The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants reports that legal nurse consultants work in a wide range of practice areas, including medical malpractice, other personal injury (auto, slip and fall, work injury), product liability, toxic torts, workers’ compensation, risk management, health care licensure investigation, Social Security disability, life care planning, case management, corporate and regulatory compliance, and billing fraud.
Legal nurse consultants' job responsibilities vary depending on the case and its medical implications. When working on a case, they may conduct client interviews, which involves talking to persons who feel they have a legal claim against a medical facility or doctor or nurse, or as a result of an accident.
They research past medical cases and treatments. They often advise attorneys regarding medical facts, treatments, and other medical issues that are relevant to a case. Legal nurse consultants obtain and organize medical records, and locate and procure evidence. They may identify, interview, and retain expert witnesses. They also assist with depositions and trials, including developing and preparing exhibits for jury or judge trials.
As part of legal teams, legal nurse consultants are often required to do considerable research and paperwork. Independent legal nurse consultants must complete their work within a strict deadline. They often work under a contract and must produce the records, information, and reports within a specified time frame.
In addition, self-employed legal nurse consultants must generate their own clients. This requires that they not only be nurses, but be business-minded as well and do their own marketing to the legal field. Independent legal nurse consultants need to learn and practice business skills such as marketing, sales, and record keeping. They need to learn to be aggressive and assertive and be their own salespeople to find work.
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Airport Security Personnel
- Arbitrators
- Bail Bondsmen
- Bailiffs
- Bankruptcy Lawyers
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Bodyguards
- Border Patrol Agents
- Bounty Hunters
- Civil Litigation Lawyers
- Community Health Nurses
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- Corrections Officers
- Court Interpreters and Translators
- Court Reporters
- Crime Analysts
- Criminal Lawyers
- Critical Care Nurses
- Deputy U.S. Marshals
- Detectives
- Elder Law Attorneys
- Emergency Nurses
- Emergency Services Dispatchers
- Environmental Lawyers
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- FBI Agents
- Forensic Experts
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- Genetic Genealogists
- Geriatric Nurses
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- Judges
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- Licensed Practical Nurses
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- Public Interest Lawyers
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- Registered Nurses
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- Secret Service Special Agents
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- Tax Attorneys
