How to become A Legal Nurse Consultant

Nurses care for and help their patients; attorneys strive to bring justice to their clients. Legal Nurse Consultants bridge the seemingly impossible divide between law enforcement and the world of nursing and health care. They assist legal professionals who represent patients and healthcare workers.

• LNC
• Certified Legal Nurse Consultant
• Litigation Management Nurse
• Litigation Support Nurse

What do Legal Nurse Consultants do?

A Legal Nurse Consultant would typically need to:

• Ensure safe and top-notch patient care and effective management of malpractice concerns or insurance claims, leading to best patient outcomes
• Provide help with medical malpractice cases and health care-related litigation, when employed by a law firm or a private attorney
• Interview and obtain essential information from patients their employer chooses to represent
• Analyse, review and summarise medical and health care records accurately; audit mecial bills; identify elements of negligence and deviation from set standards
• Conduct applicable research on health care and medical journals; review current standards healthcare to identify pertinent data in medical malpractice cases
• Liaise with healthcare providers; locate and interview medical experts; maintain a medical expert database; recruit qualified expert witnesses
• Conduct discreet and thorough background checks of defendant physicians and opposing counsel’s experts 
• Paraphrase complex and confusing scientific and medical information so the attorney can use it to review, litigate, settle, or defend a case
• Sort through and organise medical records, suggest the order of retained expert witnesses, and manage the volume of paper generated by a lawsuit
• Evaluate the strengths and shortcomings of ongoing medical cases; develop exhibits; recommend effective case strategies
• Synthesise and present technical information to clients in clear and comprehensive consulting reports
• Attend depositions, arbitrations, and mediations; work with retained expert witnesses to prepare testimony; serve as an expert witness, when required
• Explain medical terms and clarify the medical facts of the particular case to the judge and jury
• Ensure proper disbursement of healthcare benefits as per relevant policies, if employed with insurance companies
• Serve as case managers; audit medical bills; review medical records related to injury and accident investigations; produce medically-accurate injury diagrams
• Work in-house in risk management or med-legal departments, if working in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities
• Investigate patients claims of medical malpractice; review and summarise medical records
• Educate staff on pertinent matters; assist the facility’s legal team; make sure all stakeholders adhere to compliance/healthcare privacy laws

Legal Nurse Consultants spend the better part of their day in their offices doing research, conducting interviews, and preparing for trials. They may need to appear in court if required. Travel may be required to conduct research and gather information from clients.

Full-time Legal Nurse Consultants generally work typical 40-45 hour work weeks with a 9-5 schedule on weekdays. Still, they may have to work overtime, evenings, weekend,s and public holidays whenever required. Part-time and consultancy work may involve more flexible schedules.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Legal Nurse Consultants can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Research the prospective employer and learn more about medical cases they handled recently to create a favourable first impression on the interviewer with your knowledge and confidence. 

Legal Nurse Consultants are generally employed by:

• Law Firms
• Business & Industry Legal Departments
• Government Agencies
• Insurance Companies
• Healthcare Facilities
• Health Maintenance Organisations
• Legal Nurse Consultancy Firms
• Patient Safety Organisations
• Patient Safety Advocacy Groups
• Self-Employed Independent Practices
• Forensic or Criminal Justice Organizations

Healthcare associations, such as the International Council of Nurses (ICN), provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers. 

Affiliated Legal Nurse Consultants may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the latest breakthroughs and developments in the field, including plum jobs.

• Remain helpful and supportive when dealing with angry, manipulative, or withdrawn patients
• Alleviate stress of employers experiencing the pressures of practising law
• Lack of special communication skills, attention to detail, investigative skills, and ability to teach and research that are not universally present
• Voluminous and repetitive medical and healthcare records that need to be organised into an easy-to-read format
• Vicarious stress from dealing with clients’ personal tragedies that lead to malpractice cases and insurance claims
• Emotional burnout due to cases that may not be resolved satisfactorily
• Impact of long working hours and emotional fallout of cases on work-life balance
• Health issues from sitting down at a computer for long periods of time

To show their commitment to the long qualifying period, every applicant to a nursing program needs to obtain sufficient work experience in their local hospital, clinic, or nursing home. It will help them understand some of the physical and emotional demands of a healthcare career.

Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their nursing departments, specifically for secondary school students interested in becoming nurses. It can be a helpful way to gain insight.

Nursing students usually undergo a judicious combination of in-class lectures and practical training that prepares them for working with patients in a hospital or clinical setting.

Consider completing a tuition-free, paid registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA) as a viable alternative to a college/university degree. Successful candidates will qualify for specialisation in adult or mental health nursing, recommended for a career in legal nurse consulting.

Substantial experience in general medical-surgical nursing and speciality fields, such as obstetrics, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, neurology, and cardiology, also help build a solid foundation for legal nurse consultation.

