More Insurance Companies Encourage Law Firms to Use Rules-Based Calendaring Systems

CompuLaw Announces Results of 2007 Legal Malpractice Insurance Survey

LOS ANGELES – July 16, 2007 – A recent survey of leading legal malpractice insurance companies reveals that 88% encourage or require law firms to implement automated court rules calendaring systems.  This statistic is a significant increase (32.5%) when compared to the 2003 survey response (55.5%).  The survey was commissioned by CompuLaw, publisher of calendar/docket software with built-in court rules databases, and was conducted independently by Edge Legal Marketing through both telephone interviews and online surveys, February 19-March 2, 2007.  Twenty-seven ABA recommended Legal Malpractice Liability Insurance companies were contacted.  Twenty-four of the 27 (89%) participated in the survey. 

“More insurance companies are recognizing the benefits of automated court rules-based calendaring systems, and many companies are now discounting their rates or granting other financial incentives to law firms that use this technology,” said David J. Kalmick, president and CEO of CompuLaw. “When comparing the overall 2003 and 2007 survey results, a steady increase in awareness and accountability is shown. With malpractice insurance rates on the rise, we will continue to sponsor these surveys to better educate law firms on the increasing role of calendaring technology when underwriting policies.”    

Of the 24 insurance companies that responded (89%), the results were:

• 88% of insurance companies surveyed are aware that calendar-related errors are the leading cause of legal malpractice claims (2000-2003 American Bar Association Survey, “Profile of Malpractice Claims”);
• 88% of insurance companies surveyed believe automated court rules-based calendaring is important in reducing calendar error risk in litigation (2003 Survey Results: 80.5%);
• 67% of insurance companies surveyed inquire if law firms or lawyers use court rules-based calendaring systems before writing a policy (2003 Survey Results: 62%);
• 38% of insurance companies surveyed discount their rates or grant other financial incentives to firms using automated court rules-based calendaring (2003 Survey Results: 37.5%). 

About CompuLaw

Founded in 1978, CompuLaw publishes court rules databases for use with calendar/docket and case management systems. CompuLaw offers rules databases for all 50 states including State, Federal, Appellate, Supreme Court, Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property and more, and is the only vendor that offers rules databases that are entirely authored or edited by qualified attorneys. For more information about CompuLaw, CompuLaw Vision, CompuLaw Rules or other CompuLaw products, call (800) 444-0020 or visit www.compulaw.com.