Attorney malpractice and errors & omissions (E&O) insurance for solo practitioners, small firms, and large law practices across California — from multiple A-rated carriers, compared by an independent broker.
Quick answer: Lawyers professional liability insurance pays legal defense costs, settlements, and judgments when a client alleges malpractice — missed deadlines, conflicts of interest, inadequate work, or failure to follow instructions. California attorneys typically pay roughly $500 to several thousand dollars per year depending on practice area, firm size, and limits. PRIA Brokers (CA License #0G81238) compares quotes from multiple A-rated carriers free.
CA License #0G81238 · 25+ Years Experience · No Obligation · Last Updated October 2026
Lawyers professional liability insurance — also called attorney malpractice insurance or legal E&O — protects you and your firm against claims alleging a negligent act, error, or omission in the performance of professional legal services. In California, where the legal market is highly litigious and client expectations are high, this coverage is essential for every practicing attorney.
PRIA Brokers accesses multiple specialty markets for attorneys across California — including programs designed specifically for solo practitioners, personal injury attorneys, immigration lawyers, real estate attorneys, and large multi-partner firms.
Negligence & Errors
Missed deadlines, filing errors, drafting mistakes, failure to advise
Prior Acts Coverage
Retroactive date protection for work done before this policy period
Defense Costs
Attorney fees, expert witnesses, court costs — inside or outside limits
Tail / ERP Coverage
Extended reporting for retirement, firm dissolution, or carrier change
Disciplinary Proceedings
Defense costs for State Bar complaints and disciplinary proceedings
All Practice Areas
From family law and immigration to securities, IP, and commercial litigation
As an independent broker, PRIA shops your legal malpractice coverage across multiple A-rated carriers — including specialty attorney programs not available through direct applications. Our goal is the best combination of price, policy terms, and carrier strength for your firm.
Including Attorney Protective (Berkshire Hathaway), Arch Insurance, Hanover, and specialty programs for all practice areas.
25+ years placing professional liability coverage for solo attorneys, boutique firms, and multi-partner practices across California.
Submit once and receive competitive quotes from multiple markets. We handle the shopping — you compare and decide.
PRIA Brokers serves attorneys and law firms throughout California — from the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley to Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and the Central Valley. We understand the California legal market: State Bar disclosure requirements, the litigation environment, local court systems, and the practice areas where California attorneys face the highest risk.
Whether you're a solo practitioner in Walnut Creek, a boutique IP firm in Silicon Valley, a personal injury practice in Los Angeles, or a multi-partner commercial litigation firm in San Francisco — PRIA accesses the right markets for your specific practice profile.
Deeper dives on coverage choices, costs, and what claims actually involve.
What lawyers E&O covers, what it typically costs, and how solo attorneys and firms should choose limits.
Read articleCoverage, exclusions, tail, and pricing for California attorneys in depth.
Read articleThe claim patterns California attorneys actually face — and what defense looks like.
Read articleLawyers PL guides for California cities
Prefer reading? Our California attorneys' Lawyers PL blog guide covers coverage, exclusions, tail, and pricing in depth — our guide to E&O insurance for attorneys in California covers requirements, costs, and limits — and our prior acts & tail policy guide explains retroactive dates and tail coverage, even with no prior coverage.
One form. Multiple A-rated carriers. No obligation. PRIA handles the shopping — you get the best rate.
CA License #0G81238 · Professional Resource Insurance Agency, LLC
Quick answers from our brokers. Anything else, we're a phone call away.
Premiums vary based on practice area, firm size, revenue, limits, and claims history. Solo attorneys in lower-risk practice areas may pay $1,500–$3,500/year. Firms in higher-risk areas or with multiple attorneys typically pay more. As an independent broker, PRIA shops multiple A-rated carriers to find you the most competitive rate.
California does not mandate professional liability insurance for attorneys, but the State Bar requires attorneys to disclose to clients whether they carry coverage. Many institutional clients and government agencies require proof of coverage. Most prudent attorneys carry it regardless.
Claims-made policies cover claims reported during the policy period, regardless of when the alleged error occurred (subject to your retroactive date). Your retroactive date must be maintained when switching carriers. PRIA ensures your prior acts protection transfers correctly.
Tail coverage (Extended Reporting Period) extends the time to report claims after your policy ends — essential when you retire, close your firm, or switch to a carrier that won't honor your prior acts. PRIA helps attorneys evaluate tail options and costs before making any carrier change.
Securities law, commercial real estate transactions, business litigation, and patent prosecution typically carry higher premiums due to the financial stakes involved. Criminal defense, immigration, and family law tend to be lower cost. PRIA has access to specialty programs for virtually every practice area.
Absolutely. PRIA specializes in solo and small firm coverage. Several of our carriers have specialty programs designed specifically for smaller practices, often with lower minimums and more flexible terms than programs built for large firms.
Prior acts coverage means your policy covers work you performed before the policy started — the dividing line is the retroactive date on your declarations page. If you're switching carriers, confirm the new policy picks up your existing retroactive date; otherwise a prior acts exclusion can leave your earlier work uninsured.
Often yes. Carriers frequently offer full prior acts coverage to first-time buyers, sometimes including qualified work done at a prior firm, subject to policy terms. Ask for it explicitly — the default retroactive date is usually the policy start date, which excludes everything before it.