Question about Legal Nurse Consulting

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I also have a question...I know of an attorney in a major city (that did some work for our family years ago), and I recently sent him an e-mail asking him about Legal Nurse Consulting.

He is one of the top lawyers in the area, has been in practice for almost 50 years, and has even argued in one case in front of the US Supreme Court, which he won.

His specialty is now medical malpratice, but he isn't an ambulance chaser...you have to have a clear-cut case of genuine malpractice or neglect before he will accept your case...he can do this because of his record.

I asked him about Legal Nurse consulting, and he told me that his law firm has ONE legal nurse consultant that they used on an as-needed basis, but have never used her for more than 12 hours for a single case. His rate that he pays? $55 per hour.

When I asked him about the rates I've seen online of $150+, he wrote me back and said, "For that, I can hire a physician, and in fact, I have got physicians to review complex cases for me for less than that."

He said he didn't know of a single law practice that would pay that rate.

This is a field that interests me as well, but it sounds like nurses that get that rate are about as rare as a Panda in North America.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, Hopefull2009

I moved your post from an off-topic thread to its own thread.

Yes, many LNCs, IMHO, overcharge. That can hurt the new LNC especially (if they are so gung ho and charge a huge fee).

I've never had a problem with my fees nor have I had problems collecting.

It's very dependent upon area and need.

After you become RN and have a few years experience, revisit the career choice. Good to read of your interest.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, SICU, CCU, ER, RN Paralegal.

I am a nurse paralegal who is a full-time employee of a plaintiff's law firm that handles mostly med mal cases. My salary is on the low side, but I have great benefits and perks that make up for it. Occasionally I need an independent nurse opinion. We pay $75.00/hr. for review and abstracts of meds, and up to $125.00/hr for depos and court testimony. I don't know where that atty can get a doc for $150.00. We usually have to pay them at least $300.00 for a 15min. phone conference!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, silmasRN,

You are correct. And, thank you for your post. Sounds as if your career is going very well. Congratulations.

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