WA lawyers can now access the Centre’s free PI Scheme

Western Australian lawyers can now access free professional indemnity (PI) insurance through the Centre’s National Pro Bono Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme (Scheme). The Scheme provides free PI insurance to lawyers and paralegals working on approved pro bono projects.

A recent amendment to the Legal Profession Regulations 2009 (WA) allows Western Australian practitioners to seek an exemption from the requirement to hold PI insurance through Law Mutual in Western Australia if they:

• hold a practising certificate with a “volunteer or pro bono only” condition attached; and
• are covered by the Centre’s PI Scheme.

Western Australian lawyers interested in seeking this exemption and coverage under the Scheme should:

• apply to the Legal Practitioners Board of Western Australia to have the “volunteer or pro bono only” condition attached to their practising certificate (if they have not already done so);
• apply to Law Mutual for an exemption; and
• apply to the Centre for coverage under the Scheme.

The Centre has been advocating for the provision of access to the Scheme in Western Australia for a number of years. We congratulate The Law Society of Western Australia, Law Mutual, the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia and the Western Australian government for their respective roles in effecting this change.

The Centre’s Scheme can now be accessed by lawyers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.