About LIANS
Overview
The Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia (LIANS) is a not-for-profit company that provides mandatory liability insurance and administers the insurance program for practising insured members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society. LIANS is administered by a Board of Directors.
LIANS is a member of the Canadian Lawyers’ Insurance Association (CLIA), an insurance reciprocal that acts as the insurer for the program. CLIA provides liability insurance to the legal profession as well as a voluntary excess insurance program.
Mission
The Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia is established and operated pursuant to the Legal Profession Act and Regulations, as part of the public protection mandate of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.
LIANS conducts the mandatory professional liability insurance program for the benefit of the practising insured members.
Vision
LIANS is recognized by its members and peers for the superior quality of its professional liability insurance program and for its active risk and practice management program (RPM) that is used and valued by its members.
LIANS is managed in a fiscally responsible manner; always ensuring adequate resources are available for the long-term health of the program. Its governance and authorities are clearly specified, and its relationship with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society is exemplary.
LIANS continually meets its goals and objectives.
History
The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Liability Claims Fund was incorporated in 1990 pursuant to Section 37 of the Barristers and Solicitors Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 30.The Fund was set up as an arm of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society to administer the insurance program and reports to a Board of Directors. Prior to 1990, the insurance program was managed by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society through its governing body, Bar Council.
Professional liability insurance was made mandatory by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society for all practicing members in 1972. The mandatory program, effective July 1, 1972, had a limit of liability of $100,000 and was subject to a $2,500 deductible. Insurance was purchased from commercial markets from 1972 to 1989 when CLIA was formed. The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society joined CLIA at its inception. By that time, the limit of liability required under the mandatory program had gradually increased and was then at $1,000,000. The deductible for individual lawyers remained at $2,500 and the Society had assumed a group deductible or self-retention of $100,000 per claim.
In 1991, the individual deductible increased to $5,000 per claim and in 1998 the Fund increased its self-retention to $300,000 per claim. The per claim limit remains at $1,000,000. However, in 1997 an aggregate limit of $2,000,000 was added to the policy.
Our name change from the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Liability Claims Fund to the Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia came into effect with proclamation of the 2004 Legal Profession Act, accompanied by the development of our new corporate logo.
Governing Legislation for our Program
The legislation governing LIANS is the Legal Profession Act, S.N.S. 2004, available in ‘Regulation and Licensing’ on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society site.