1 . How has COVID-19 affected your business ?
Sponsor Spotlight Aaron Wallace , Esq .
2 . What ’ s the one thing your business is known for over your competitors ?
FLMIC is the only Lawyers Professional Liability insurer recommended by The Florida Bar … and we are recommended by the Palm Beach County Bar Association too ! That ’ s a distinction we ’ re incredibly proud of , but it ’ s only the beginning of what sets us apart . As a mutual company , we are owned by the lawyers we insure . That distinguishes us from the larger commercial companies , which very often operate in multiple states and across multiple lines of insurance . We ’ re different . We ’ re a company that does just one thing : we protect Florida lawyers . We were created by The Florida Bar for that very purpose . Our policy features and member benefits are truly lawyer-focused and robust . That includes a cyber liability endorsement included on every policy at no cost to the insured . There are so many things setting us apart that we actually created a whole webpage on that very topic : How We ’ re Different . I think PBCBA members will find that the value proposition is really incredibly high .
3 . Can you offer 3 tips for insurance planning during this pandemic ?
First , I would caution everyone that — unlike some states — Florida does not require lawyers to carry professional liability insurance . But that doesn ’ t mean you don ’ t need it . The reality is that even very good lawyers can and do get sued . A malpractice claim , even if ultimately unwarranted or unsuccessful , can cause tremendous disruption to your practice , to say nothing of the potential reputational damage . So the first thing I would say is : if you don ’ t know a lot about LPL insurance or you ’ re currently uninsured , you aren ’ t alone . But the time to do something about that is now . Come to flmic . com and learn more — we have a video right there on the home page to answer all your “ 101 ” questions about LPL insurance in Florida . Second , in terms of pandemic-specific concerns , I think we ’ re all spending more time on screens outside of the office these days . Technology has brought much-needed advancements to legal practice , but it also comes with risks : cybercrime , social engineering , ransomware , wire fraud , and more . Already in the last year , we ’ ve seen schemes targeting Florida lawyers specifically . So not only do you need insurance but you also want an insurer who is going to help you stay aware . Education is the best prevention . Third , I would urge lawyers to understand their policy terms . Know what ’ s covered . Know what ’ s excluded . Find out how your coverage will or won ’ t protect you . And here ’ s a critical question — if a claim is brought against you , who is going to handle it , and what ’ s their claims philosophy ? With FLMIC , you ’ re always going to have a Florida-based Claims specialist on the case . That isn ’ t the case with every insurer , and that matters . So call somebody and ask questions . We are a direct-write insurer , so you can call us and talk directly to an underwriter , one on one .
4 . Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about you .
In addition to my background as a lawyer and now as Marketing Director for Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company , I ’ m also one of those ears-wearing Disney nuts . I love the theme parks , so much so that I wrote a few books about them ! You might be surprised by how many lawyers I meet around the state who share that passion . Then again , Florida is Castle Country , so maybe it ’ s not a surprise !
5 . How can PBCBA members contact you ?
Marketing Director Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company ( FLMIC ) By : Lynne Poirier
To protect the safety of our staff , members , and communities , FLMIC transitioned to a remote work environment in March 2020 , without any interruption to our core business functions . As so many others have discovered in their own organizations , we found we were able to transition without hindrance , and we continue to be well equipped to meet our members ’ needs . One of the first questions we asked ourselves was , “ How can we help our members — and the Florida legal community at large — meet the challenge of this moment ?” To that end , we established a COVID-19 Resource Center on our website , www . flmic . com , with a growing library of risk management content specific to Florida lawyers and tailored to the pandemic . Many of those resources have been endorsed by The Florida Bar . Additionally , beginning on May 1 , 2020 , we discontinued charging interest on outstanding balances until further notice , in recognition of the pandemic ’ s financial impact on some lawyers .
Our phone number is 407-743-8652 , and our website is flmic . com . I ’ m available by email at aaronw @ flmic . com , and the general company email address is mailbox @ flmic . com . We ’ re also on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and Twitter , so come follow along !
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 17