Empower and Protect Your Legal Rights
With the rising costs of legal services and the increasing complexity of the legal system, legal expense insurance has become an increasingly popular option for people seeking protection against financial losses related to legal proceedings.
Legal expense insurance, also known as legal protection insurance, is a type of insurance coverage designed to help individuals and businesses fill the gaps in their current personal or commercial insurance portfolio. Our legal expense insurance provides access to general legal information and financial coverage for the costs of hiring a lawyer, defending your legal rights, or pursuing an unexpected legal case.
What does Legal Expense Insurance Cover?
There are many different types of commercial and personal legal expense insurance available through our program; each designed to meet specific needs and budgets. Some policies offer coverage for a wide range of legal proceedings, while others are more specialized, covering only specific types of cases. Some coverages are also optional.
If you face legal action from an employee or ex-employee. If you face a dispute relating to your contract of employment or future employment.
If your business faces criminal charges, a police investigation or an occupational health and safety investigation. If you are being prosecuted for an alleged criminal offence arising from your work as an employee.
This optional coverage is if you face a dispute with a client or supplier in breach of contract or failing to pay an amount owed. If you are involved in a dispute relating to buying or selling goods, obtaining services.
If your business faces a suspension, alteration or cancellation of its business licence. If you face a revocation or suspension of your driver’s license after an
event arising in connection with a motor vehicle.
If there is trespass or legal nuisance to your property. If an event causes physical damage to your personal property.
If you or one of your employees is injured on the job because of someone else’s
negligence. If a sudden accident causes illness, bodily injury, or death to you or to one of your family members.
If you face an audit or wish to appeal a decision from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Click here for specific examples
What does Legal Expense Insurance Cover?
There are many different types of commercial and personal legal expense insurance available through our program; each designed to meet specific needs and budgets. Some policies offer coverage for a wide range of legal proceedings, while others are more specialized, covering only specific types of cases. Some coverages are also optional.
EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES
If you face legal action from an employee or ex-employee. If you face a dispute relating to your contract of employment or future employment.
LEGAL DEFENCE
If your business faces criminal charges, a police investigation or an occupational health and safety investigation. If you are being prosecuted for an alleged criminal offence arising from your work as an employee.
CONTRACT DISPUTES AND DEBT RECOVERY
This optional coverage is if you face a dispute with a client or supplier in breach of contract or failing to pay an amount owed. If you are involved in a dispute relating to buying or selling goods, obtaining services.
STATUTORY LICENCE PROTECTION
If your business faces a suspension, alteration or cancellation of its business licence. If you face a revocation or suspension of your driver’s license after an event arising in connection with a motor vehicle.
PROPERTY PROTECTION
If there is trespass or legal nuisance to your property. If an event causes physical damage to your personal property.
INJURY PROTECTION
If you or one of your employees is injured on the job because of someone else’s
negligence. If a sudden accident causes illness, bodily injury, or death to you or to one of your family members.
TAX PROTECTION
If you face an audit or wish to appeal a decision from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Click here for specific examples
If you are unsure of the legal expense insurance protection required for your business or family, our legal expense insurance experts can answer all your questions.
Legal Expense Insurance Empowers Your Access to Justice
One of the biggest benefits of legal expense insurance is the peace of mind it provides. Knowing that you have the financial resources to defend yourself in court can be a huge relief, especially if you’re facing a legal dispute. Legal expense insurance can also help you avoid the cost and stress of a long legal battle, as many policies include access to legal advice and support, helping you to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently.
Legal Expense Insurance Empowers Your Access to Justice
One of the biggest benefits of legal expense insurance is the peace of mind it provides. Knowing that you have the financial resources to defend yourself in court can be a huge relief, especially if you’re facing a legal dispute. Legal expense insurance can also help you avoid the cost and stress of a long legal battle, as many policies include access to legal advice and support, helping you to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently.
Who does Legal Expense Insurance Cover?
Legal expense insurance is designed to provide coverage and support to both individuals and businesses in various legal matters.
For individuals, legal expense insurance can cover a range of legal matters, such as employment disputes, personal injury claims, contract disputes, and consumer rights issues. Our legal expense insurance insures the named policyholder, their spouse or civil partner, or any son or daughter normally living with them.
Small businesses can benefit from legal expense insurance to mitigate the financial risks associated with legal disputes like contract disputes, employment-related claims, debt recovery, tax disputes, and regulatory matters.
Landlords and property owners often face legal issues related to their rental properties such as disputes with tenants, eviction proceedings, property damage claims, and other legal matters.
Access to Unlimited Legal Advice is Just a Toll-Free Call Away
In addition to covering the cost of legal proceedings, legal expense insurance can also provide a range of additional benefits, such as access to legal advice and support, and help with the preparation of legal documents. This can be especially important for individuals and businesses who are unfamiliar with the legal system, as navigating the legal process can be complicated and time-consuming.
General legal advice, guidance and clarity are just a phone call away. Lawyers will respond quickly to your inquiry and provide you with a clear course of action. Call as often as you need and give yourself the confidence to deal with a potential or in-progress legal situation.
Accessing your legal team is easy
STEP 1
Call the Legal Helpline
STEP 2
General legal information is provided
STEP 3
A claim determination is made
STEP 4
Your legal team will first attempt to resolve the issue
STEP 5
If the legal team cannot resolve, a Panel Lawyer is assigned
Legal Coverage Examples
It’s important to note that the specific coverage and scope of legal expense insurance can vary between policies and insurance providers. The following are simple legal coverage examples, but should only be used as examples. You should review the terms, conditions, and exclusions of your insurance policy to understand what legal matters are covered and any limitations that may apply. If you have any questions, please contact us for more information.
Employment Disputes
A senior staff engineer is dismissed with cause, for repeatedly being late and missing important client meetings. The former employee commences a wrongful dismissal action alleging that her employers did not have cause to dismiss her, and as such did not give the required notice. As there was documented evidence of the engineer’s tardiness, Legal Expense Insurance will retain counsel to defend the engineering firm.
Legal Defence
While taking the train home from her office, an accountant accidently leaves an unencrypted USB key with client data on the train. A week later, her firm receives complaints from two major clients who claim that their confidential financial information has been posted online and they intend to take legal action for failing to protect their privacy. Legal Expense Insurance will retain a lawyer to defend the accounting firm’s legal rights in relation to failing to comply with privacy legislation requirements.
Property Protection
The employees of an adjacent business are consistently using an accounting firm’s parking spaces, leaving their employees and clients with no place to park. The firm provided notice not to trespass, but the problem persisted. The firm now wishes to bring legal action. Legal Protection Insurance will secure legal representation to pursue the action.
Bodily Injury
While working on a project at a client’s premises, an IT consultant is electrocuted due to faulty wiring that the client should have replaced. The consultant is hospitalized resulting in lost wages and pain and suffering. There is no Workers’ Compensation cover for this instance. The Legal Expense Insurance will provide a lawyer and cover legal costs to pursue legal action against the client company.
Tax Protection
An engineering firm took reasonable care to ensure that its yearly tax return was completed accurately, but an error in total billable hours was nevertheless made. The Canada Revenue Agency is now conducting a tax audit relating to liability for HST. Legal Expense Insurance will secure legal representation to pursue the legal rights of the business in respect of the tax audit.
*the above scenarios are examples only. Coverage is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy.
Whether you’re facing a legal dispute, seeking legal advice, or simply looking for peace of mind, legal expense insurance can provide the financial support you need to navigate the legal system with confidence. To find the right policy for your needs, it’s important to compare policies and understand what you’re getting for your money. Fill out the form or call us today and get the right legal expense insurance coverage.