Legal Malpractice (Lawyers Professional Liability / E&O)

• Claims alleging negligence, errors, or omissions in legal representation or advice
• Missed statutes of limitations - a common malpractice trigger in Georgia
• Conflict of interest failures, drafting errors, and inadequate legal advice
• Legal defense costs even when the claim is groundless - often the most valuable feature
• Claims-made form with retroactive date covering prior work
• Common limits: $1M/$1M to $5M/$5M depending on firm size and practice area

Personal injury and immigration firms in Georgia face high malpractice exposure - missed deadlines in PI cases and procedural errors on immigration petitions are both common and consequential. Transactional firms serving Georgia's development market face contract drafting and deal-structuring exposure that can generate large-dollar claims if a transaction unwinds.

Cyber Liability

• Data breach response: client notification, credit monitoring, forensic investigation
• Ransomware extortion and system recovery costs
• Business interruption if a cyber event disrupts firm operations
• Third-party liability if a breach exposes privileged client communications or case strategy
• Regulatory fines under Georgia's Data Breach Notification Law
• Wire fraud and social engineering (where endorsed) - increasingly common in real estate closings

Law firms are among the most targeted organizations for cybercriminals - they hold privileged communications, financial data, opposing party strategies, and often manage wire transfers for real estate closings. A spear-phishing attack targeting a Georgia real estate attorney handling a transaction can result in a fraudulent wire transfer that dwarfs the firm's annual malpractice premium.

General Liability & BOP

• Bodily injury to clients or visitors at your Georgia office
• Property damage caused by your employees during client visits or court appearances
• Personal and advertising injury (defamation claims in published materials)
• BOP bundles GL and Commercial Property at a discounted rate for firms with a fixed office
• Additional Insured for commercial landlords in Georgia

GL covers the physical liability GL doesn't cover professional errors - that's Malpractice/E&O. Most Georgia commercial leases require $1M/$2M GL with the landlord as Additional Insured as a condition of occupancy.

Crime & IOLTA Fidelity

• Misappropriation of client funds held in IOLTA trust accounts
• Employee theft of firm funds, escrow balances, or settlement proceeds
• Forgery and check fraud on trust or operating accounts
• Computer fraud and fraudulent wire transfers
• Addresses Georgia RPC 1.15 trust account obligations from an insurance standpoint

Trust account misappropriation is one of the most serious exposures for Georgia law firms - the Georgia Office of Bar Admissions investigates and prosecutes these cases, and firms can be found civilly liable for employee theft of client funds even without personal wrongdoing. Crime / Fidelity coverage is the financial backstop when controls fail.

Employment Practices Liability (EPLI)

• Discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination claims under Georgia law
• Associates and staff claims alleging hostile work environment or retaliation
• Pay equity and failure-to-promote claims in growing firms
• Defense costs in Georgia courts, where plaintiff-favorable outcomes are common
• Third-party EPLI for claims by clients or adverse parties

Georgia's employment laws apply to employers of any size and cover more protected classes than federal law. Law firms that are growth-stage - rapidly adding associates or staff - face elevated EPLI risk during hiring surges and the performance-based separations that inevitably follow. A single EPLI defense in Georgia can cost $150,000+ before a resolution.

Workers' Compensation

• Required by Georgia law for any firm with employees
• Medical bills and lost wages for office injuries, ergonomic strain, and commute-related incidents
• Covers associates, paralegals, and administrative staff
• Employers Liability (Coverage B) protects against employee negligence suits
• Non-compliance fines can reach $10,000; Georgia DOL audits employers actively

Even a desk-based Georgia law office carries WC exposure - repetitive strain from extended keyboard work, slip-and-fall in the office or courthouse, and incidents during client site visits are all legitimate claims. Georgia's strict ABC test also applies if you retain contract paralegals or law clerks who work primarily for the firm.

Commercial Umbrella

• Adds $1M-$10M+ excess liability above GL, Auto, and Employers Liability
• May be required by corporate clients or large institutional clients before retainer
• Protects partner personal assets above the firm's primary GL limits in a serious premises liability claim

A visitor who sustains a serious injury at a Georgia law firm's office - particularly one with a large reception area, conference rooms, or multi-floor space - could generate a claim that tests a $1M GL limit. An umbrella is low-cost relative to the asset protection it provides for partners with personal wealth at risk.

Hired & Non-Owned Auto / Commercial Auto

• HNOA: liability when attorneys or staff use personal vehicles for court appearances, client visits, or depositions
• Commercial Auto: for firms with owned vehicles (mobile notary vans, firm cars)
• Covers trips to Georgia courts and client offices

Attorneys driving their own cars to Georgia courts or to client depositions create business-use auto liability that their personal policies may not cover. HNOA is a low-cost endorsement that closes this gap.

Georgia RPC 1.15 - Client Fund Handling

Georgia's Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 requires attorneys to hold client funds in a properly maintained IOLTA trust account, maintain accurate records, and promptly disburse funds when due. Commingling client and firm funds, even inadvertently, is a disciplinary violation. The Georgia Office of Bar Admissions audits trust accounts and investigates complaints - findings of misappropriation can result in suspension or disbarment. Crime / Fidelity insurance provides the financial backstop when internal controls fail and funds are stolen.

Georgia Data Breach Notification Law

Georgia's data breach statute requires any business maintaining computerized records of personal information - including law firms holding client data, financial records, and case files - to notify affected Georgia residents promptly after discovering a breach. This obligation applies to every Georgia firm regardless of size. Cyber Liability insurance covers the notification, credit monitoring, forensic investigation, and regulatory response costs that follow a breach.

Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct - Malpractice Disclosure

Georgia's RPC requires attorneys who do not carry professional liability (malpractice) insurance to disclose this fact in writing to clients before commencing representation. While Georgia does not mandate malpractice coverage, the disclosure requirement creates a practical obligation - few clients in Georgia's competitive legal market will retain a firm that discloses it has no malpractice coverage. We help sole practitioners and small firms access affordable coverage at limits appropriate for their practice.

Proximity to Major Courts & Local Bar

Georgia is home to several major courts, including the Georgia Supreme Court and various U.S. District Courts. Attorneys practicing regularly in these courts operate in an environment where judges are experienced and juries are considered plaintiff-favorable in personal injury matters. This context reinforces the importance of adequate malpractice limits, particularly for personal injury, criminal defense, and immigration practitioners whose clients face high-stakes outcomes.