Why choose Aon Attorneys Advantage for professional liability insurance?

Here are four reasons to select the Aon Attorneys Advantage Program:

• Broad Coverage
  Though there are other lawyers’ professional liability insurance programs on the market, in a head-to-head comparison, few offer Aon Attorneys Advantage’s level of protection.  


• Designed for Small Firms
  Law firms with 1-25 practicing attorneys are generally involved in lower risk areas of practice, resulting in lower claims severity and therefore lower professional liability insurance premiums.


• Financial Stability
  Over the years, lawyers’ professional liability insurance programs have entered and exited the market.  The Aon Attorneys Advantage underwriter, AXIS Insurance Co., is known for its financial security.


• Robust Risk Management 
  National defense firm, Wilson Elser, supplies Aon Attorneys Advantage’s insureds with a robust risk education program designed to help law firms avoid getting involved in costly law suits.

Professional Liability Coverage Options

• Professional Liability Limits up to $5 million per claim/$5 million aggregate
• Deductibles from $0 to $100,000 

Coverage Extensions (provided at no additional cost)

• Claim Expenses Paid Outside Policy Limits*
  Most lawyers’ professional liability insurance programs pay legal defense costs from ‘inside’ the policy limits, eroding coverage. Aon Attorneys Advantage pays claim expenses ‘outside’ the policy limits, leaving more coverage for potential settlements and judgments.
  • Up to $500,000 of claim expenses paid if policy per claim limit is $2 million or higher
  • Up to $250,000 of claim expenses paid if policy per claim limit is at least $500,000 but less than $2 million
  • Up to $100,000 of claim expenses paid if policy per claim limit is less than $500,000
• Free Unlimited Tail Coverage**
  When retiring or leaving practice, attorneys are encouraged to purchase an Extended Reporting Period Endorsement to cover claims that occur while in practice, but are reported after the policy expiration.  Aon Attorneys Advantage provides FREE Unlimited ‘Tail Coverage’ to qualified attorneys after only one year with the Program—a benefit that can save thousands of dollars.
• First Dollar Defense
  During a claim, the first $2,500 of claim expenses is not subject to the deductible.  As many non-meritorious claims are settled for less than $5,000, if you had a policy with a competitor with a $5,000 deductible you could be forced to pay the claim out of pocket.  With our First Dollar Defense coverage insureds pay less up-front expenses, providing a substantial savings.
• Full Prior Acts
  Lawyers’ professional liability insurance is written on a claims-made basis.  For a claim to be eligible it must occur and be reported during the policy period.  Aon Attorneys Advantage offers Full Prior Acts coverage to qualified firms, thereby providing coverage for claims arising from acts that took place prior to the inception date of the policy—regardless of how far in the past. 
• Subpoena Assistance 
  Lawyers routinely acquire personal knowledge of discoverable information.  Responding to nearly any subpoena requires time and money.  Aon Attorneys Advantage provides up to $25,000 of Subpoena Assistance coverage to retain counsel for advice regarding document production and for representation at a deposition.
• Disciplinary Proceeding Defense
  In the event of a formal investigation or proceeding conducted by a court, state licensing board, peer review committee, bar association, or other regulatory body, the policy will reimburse the insured up to $25,000 per proceeding/$100,000 aggregate for attorney fees and expenses incurred to respond to or prepare a legal defense.
• Loss of Earnings
  If AXIS requests an insured attend a trial, hearing or arbitration proceeding during the course of a claim, the policy will pay up to $1,000 per day for loss earnings, up to $10,000 per claim with a $50,000 aggregate during the policy period.
• Mediation Deductible Credit
  At AXIS' request, if the insured consents to submit to arbitration or mediation to resolve a claim, the deductible will be reduced by 50%, up to a maximum of $2,500.
• Worldwide Coverage

*In New York claim expenses are paid outside the policy limits with no limitation on the amount payable.

**After an attorney retires or otherwise ceases practice, to receive the unlimited Extended Reporting Period endorsement at no additional charge, they must have been insured under the Aon Attorneys Advantage Professional Liability policy continuously for one full year, plus the previous three full years under a single policy with a prior insurance company.  

This information is intended to present a general overview for illustrative purposes only. It is not intended to constitute a binding contract. Please remember that only the relevant insurance policy can provide the actual terms, coverages, amounts, conditions and exclusions for an insured.

Available to firms with 1-25 attorneys in all 50 states

Standard Risks

The Aon Attorneys Advantage Professional Liability Insurance Program insures small-to-medium sized law firms considered a standard risk through AXIS Insurance Co.   Examples of standard risks include:

• Firms specializing in standard areas of practice. 
• No history of frequent or severe malpractice claims (call for specifics)
  • Example:  Solo practitioners are eligible for the standard program if two or less claims totaling $50,000 or less over the past five years
• Less full-time Of Counsel, Independent Contractors and Per Diem attorneys than firm members
• More than 50% of their attorneys and revenues located inside their state of domicile
• Staff (partners, associates, attorneys, members, shareholders) and clients domiciled inside the U.S.

