November 5: From Intake to Insight: Early Case Assessment, Ethics, and Strategic

Description: This program provides insurance practitioners with a practical framework for conducting effective early case assessment while addressing ethical duties unique to insurance litigation. Participants will examine how early factual investigation, coverage analysis, venue selection, and cost-versus-settlement decisions can influence litigation outcomes and manage risk. The course places particular emphasis on professional responsibility issues arising from the tripartite relationship among the insurer, insured, and defense counsel. Attendees will explore ethical obligations related to competence, diligence, candor, communication, good-faith settlement, and responsible motion practice, and how these duties apply in real-world insurance matters. Through case studies, the program highlights how early strategic and ethical missteps can result in significant exposure. The program also discusses emerging developments, including social inflation, evolving coverage disputes, and the increasing role of technology and AI. Participants will learn how legal research, analytics, and technology tools can be used to support informed, ethical decision-making during the early stages of an insurance case.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Identify and prioritize critical early case assessment tasks in insurance litigation in a manner consistent with ethical duties of competence and diligence.
• Analyze coverage issues at case intake, including the duty to defend and duty to indemnify, while recognizing ethical risks related to delay, waiver, and conflicts of interest.
• Apply professional responsibility rules governing competence, diligence, candor, communication, truthfulness, and good-faith settlement in insured matters and claims handling.
• Evaluate litigation costs, settlement opportunities, and excess exposure ethically, with proper consideration of the insured’s interests and the insurer’s duty of good faith.
• Integrate emerging legal developments, technology, and AI tools responsibly, ensuring their ethical use in early case assessment and decision-making.

Title:
From Intake to Insight: Early Case Assessment, Ethics, and Strategic

Webinar Date+Time:

Thursday, November 5, 2026.
2:45–4 PM ET | 1:45–3 PM CT | 12:45–2 PM MT | 11:45 AM–1 PM PT.
Free Continuing Legal Education Webinar – Register Now!

Speakers:

• Robin McManigal.
• Angela Chmielewski.

Credit:
1 credit hour (ethics) in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. You may be able to self-apply for credit in some other states.

By:
LexisNexis

More Information And Registration