Professional indemnity

Solicitors' firms must obtain professional indemnity insurance in accordance with the Solicitors' Indemnity Insurance Rules.

This cover must meet the minimum terms and conditions. It may be provided by a qualifying insurer or via the assigned risks pool.

What's here

• Solicitors' Indemnity Rules
  • Current rules
  • Previous rules

• Solicitors' Indemnity Insurance Rules
  • Current rules
  • Previous rules
  • Indemnity Insurance Disclosure Guidelines (PDF 42K)

• Qualifying insurers
• Minimum terms and conditions
• Assigned risk pool

• Part I General provisions and definitions
  • 1. Authority
  • 2. Citation
  • 3. Definitions and interpretation
  • 4. Establishment and maintenance of Fund
  • 5. Indemnity Periods before 1 September 1987
  • 6. Application of the Rules
  • 7. Scope of indemnity
• Part II Indemnity cover
  • 8. Indemnity
  • 9. Exclusions from cover
  • 10. Manner of indemnity
  • 11. Source of indemnity
  • 12. Maximum liability of the Fund
  • 13. Indemnity Limit
  • 14. Conditions
  • 15. Arbitration
• Part III Contributions
  • 16. Power to require Contributions
• Part IV Management and administration of the fund
  • 17. Powers of the Society
  • 18. Use of information
  • 19. Waivers
  • 20. Decisions by the Society
• Part V Maintenance and termination of the fund
  • 21. Maintenance and termination of the Fund
  • 22. Return of surplus relating to specific Indemnity Periods
• Schedule 1: Extract from the Solicitors' Indemnity Rules 1999
  • 21 Deductibles
  • 22 Amending the deductible or aggregate deductible
  • 23 Penalty deductibles

• Introductory commentary
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Summary of the arrangements
  • 3 Minimum Terms and Conditions
  • 4 The Assigned Risks Pool
  • 5 Arrangements with St Paul Travelers
  • 6 Changes for the 2008?2009 Indemnity Period
  • 7 About the Rules
  • 8 Contact details for further information
• Solicitors' Indemnity Insurance Rules 2008
  • PART 1: GENERAL
    • 1 Authority and commencement
    • 2 Citation
    • 3 Definitions and interpretation
  • PART 2: RESPONSIBILITY AND MONITORING
    • 4 Obligation to effect insurance
    • 5 Responsibility
    • 6 Insolvency of Qualifying Insurer
    • 7 Monitoring
    • 8 Registered European Lawyers
  • PART 3: THE ASSIGNED RISKS POOL
    • 9 Operation of the Assigned Risks Pool
    • 10 Applying to the Assigned Risks Pool
    • 11 Special Measures
    • 12 Time in the Assigned Risks Pool
  • PART 4: FIRMS IN DEFAULT
    • 13 Eligibility of Firms in Default
    • 14 Firms which fail to apply to the Assigned Risks Pool
    • 15 Arrangements in relation to uninsured Firms
  • PART 5: DISCIPLINARY OFFENCES AND REPORTING
    • 16 Disciplinary consequences of failure to comply with these Rules
    • 17 Use of information
    • 18 Details of Qualifying Insurer
  • PART 6: GENERAL POWERS OF THE COUNCIL
    • 19 Waiver powers
  • PART 7: OTHER OBLIGATIONS
    • 20 Accountants' reports
• Appendix 1: Minimum Terms and Conditions of Professional Indemnity Insurance for Solicitors and Registered European Lawyers in England and Wales
• Appendix 2: Rating schedule for 2008/2009
• Appendix 3: Special provisions for Registered European Lawyers