Financial Claims: Due to Negligence
(Insurance)
The Law Society of Alberta provides professional liability insurance through the Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association (ALIA). If your losses are due to negligence of your lawyer, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Claims Process
Making a Claim
If you are a lawyer with a claim or potential claim against you, please submit a New Claim Report. For more information, see Insurance Claims.
If you are a member of the public and wish to make a claim, you may write a letter to ALIA including the following:
- Name of lawyer and law firm
- Lawyer's file number (if known)
- The legal service (e.g. sale of house, divorce, injury claim)
- Date of service
- What the lawyer did wrong
- How the lawyer’s actions resulted in financial loss
- Documentation and explanation of financial loss
- Claimant’s address and daytime contact information
Please send the information by fax or mail or email to ALIA.
Alternatively, you may wish to consult a lawyer.
Next Steps
You will receive a letter that ALIA has received your claim. The claim will be investigated by an ALIA Claims Examiner. An investigation may take several weeks. ALIA will then contact you or your new lawyer. ALIA will determine whether the lawsuit will be defended or settled.
Additional Information
Limitation Deadlines
Notifying ALIA of a claim does not stop or extend the deadline by which you must start a lawsuit to keep the claim "alive."
The Alberta Limitations Act governs limitation dates.
Depending on circumstances, the deadline may be as little as two years from when the lawyer performed the legal work.
Legal Advice
ALIA cannot provide you with legal advice.
You may wish to hire a lawyer because ALIA cannot provide you with legal advice.
Disclaimer
The personal information collected from you will be used by ALIA for one or more purposes contemplated by the Legal Profession Act, the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta, the Code of Professional Conduct, or a resolution of the Board of Directors (Benchers) and will be accessible to all departments of the Law Society of Alberta. The information may be used or disclosed by ALIA, now or in the future, for regulatory purposes including the Law Society of Alberta investigations and proceedings. ALIA may contact you to obtain additional information, or to obtain clarification on the information provided. Should you have any questions about the collection, use or disclosure of this information, please contact the Privacy Officer.