Do general practice attorneys pay more for malpractice insurance?

General practice attorneys present a unique underwriting challenge because their risk profile spans multiple practice areas. Carriers cannot simply average the risk — they must evaluate the specific mix of work the attorney handles.

The premium for a general practice attorney is primarily determined by the highest-risk practice area in their mix. If you handle primarily criminal defense and family law (moderate risk) but also do occasional real estate closings (high risk), your policy will reflect the real estate exposure. This means that even a small percentage of high-risk work can disproportionately affect your premium.

Carriers typically request a detailed breakdown of revenue by practice area on the application. Some carriers use a weighted average approach, while others rate based on the highest-risk category. Understanding how your carrier rates general practice can help you make informed decisions about your practice mix.

General practitioners should pay special attention to policy scope. A policy that was purchased based on a criminal defense and family law practice may not adequately cover a real estate closing or business formation that you take on as a favor to an existing client. If your practice mix changes, you have an obligation to notify your carrier — failure to do so could result in a coverage denial on a claim arising from unreported practice areas.

Premiums for general practitioners typically fall in the moderate range — $3,000 to $6,000 annually for a solo with $1M/$3M limits. However, this can increase significantly if the practice includes high-risk areas.

Risk management is especially important for general practitioners because you may not handle any single area frequently enough to develop the deep expertise that reduces errors. Consider establishing referral relationships for complex matters outside your core competencies and carrying slightly higher limits to account for the broader exposure surface.