Nonstandard Risks

Nonstandard risks due to area of practice or claims may be eligible for our non-admitted program, Aon Attorneys Advantage Select.  

Law firms considered nonstandard risks have typically been declined coverage in the standard market because they do not fall within one or more of the eligibility standards listed above.  

• Difficult or nonstandard areas of practice include (call for complete listing):
  • Patent Law
  • Class Action/Mass Tort Law
  • Residential Real Estate Law:  if more than 300 transactions per attorney per year OR the maximum value of any transaction is greater than $5 million
  • Copyright/Trademark Law:  if more than 25% of business
  • Entertainment Law:  if more than 50% of business
  • Investment Counseling Law:  if more than 50% of business

Other reasons a firm may be considered a nonstandard risk include:

• Difficult areas of practice (such as patents, class actions)
• Claim severity/frequency
• Staffing concerns
• Disciplinary concerns

To learn more about the coverage offered through the Aon Attorneys Advantage Select Program, please visit:

Standard Program:  AXIS Insurance Company

Rated A+ (Superior) by the insurance rating service, A.M. Best, AXIS Insurance stands among the top 10% of the nation’s most financially secure insurance companies.*  Clients benefit from AXIS’ stable financial position, by their superior claim-paying ability, commitment to the legal profession, and the knowledge they will be in business long-term.

 AXIS is well-known within the insurance community as an elite insurance company that specializes in writing malpractice insurance for lawyers, architects, engineers, accountants, and other professional firms.

 AXIS Insurance Company facts: 

• Over 10,000 small law firms insured nationwide
• Experience defending attorneys since 2004
• Professional liability makes up 50% of their business 
• Risk management advisors are licensed attorneys

Nonstandard Program:  Alternative Markets

Aon Attorneys Advantage Select is underwritten by a non-admitted carrier with:

• A (Excellent) rating by financial analyst A.M. Best Co.
• A+ (Strong) rating by Standard & Poor’s
• Risk management advisors who are licensed attorneys

*Out of 5,926 insurance companies doing business in the U.S., 614 have A.M. Best’s highest, ‘Superior,’ rating.  A.M. Best Co., Insurance Information Institute, June 2017.

Aon Attorneys Advantage Select: Coverage for Hard-to-Place Law Firms

Attorneys face a multitude of professional risks. With this in mind, Aon Attorneys Advantage offers professional liability insurance designed to meet a diversity of exposures through our Select program.

A few quick facts about Select:

• Limits up to $5 million per claim/$5 million aggregate
• Underwritten through a non-admitted carrier rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co.
• Wilson Elser risk management program included
• Available in all states except Alaska and Hawaii

Learn More

Standard Program:  AXIS Insurance Company

Rated A+ (Superior) by the insurance rating service, A.M. Best, AXIS Insurance stands among the top 10% of the nation’s most financially secure insurance companies.*  Clients benefit from AXIS’ stable financial position, by their superior claim-paying ability, commitment to the legal profession, and the knowledge they will be in business long-term.

 AXIS is well-known within the insurance community as an elite insurance company that specializes in writing malpractice insurance for lawyers, architects, engineers, accountants, and other professional firms.

 AXIS Insurance Company facts: 

• Over 10,000 small law firms insured nationwide

• Experience defending attorneys since 2004

• Professional liability makes up 50% of their business 

• Risk management advisors are licensed attorneys

Nonstandard Program:  Alternative Markets

Aon Attorneys Advantage Select is underwritten by a non-admitted carrier with:

• A (Excellent) rating by financial analyst A.M. Best Co.

• A+ (Strong) rating by Standard & Poor’s

• Risk management advisors who are licensed attorneys

*Out of 5,926 insurance companies doing business in the U.S., 614 have A.M. Best’s highest, ‘Superior,’ rating.  A.M. Best Co., Insurance Information Institute, June 2017.

Reduce Your Premium with Money-Saving Discounts

You may be able to reduce your professional liability insurance premium with several money-saving credits.  Speak to your representative to determine if you are eligible for the following:

• Docket & Calendar Control
• Engagement Letter Usage
• Internal Management Controls
• Continuing Legal Education
• Claims Free

Attorneys are not Immune to Cyber Attack

Cybercrime is one of the fastest emerging exposures in the world today.  With law firms in possession of their clients’ personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers and financial data it is imperative to consider cyber coverage.

Aon CyberBusinessPro ^sm is a separate, optional policy that safeguards law firms by providing three main areas of coverage:  insurance protection, risk management prevention measures and privacy breach response coverage to help pay the expenses resulting from an incident.

To learn more, visit the Aon CyberBusinessPro web page:

Aon CyberBusinessPro