ABSTRACT
In most areas of the country that utilize legal nurse consultants (LNCs), the responsibilities of the LNC in a law firm have evolved significantly over the past 30 years. Now, most LNCs not only participate in the organization, review, and summary of medical records but also play an integral role in more complex and sophisticated activities, such as the analysis of liability in medical malpractice cases, determination of proximate cause, assessment of damages, case strategy, identification and vetting of medical and nursing experts, and trial preparation. This chapter provides a general orientation to work in a law firm environment, including the roles of various law firm personnel. It also summarizes professional LNC responsibilities and practice issues as well as the skills and attributes necessary to function as a skilled in-house LNC.
