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Legal Practitioners' Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme
Under Section 52 of the Legal Practitioners Act 1981, as amended, the Society administers this State's Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme as approved by the Attorney-General. The Scheme provides for cover up to $2million
inclusive of costs for each and every claim. Practitioners should obtain a copy of the Scheme document to ensure that they are familiar with the terms and conditions of cover. All practitioners exercising a right of private practise are required to hold insurance. Interstate or overseas practitioners, or practitioners holding a practising certificate working in the government or corporate sectors should seek an exemption from insurance by completing the appropriate exemption form. The Scheme is administered by the Law Claims section of the Society.
The Scheme is not regulated under the
Insurance Act 1973.
The Law Society of South Australia is not licensed under the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the operation of the Scheme.
Notice to Insurers
Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme 2006
Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme 2007
Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme 2008
Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme 2009
Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme 2010
Certificate of Insurance 2010
Authority of Partner
Instructions to Solicitor
Practice Return
Excess and Loadings Information 2010-11
Practical Assistance to Legal Practitioners
Professional mistakes, negligence and out of time matters can result in unhappy clients and major difficulties for practitioners, not the least of which is increased Professional Indemnity Insurance Premiums.
Practitioners who wish to discuss possible claims or difficult files are encouraged to call Law Claims' solicitors. All discussions are in strict confidence. Law Claims may refer an uninsured practitioner to counsel for advice where appropriate at no charge to the practitioner. This service is free to the practitioner and discussions between counsel and the practitioner are confidential to them.
Law Claims' solicitors are also happy to provide advice and resources to practitioners who wish to evaluate and improve their office systems and procedures.
Practical assistance to stop risks turning into claims is just a 'phone call away.'
Contact:
Libby Bishop , Director, Law Claims;
Geoff Thomas, Senior Solicitor; Gianna Di Stefano, PII Risk Manager on (08) 8410 7677
Staff Profiles
LIBBY BISHOP
Director (Law Claims)
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
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Overall management of Law Claims section.
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Provision of advice to legal practitioners in relation to potential claims against them or their firm.
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All aspects of claims management from notification to resolution. Participation in mediations, provide instructions to Panel Solicitors, brief Counsel and participation in all aspects of the defence or settlement of claims in accordance with underwriters directions and authority. Reporting to and attendance at Claims Committee Meetings.
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Reporting to and attendance at Lawguard Management Pty Ltd Board Meetings.
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Broker and underwriter liaison/reporting.
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Consultation with advisory bodies for purposes related to the Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Registered Nurse (1978-2003)
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Adelaide
- Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence), University of Adelaide
- Graduate Certificate of Legal Practice / PLT
- Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of South Australia
INDUSTRY & SECTOR EXPERIENCE
- Solicitor, Finlaysons, Thomson Playford
- Risk Management – LADD Australia
- Claims Manager for medical malpractice claims in SA Health Units Department of Human Services at AON Brokers
- Claims and Legal Advisor, Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA)
BOARD / COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & COMMITTEES
- Law Society of South Australia
- Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA)
Libby can be contacted on (08) 8410 7677 or
lbishop@lawguard.com.au
GEOFF THOMAS
Senior Solicitor (Law Claims)
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
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All aspects
of claims management from notification until resolution.
Provision of advice to legal practitioners in relation to
potential claims against them or their firm.
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Response to the needs of the insured and Underwriters.
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Participation in mediations, instruct Panel Solicitors, brief
Counsel and participation in all aspects of the defence or
settlement of claims in accordance with underwriters directions
and authority.
QUALIFICATIONS
INDUSTRY & SECTOR EXPERIENCE
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Articled Law Clerk, Povey Waterhouse &
Basheer (1975)
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Solicitor, Harrison & Partners (1976 –
1980)
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Partner, Tindall Gask & Co (1981 – 1984)
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Partner, Jervis, Smith & Thomas; Jervis,
Thomas & Doyle; Jervis, Thomas (1985 – 2006)
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Consultant, Fountain & Bonig (2006 – 2008)
BOARD /
COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE
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Chairman, Claims Committee, Law Society of South
Australia (1998 – 2008)
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Director, Lawguard Management Pty Ltd (1999 –
2008)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & COMMITTEES
Geoff can be contacted on (08) 8410 7677 or gthomas@lawguard.com.au
GIANNA DI
STEFANO
PII Risk Manager
AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
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Manage, implement and
evaluate policies, direction and program scope set in
collaboration with the Risk Management Advisory Group.
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Manage the Risk
Management Education Program including update and development of
educational packages to reflect emerging areas of legal risk.
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Law Claims Risk
Management database development including review of all closed
claims files to extract risk management issues.
