you attend the entire session. The Premium Credit is applicable to Standard coverage, and cannot be applied to Run-off or Excess policy premiums.

LAWPRO is working closely with the Law Society, the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the County and District Law Presidents' Association (CDLPA), the County of Carleton Law Association and other local law associations, The Advocates' Society, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and other not-for-profit CLE providers to create programs that will qualify for the LAWPRO Premium Credit. To qualify for this credit, a course must include a risk management component and be submitted to LAWPRO for approval. Only programs submitted by CLE providers in advance for review by LAWPRO will be considered for approval. To qualify for this credit, a program must address areas of law where there are claims and include a risk management component. Programs will be approved at LAWPRO's sole discretion.

Promotional literature for qualifying programs will carry the LAWPRO "seal" of approval; a list of qualifying programs is posted on the LAWPRO website at www.LAWPRO.ca/clecredit/CLE_List.aps.

Requirements for Designation as a Qualifying Program

To be designated as qualifying for the LAWPRO CLE Premium Credit, CLE programs must:

1. provide a minimum of 90 minutes of education/instruction; and
2. have a significant intellectual or practical component, with the primary objective being to increase the participant's professional competence as a lawyer and his/her ability to deliver quality legal services; and
3. address areas of law where there are claims and include content that specifically focuses on risk management and claims prevention; and
4. include detailed written materials.

1. in appreciating the nature, cause and frequency of malpractice claims;
2. in understanding and assessing continuously what can go wrong (i.e. what the risks are);
3. in determining which risks demand the most attention; and
4. in implementing strategies to deal with and eliminate those risks.

Getting the Credit Applied to your 2011 Premium

To obtain the full CLE Premium Credit, each member must complete two qualifying programs, and complete an online Declaration by September 15, 2010. Any credit obtained for programs completed prior to this deadline will be applied to the 2011 insurance premium (it will automatically appear on the 2011 invoice).

You can claim the credit for participating in an approved program via a live webcast or the Law Society’s ILN, provided you watch the entire program and have a copy of the program materials.

Individuals who chair or are speakers at qualifying programs are eligible to receive the premium credit, provided they attend the entire program.

You can claim the credit for reviewing an approved program on an archived webcast, CD-ROM, audio tape or video replay, provided you watch or listen to the entire program and have a copy of the program materials. On the CLE declaration form you should claim credit for a self-study review.

Completing 3 modules of the Online COACHING Centre (OCC) also qualifies for one $50 premium credit. However, lawyers must complete three new modules each year they claim the credit. Completing one section of the Law Society of Upper Canada's Best Practices Self-assessment Tool (SAT) also qualifies for one $50 credit. In any given year you can claim $50 for completing 3 OCC modules and another $50 for completing one section of the LSUC SAT.

To learn more about this new program, contact LAWPRO Customer Service by email: service@LAWPRO.ca, or call 416-598-5899 or 1 800 410-1013.