User:Stratpros

Coverage Attorneys

The term "coverage attorneys" refers to attorneys that "cover" or provide legal services to other attorneys and law firms. Coverage attorneys often appear at routine hearings in court, perform depositions, or conduct mediations on behalf of another attorney. Coverage attorneys are in many respects the same thing as contract attorneys. The difference being the nature of the work and services the attorney is providing. Contract attorneys usually provide services such as performing substantive legal work (research, drafting pleadings, working up a file, handling discovery etc.) or doing document review.

Coverage attorneys often handle relatively "basic" legal matters including many matters that are more "administrative" in nature. Coverage services are very common in the following practice areas: collections, foreclosure, and traffic matters. In many practice areas, coverage attorney may be used for the "inconsequential" matters but substantive and dispositive matters are generally not handled by a coverage attorney due to the fact that they are not as intimately knowledgeable of the case and file as would be necessary. A contract attorney, however, who worked the file from the start or spent enough time getting "up to speed" on the file could have the requisite knowledge and competency to handle the more substantive and dispositive matters.

The alternative meaning of "coverage attorney" relates to attorneys that practice insurance law. Specifically, insurance coverage law relates to lawsuits filed by policyholders against their insurance companies or lawsuits filed between insurance carriers and related parties. Insurance coverage attorneys represent both Plaintiffs and Defendants.