RNs looking to make a smooth transition to legal nurse consultation must have proper training and ample experience in medical and legal settings, comprising five years of RN experience and 2,000 hours of legal medical consulting. Check with the authorised body in your location for exact details.

Read about the profession, perform community service, undertake relevant research, and interview/job shadow experts working as RNs or Legal Nurse Consultants to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

It helps to document any such experiences on letters of recommendation to be submitted with nursing school applications.

There are few established rules or requirements to become a practising Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) since it is not a formal designation. 

As with most nursing careers, becoming a Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) begins with qualifying as a Registered Nurse (RN) either through a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a three-year diploma in nursing or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Candidates with a degree in a nursing-related subject may complete a postgraduate nursing programme in two rather than three years through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

Either way, you will have acquired in-depth knowledge of various medical procedures. In general, prospective RNs aiming to become LNCs choose to specialise in adult nursing. However, a double specialisation in adult and mental health nursing may qualify you to work on more complicated legal cases.

To guide attorneys through the more complex and specialised medical aspects of their cases, RNs must acquire ample training and experience in medical and legal settings.

Consider developing additional skills and qualifications, such as a master’s or doctoral degree, to secure a keen insight into criminal law, product liability, medical malpractice, and medical and insurance fraud.

Online courses, webinars, college, multi-day, or weekend courses are alternative routes to acquiring the knowledge necessary to become a successful LNC.

Opt for courses in biology, chemistry, home science, legal studies, and psychology in high school to prepare for this career. English and speech classes will also help you develop research and oral communication skills.

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee your entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications may open more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available education and employment options before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources to help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in this field.

Once you complete your training, you may need to register with your national regulatory body for nurses that promotes high professional standards, maintains the register for professionals eligible to practice, and investigates concerns raised by members.

All Registered Nurses need to earn a licence to practice. Individual government entities conduct the licensing process, which typically requires passing an examination after completing a relevant nursing course and gaining adequate experience.

Although there are expensive certificate courses from commercial companies, accredited certification in specialty nursing may be the better option for farsighted RNs looking to make the transition to LNCs work successfully.

Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help aspiring Legal Nurse Consultants stand out in a competitive job market, increase their chances of advancement, and allow them to become independent consultants. 

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ from region to region.

You may also need to undergo an employment background check, which can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Legal Nurse Consultants.

Those who begin as independent contractors aim at sustainable growth in business and earnings through association with multiple legal firms or clients. Your love for the law may lead you to acquire additional qualifications and take up dual professional roles, such as a Nurse Paralegal or Nurse Attorney.

RNs with excellent communication, organisational, analytical, and research skills, accredited certification, and more than five years of experience in speciality areas, such as orthopaedics or obstetrics, have the best LNC job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for public well-being and career progression in the healthcare sector. It embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Legal Nurse Consultants.

Renowned independent contractors acknowledge that their legal nurse consulting business owes its success to the combined presence of finance, marketing, client relationships and subject matter expertise.

Create a clear, quality brand. You can command top dollar and attract the attention of top media outlets when you go for a sweeping website makeover. A custom-branded website, professionally designed logo and engaging media page with flattering high-resolution headshots will help. 

Recruit an excellent writer or editor to ensure your active, engaging blog with great advice reaches its target audience. Prove your expertise to the uninitiated by sharing testimonials and results achieved by professionals working with you.

Invest in an accredited paralegal certificate/degree or law degree if you wish to pursue an alternate career as a paralegal or nurse attorney.

The Current Scenario

Increase in the senior citizen population and healthcare translates into anticipated growth in the number of legal cases requiring medical expertise and a greater demand for Legal Nurse Consultants.

A patient population over 65 may need LNCs who can guarantee proper and expert management of elder abuse, fraud, and medical malpractice cases.

Carve out a Niche

LNCs can build successful careers with employers ranging from law offices to insurance companies to government agencies to healthcare organisations.

If employed by a law office, you will deal with personal injuries, medical malpractices, and product liabilities. Insurance companies want you to work on employee discrimination, civil rights, workers’ compensation, disabilities, and billing fraud. 

Elder abuse, long-term care, government-funded healthcare billing and claims, and assistance with state agencies' defence form the crux of your work with government agencies. Hospitals may want their LNCs to focus on risk management, case management and licensure issues.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Legal Nurse Consultants have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Legal Nurse Consultant has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you. 

Legal Nurse Consultants are in high demand because of their ability to help resolve mass tort litigation, class action lawsuits, and civil/criminal court cases.

If your talent lies in bringing your clinical experience, medical education, and scientific expertise to the legal arena, you can make a name for yourself as a Legal Nurse Consultant who impacts the lives of patients embroiled in medico-legal litigations.

“Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.”
Florence Nightingale, Founder of Modern Nursing