This year the CLNC® Mentors and I have spent a lot of time exhibiting with Certified Legal Nurse Consultants at legal conferences throughout the U.S. You could say we’ve talked to a lot of attorneys.
We asked trial attorneys who litigate medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability and toxic tort cases to share the qualities they look for in their legal nurse consultants. Here are their top eight:
- Knowledge and experience in the issue(s) being litigated. Attorneys don’t want textbook opinions from legal nurse consultants – they want real-world opinions.
- Strong credentials. Attorneys want Certified Legal Nurse Consultants who have invested in themselves and their profession. Your nursing education and CLNC Certification speak volumes about you.
- Credibility. Attorneys will size you up from the jury’s point of view – even if you never testify.
- Honesty and objectivity. Attorneys really want you to tell it like it is. They are one profession you don’t have to suck up to (Well, maybe a little bit during the initial interview.).
- Easy to work with. Attorneys are like the rest of us. They like to surround themselves with Certified Legal Nurse Consultants they like. High-maintenance consultants need not apply.
- Conservative and renders opinions that are supportable. They want Certified Legal Nurse Consultants who speak for the nursing profession, not for themselves. Opinions of one don’t count for much in the eyes of the law.
- A good listener and a strong communicator. Attorneys are crazy busy; they don’t want legal nurse consultants to waste their time with rambling, waffling or fence-sitting.
- Flexible and open-minded. CLNC consultants know more about healthcare facilities and nursing issues than attorneys, but attorneys know the law. They want consultants who will be receptive to their point of view, understand their tactics and see the big picture.
So there you have it – straight from the attorneys’ mouths. Something I’ve learned during 32 years in my legal nurse consulting business is that when successful trial attorneys talk it’s best to listen.
They’re Just Sayin’
P.S. Comment here and share whether you’ve got all 8 qualities attorneys look for in their legal nurse consultants.
