Do I need to obtain malpractice insurance before undertaking a pro bono project?
Before undertaking a pro bono project, we recommend that you contact your company’s risk management department to ascertain the existence and scope of malpractice insurance coverage for pro bono matters undertaken by in-house counsel. In the event such coverage does not exist, your company might consider acquiring such coverage, perhaps by inquiring about a rider to its policy from its existing insurer. Participation in pro bono projects by legal support personnel, such as by legal assistants, also deserves review when such participation is not in conjunction with an ongoing project performed by a company lawyer, because such participation may implicate the applicability of insurance coverage unless there is adequate supervision by an attorney. Sometimes when a lawyer undertakes a pro bono representation through a legal services not-for-profit, the referring not-for-profit entity has applicable coverage. It is helpful to inquire about the existence of such coverage when you are explori
Related Questions
- As an in-house lawyer, Im quite busy, but Id like to take on a project. How much time should I expect to spend on a pro bono project?
- Can I get pro bono credit for the public interest research project I am completing for a professor?
- Can I get pro bono credit for coordinating a student-directed pro bono project?
