Media Contacts:

For Immediate Release: June 19, 2006

In a resolution adopted today, the State Bar of California's Board of Governors resolved to send out for public comment a proposed new rule of court and of professional conduct.

The new Rule of Professional Conduct and new Rule of Court would require that all lawyers disclose to their clients whether they are covered by malpractice insurance. The rules would also require lawyers to report that fact (or non-fact) to the Bar for posting on the Bar's web site.

Edward Poll, principal of LawBiz® Management Co., a nationally recognized law practice management consultant and coach to lawyers, opposed the resolution.

Poll said, "The rule is equivalent to the outcry of 'No taxation without representation!' The Bar will require malpractice insurance without the concomitant offering of affordable insurance coverage!

Poll continued, "The public will not be protected one iota further by this resolution. The lawyers whom the Bar is ostensibly supposed to serve will be harmed. The only ones to benefit will be the insurance companies who will be able to charge even higher premiums than they do now."

Poll offers more of his opinion at his web log. See www.lawbizblog.com.