CLNC stands for Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. Before a nurse can become a consultant, he or she must first become a registered nurse. After that training is completed, the registered nurse has to go through specific training to become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. A certified nurse's wages can reach as much as $150 per hour!
Specialized training includes:
- Legal Research
- Legal Analysis and Writing
- Legal Nurse Consulting
- Litigation and Trial Practice
- Personal Injury Law
- Legal Terminology
- Legal Theory
- Insight into Legal Procedures
Skills include:
- Collect and Organize Legal Research
- Prepare and Interpret Legal Documentation
- Interview Clients
- Assist with Investigations
Legal Nurse Consultants are Increasingly Important
Since approximately 25% of legal cases involve some form of medical malpractice or some form of personal injury, there is definitely a growing need for Certified Legal Nurse Consultants. Without them, many attorneys admit that they would not be able to adequately prepare for these cases. These consultants also assist the attorneys in communicating with their clients.
Cases Requiring Legal Nurse Consultants
Some cases involve car accidents where the client has sustained something as straightforward as a whiplash or other neck injury. Others are quite complicated.
Medications that have harmed patients have been the subject of court cases. Injuries incurred as a result of child abuse have been increasing and are very much affected by the involvement of the CLNC. Often, legal nurse professionals are expert witnesses for insurance companies, governmental agencies, hospitals and private corporations.
Existing Registered Nurses Find Increased Income
This option is offering many registered nurses with a more profitable career as well as more choices. In this status, these consultants can continue to work full-time or choose to spend more time with their families and work fewer hours.
Not only do attorneys, hospitals, and insurance companies require the expertise of these consultants. Governmental agencies often hire them because they want to have assurance of quality, risk identification, and confidence that they will be completely fair and desiring of a just decision for those on either side.
