Legal Nurse

About the role

Responsible for assisting attorneys with the medical aspects of litigation related to case preparation, management, and execution.

Responsibilities

• Obtain, review, analyze, and summarize medical records and other pertinent medical and legal documents related to case medical facts or deviations from standards of care.
• Identify additional sources for obtaining medical records.
• Organize, tabulate, and index medical records and prepare medical chronologies.
• Research and integrate relevant medical and nursing literature in support of the medical facts and issues of a case.
• Select and organize literature to be used at trial and assist attorneys with preparation of trial exhibits.
• Ensure all functions are performed in exact accordance with applicable client guidelines.
• Identify, locate, interview, and evaluate potential experts and send expert packages to parties for review.
• Maintain an expert database and research opposing counsel's experts.
• Schedule meetings and depositions and assist attorneys in maintaining scheduled dates.
• Perform clerical duties such as typing and filing to the extent required to produce work product or assure proper organization of case files.
• Enter billable time into the computer on a daily basis.
• Remain flexible and open to requests for support or assistance outside the scope of this job description and perform other duties as directed by the Management team.
• Meet a minimum billing requirement of 140 hours per month and 1,680 hours per year. This requirement is not reduced by paid or unpaid time off, mandatory training, or the performance of non-billable functions.
• Perform non-billable functions, including but not limited to participating on strategic committees, assisting in seminar development, assisting with production of presentations, and mentoring and training new employees.

Requirements

Education: Knowledge of medical principles and practices at a level normally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited school or college of nursing. Knowledge of legal principles and practices at a level normally acquired through completion of certified paralegal or legal nurse consulting education.

Experience: Work experience in a clinical setting. Knowledge sufficient to provide medical expertise and support attorney team members in case management and information gathering.

Qualifications

Physical Requirements: Work requires sitting, bending, stooping, computer keyboarding, continuous use of the hands, telephone contact, and reading. Work may require lifting 25 to 50 pounds or more. Work may require traveling to offsite locations for the collection of records and information; therefore, work may require driving.

Performance Measures Goals: Timely and accurate review, analysis, and summarization of medical records and related documentation. Effective preparation of medical chronologies, literature support, and trial materials. Accurate identification and evaluation of experts and maintenance of expert-related resources. Daily entry of billable time and achievement of the minimum billing requirement of 140 hours per month and 1,680 hours per year. Exact compliance with applicable client guidelines.

Competencies: Medical analysis and research capability. Organization and attention to detail. Confidentiality and integrity. Professional communication and collaboration. Flexibility, initiative, and responsiveness.

Working Conditions: Professional office environment within a law firm, with work involving review of medical and legal documentation and frequent coordination with attorneys, staff, clients, and experts. Work may require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position and to meet financial goal requirements. Work may include travel to offsite locations for collection of records and information.

Skills

Demonstrated organizational, prioritization, and attention to detail skills to allow for timely, effective, and accurate performance of job duties. Ability to demonstrate impeccable integrity in confidential matters. Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate with a diverse group of attorneys, staff, and clients and to provide or obtain information with ordinary courtesy, diplomacy, and tact. Accurate typing ability of 45 words per minute. Comprehensive computer and office equipment experience.