Proportionate to the actual risks of 100% virtual consulting and mentoring services to adults age 18 and older.
| Coverage Type | LCSW Contractor | Consulting Contractor | Leadership Fellow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability / E&O | REQUIRED — $1M per claim | REQUIRED — $1M per claim | Not required |
| Commercial General Liability | Consider based on contracts ($1M/$2M if required) | Consider based on contracts ($1M/$2M if required) | Not required |
| Cyber Liability | Risk-based; required if storing participant data | Risk-based; required if storing participant data | Not required |
| Abuse / Molestation | Not required (adult-only, virtual) | Not required (adult-only, virtual) | Not required |
| Automobile Liability | Not required (no transportation) | Not required (no transportation) | Not required |
| Workers' Compensation | Per applicable law | Per applicable law | Not required |
Minimum: $1,000,000 per claim
This is the principal mandatory insurance requirement. Professional liability is directly connected to the service being purchased: professional mentoring and consulting. Because the service occurs entirely online, the greatest identifiable exposure arises from what the consultant says, advises, recommends, represents, or fails to do.
Potential allegations covered:
The policy must specifically recognize: consulting, adult mentoring, career development, professional development, leadership development, coaching, and educational services.
Standard (when required): $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
Not automatically required for virtual-only engagements. Traditional bodily injury and property damage exposures are substantially reduced because:
CGL becomes required when institutional partners, universities, funders, or the organization's existing insurance program mandate it.
Potentially more important than general liability in a completely virtual model. Risk increases when contractors independently possess:
Preferred strategy: Minimize participant information stored by contractors. Use organization-approved systems and do not download, retain, or independently store unnecessary participant information.
Abuse & Molestation
Population is entirely adults; mentoring occurs exclusively online. Traditional youth-program exposure is not present.
Automobile Liability
Transportation is not part of the contracted service. Will be reconsidered if scope changes to include travel.
Fellows are NOT required to maintain Professional Liability, General Liability, or any other insurance coverage. As currently enrolled students gaining applied professional experience, Fellows operate under the educational and mentorship framework. The nature of fellowship deliverables (research, analysis, writing, consultation) does not create the same liability exposure as licensed professional services.
Because the program is virtual, contractual and operational controls are particularly important. All contractors shall:
A one-time, need-based bonus of $100.00 is available to contractors who cannot otherwise afford to secure Professional Liability/E&O coverage.
All questions regarding insurance requirements, the agreement, or the onboarding process should be submitted through the official Question Submission Form on the contractor portal.
Submit a Question at contractease.lifeNavigate to the agreement page for your path and scroll to the "Questions About This Agreement" section. All questions are reviewed and responded to by administration.
Important: This document is provided for informational purposes. The final insurance standard should be reviewed by the organization's commercial insurance broker and legal counsel before incorporation into independent-contractor agreements. Requirements may change when contractor scope materially changes.