Cyber coverage FAQs

Approximately 90% of law firms in BC have 5 or fewer lawyers. Without an in-house or third party IT team, many firms may find an insurer’s system security requirements challenging or impossible to meet. Then, if they do qualify, they will only have access to an endorsement or policy that does not include social engineering fraud or ransomware coverage, the two biggest risks law firms face.

Other firms do purchase cyber policies, but the profession and the public as a whole are not protected. The Law Society wants to provide all qualifying law firms with basic but broad cyber coverage at a low price, and the only way to do this is through a mandatory program where there are no conditions to coverage.

Hackers continue to get more sophisticated with their tactics to obtain critical data from firms and companies. Firewalls and antivirus software are no longer enough to protect your network. You need additional steps, such as vulnerability scans, penetration testing and cybersecurity awareness training to educate your staff and help prevent attacks from occurring.

Coalition and HUB will offer support services to assist all law firms reach a minimum level of network security and reduce the risk profile of the profession as a whole. The information will be communicated on the LIF website, through bulletins and webinars, and on a firm by firm basis as needed.

In most cases, the program coverage is first-response coverage, also called primary coverage. If your firm already has a cyber policy, and your firm doesn’t have any office locations outside of BC, you should contact your broker about converting your current coverage from primary to excess as this may reduce your overall premium. If you do not already have cyber insurance, you should speak to a broker about purchasing coverage excess to the program coverage. Excess coverage can be arranged by contacting one of the cyber insurance commercial brokerages on the LIF website.

The LIF website is your best source of information about all aspects of the indemnification program.

Cyber insurance certificates and the policy wording are available to the law firm designated representatives through the law firm information section of the Law Society Member Portal. If your question is not answered by these information sources, please contact LIF at indemnity@lif.ca or the insurance broker Derek May (dmay@hubinternational.com) by email with as many details you can provide.

Any designated representative of your law firm should be able to download a cyber insurance certificate through the law firm information section of the LSBC Member Portal. You are encouraged to do so to ensure that the information we have for your firm is correct. If you are able to download a cyber certificate, then you will have the cyber coverage. If you have paid the indemnity fee and cannot download the cyber certificate, please send an email to indemnity@lif.ca.

Please make sure you are registered at the Law Society as your firm’s designated representative. If you are not, and your firm would like to add you, please contact memberinfo@lsbc.org.