Member Services
Service, communication, and long-term relationships are the cornerstones of our approach to member services at ALAS, Inc. The Member Services Department works with our insured firms and prospective firms in a variety of areas, including policy renewal, underwriting, and our separate coverage programs for management liability insurance (MLI), employment practices liability insurance (EPLI), and combined MLI/EPLI. In all of our activities, we use an integrated approach, in which lawyers from the Claims and Loss Prevention departments and members of the ALAS, Inc. Board of Directors are extensively involved.
Renewal
Communication with our members is central to our renewal program. ALAS, Inc. provides presentations addressing the ALAS companies' financial results and renewal issues at our spring regional loss prevention conferences, the ALAS Ltd. Annual General Meeting in June, and at ALAS, Inc.'s biannual Firm Administration Conferences. In the fall of each year, we conduct renewal meetings throughout the country to discuss our rates and our underlying loss experience, as well as other developments at the ALAS companies.
Member Services also works with our member firms on an individual basis throughout the year on a range of insurance issues. For example, each member firm files an annual renewal application, which is reviewed by senior personnel in the department to assess changes in census, retentions, limits, ancillary services, and areas of practice. In addition, we provide advice and coverage options to address the needs of our insured firms in merger discussions. We also provide information and assistance for firms that place coverage excess of ALAS, Inc. in the commercial insurance market.
Management Liability and Employment Practices Liability
Member Services is also active throughout the year in overseeing our MLI, EPLI, and combined MLI/EPLI programs. Management liability provides coverage to law firms and individuals involved in firm management for claims arising from management decisions. Our EPLI coverage is a separate program providing protection to our firms for claims arising out of the employment relationship. As of July 16, 2010, after six years of offering management liability coverage, eight ALAS firms, with over 2,900 lawyers, have obtained management liability policies from ALAS, Inc. In our EPLI program, 19 firms, with approximately 5,200 lawyers, have purchased EPLI policies from ALAS, Inc. as of July 16, 2010. In addition, ALAS, Inc. provides loss prevention guides for MLI and EPLI with innovative advice for all of our member firms to consider in addressing new forms of exposure in both areas.
On September 26, 2006, we announced a new program that provides MLI and EPLI coverage in a single policy. The combined policy has a single limit and a single retention applicable to any covered claim, whether it involves employment liability, management liability, or some combination of the two. We have developed the combined MLI/EPLI policy to provide an additional coverage option for our firms. Accordingly, firms that wish to apply for or to renew MLI or EPLI coverage on a stand-alone basis for 2010 are free to do so. As of July 16, 2010, 43 firms with over 19,600 lawyers have obtained coverage under the combined MLI/EPLI program.
New Firms
ALAS, Inc. does not operate through retail brokers. Member Services is responsible for providing information to prospective new firms about our coverage program, our rates, and our distinctive approach to claims handling, loss prevention, and underwriting. We require prospective firms to file an application providing information about the firm's management structure, claims experience, coverage history, loss prevention practices and financial condition. ALAS, Inc. lawyers personally visit applicants for formal underwriting reviews, and we do not extend an offer of membership unless there is a consensus among senior management that the firm satisfies our preferred risk standards.
Conclusion
Member Services is committed to doing all we can to enhance the service and stability that have distinguished ALAS, Inc. from the commercial market throughout our history. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about ALAS, Inc. or requests for additional information.