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Manage publication of
monthly Riskwatch and Risk Alert articles for the Law Society
Bulletin.
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Analyse notifications of
claims and circumstances for emerging legal practice risks and
trends.
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Provide risk management
advice to practitioners.
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Claims management from
notification to resolution.
QUALIFICATIONS
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Bachelor of Laws,
University of Adelaide
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Bachelor of Arts
(Jurisprudence), University of Adelaide
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Graduate Diploma in
Legal Practice
INDUSTRY &
SECTOR EXPERIENCE
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Solicitor, Xenophon & Co
(1993 – 1995)
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Solicitor, Lawson Downs
(1995 – 1997)
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Managing Solicitor,
Xenophon & Co (1997 – 2009)
BOARD /
COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS &
COMMITTEES
Gianna can be contacted on (08) 8410 7677 or
gdistefano@lawguard.com.au
NICOLLE JARDINE
Law Claims Manager
Nicolle is a Certified Insurance Professional (CIP). She holds a Diploma in Financial Services (General Insurance) and is a Senior Associate member of the Australian & New Zealand Insurance Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF). She has worked for Law Claims for 11 years and has wide experience in accounting, law and insurance.
As Law Claims Manager, Nicolle is responsible for the office and claims administration including maintenance of financial records, providing technical training for staff as well as supervising all support staff in the maintenance of insurance records and claims handling procedures. Nicolle arranges calculations and payment of settlement monies and defence costs from the PI Fund and Underwriters as well as monitoring the accurate recording of information on several databases and information systems. She liaises with legal practitioners and assists Brokers and Underwriters compliance with the Scheme and produces the quarterly Claims Bordereau.
Nicolle also acts as Minute Secretary to members of Lawguard Management Pty Ltd and provides administrative assistance and support to Board members and to the PI Fund Scheme. Nicolle’s role includes statutory compliance obligations, data analysis and statistical reports for Lawguard and the Law Society as required. Nicolle can be contacted on (08) 8410 7677 or
email@lawguard.com.au
JODIE JAMES
Claims Administrator
As Claims
Administrator, Jodie’s primary role is that of assistant to the Law
Claims Manager. Jodie provides assistance in all areas as required,
including processing settlement monies and defence costs from the
Professional Indemnity Fund/Underwriters and general accounting work
related to claims. Jodie supervises claims administrative staff and
assists with the production of the quarterly Claims Bordereau.
Jodie is also the Committee Resource Person (CRP) for the Accident
Compensation Committee of the Law Society. The CRP role involves
assisting in preparing and distributing agendas, recording and
preparing Minutes of Meetings and other general arrangements
relating to meetings. Jodie can be contacted on (08) 8410 7677 or
jjames@lawguard.com.au.
RICKY KILPATRICK / SONYA BURKIN
Claims Assistants
As Claims Assistants, Ricky and Sonya job share this position. Their main area of focus and responsibility is in providing administrative and secretarial support for the Director and Senior Solicitor within Law Claims and for the Claims Committee of Law Claims. Ricky
and Sonya direct practitioners for any initial assistance they may require to discuss claims or matters related to the Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme generally.
Ricky is the CRP for the Collaborative Law Committee of the Law Society. The CRP role involves assisting in preparing and distributing agendas, recording and preparing Minutes of Meetings and other general arrangements relating to meetings.
For initial assistance on insurance issues, Ricky
and Sonya can be contacted on (08) 8410 7677 or
rkilpatrick@lawguard.com.au or
sburkin@lawguard.com.au.
JESSICA GUARE
Risk Management and Finance Assistant
As the Risk Management Assistant, Jessica’s main responsibility lies with the implementation of the Risk Management Education Program (RMEP) and providing administrative and secretarial support to the Law Claims Risk Manager. The RMEP involves delivery of in-house Risk Management sessions to practitioners at firms and Intensive Risk Management Days, Practice Reviews and Law Claims Risk Management Refresher Course to Rule 9 applicants at the Law Society.
In the absence of the Claims Assistants, Jessica provides secretarial support to the Director and Senior Solicitor within Law Claims. She also provides assistance to the Office Manager in the Finance area, assisting with processing of accounts and cheques.
Jessica is also the Committee Resource Person (CRP) for the Commerce, Corporate & Tax Committee of the Law Society. The CRP role involves assisting in the preparation and distribution of agendas and papers, recording and preparing Minutes of Meetings and other general arrangements relating to meetings. Jessica also assists with the administration of the Civil Litigation Committee of the Law Society.
For any queries regarding the RMEP or the above Committees, Jessica can be contacted on (08) 8410 7677 or
jguare@lawguard.com.au.
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