The Legal Nurse Consultant
What is a Legal Nurse Consultant?
A Legal Nurse Consultant is a registered nurse (RN) who combines their nursing
education and clinical experience along with specialized legal training to consult on medical related legal
cases.
Most Legal Nurse Consultants have gained their clinical experience in high risk areas of medicine
such as surgical units, intensive care units, or emergency departments. Having this type of experience and nursing
background gives them the ability to analyze complex medical information, understand medical terminology, as well
as interpret medical records and reports.
They are required to complete a certification program to gain law enforcement knowledge in order
to become employed as a Legal Nurse Consultant. After completing LNC training, employment
opportunities may be found in many areas.
Opportunities for Legal Nurse Consultants:
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Law firms, call upon the advice and expertise of a Legal Nurse Consultant to assist
Lawyers, Paralegals, and Legal experts in a broad range of legal issues. These legal issues include
workers compensation claims, medical malpractice suits, product liability cases, personal injury,
nursing liability, toxic tort claims, wrongful death suits, sexual assault cases, and criminal defence
cases.
At the present time, 50% of all LCN's are employed within Law firms, Hospitals and Insurance
Agencies, while the other 50% are employed as independent contractors in the field.
Legal Nurse Consultants play a very important role as a specialized member of the litigation
team. Some of the duties they may be required to perform are screening new cases for merit, searching out medical
experts and conducting interviews pertaining to details of the case, identify standards of nursing care, analyze
medical records, interpret the details of nurses and physician's notes, chronologies of medical events that
occurred, prepare diagrams, timelines and charts for court proceedings.
In addition to their role as a consultant, they may be called upon as an expert witness. They are
often required to testify in court trials, hearings and arbitrations. They may be asked to provide
depositions, and to prepare expert witness reports from interviews that they have conducted to be used in
trials.
Job Requirements
Pursuing a career as a Legal Nurse Consultant requires a valid Registered Nursing license, and
extensive clinical expertise in the field of nursing. This background will enable you to enrol in a six to seven
week training course at a local college, university, or online in order to become a certified Legal Nurse
Consultant.
25% of all Lawyers currently practicing, are dealing with medical related cases. According to
statistics, the number of medical related cases is on the rise. With an increase in demand for LCN's, employment
opportunities in this field are expected to rise substantially over the next ten years.
Expected Income
According to The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics the salary for the position is an average of
$80,000 annually, and independent contractors have average earnings of approximately $100 to $250 per hour for
their services.
If you are currently a Registered Nurse looking for a change (or an LPN who makes long
term plans), this could be the career path for you.
Other Sources: (opens in a new window)
American Association of Legal Consultants
National Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
Introduction to Legal Nurse Consulting
Other career path considerations:
LPN to RN
LPN to BSN
LPN to MSN
MA Medical
Assistant
MA to RN
NP Nurse Practitioner
Legal Nurse Consultant
The theme of the next section contains specific industries, starting with the LPN Home Care, so please review it as you are considering the
career path that you are planning on pursuing.
Return to the home page for additional information on LPNs
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