I started my legal nurse consulting business with the intention of testifying, but working behind the scenes with attorneys was how I really built my business. Despite that fact, I was always open to testifying and did so occasionally. And that’s exactly what you should do when your attorney-client asks you to testify. That’s right, go ahead, say yes!
Today’s professional athletes cross-train to reach their next level of success. For example, a professional football player doesn’t just do football drills – he lifts weights and might even practice yoga or ballet, all with the intention of performing better on the football field.
People tell me that what is even more impressive than the fact that I went from a hospital nurse to owner of a successful business is that I’ve sustained and grown that business for 29 years. Especially since we’ve gone through not just boom times, but also the ugliest recession since the Great Depression.
Phil Newman, RN, CCRN, CLNC, shares how he applies the old “lunch and learn” concept to attorneys. He also discusses how to get into the offices of attorney-prospects after meeting them at his legal conference exhibits.
As even the most astute of my CLNC amigos has noticed it’s November and we’re about six months past Spring (depending upon how you measure the seasons). That means that not only is it Fall and you have to get up, but that it’s been some time since you’ve done any Spring-cleaning in your home, your office and especially your computer and legal nurse consulting files.
Attorneys appreciate honesty and objectivity, but more importantly they need honesty and objectivity with their medical-related cases. That’s why it’s important for Certified Legal Nurse Consultants to never hold back their opinions. The attorney is investing time, money and sweat into every case and must understand the good, the bad and the ugly. This is the only way the attorney can make intelligent decisions about whether to take a case or reject it and whether to settle or to go to trial. It doesn’t help for you to sit on the fence about an issue or to suck up to the attorney, only giving information that agrees with the attorney’s own opinion, especially if it’s a case that he’s convinced himself is a winner.
I’ve been training and mentoring nurses to start legal nurse consulting businesses for more than 29 years. In all that time, I’ve never met a successful CLNC® consultant who said “I wish I had waited to start my CLNC® business.” What I always hear Certified Legal Nurse Consultants say is “I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner.”
I was referred to an attorney by a medical testifying expert I know. Because of that referral, I got right through to the attorney and thought “this is going to be easy.” I couldn’t have been more wrong. After briefly discussing my CLNC® services, he responded “I have been doing this for 35 years myself. There is no way you can do a better job than I do.” I acknowledged his expertise as the attorney and then proceeded to explain how I could save him time and money by screening his cases first before he sent them to expensive MD experts. He didn’t bite.
This weekend I am privileged to be presenting the Women Embracing Leadership events with Stedman Graham. I confess that when I was a young nurse “leadership” was a word that didn’t get my juices going. It was too traditional and boring for this renegade nurse who didn’t fit in an institutional hospital environment.
You know that thing you have always wanted to do? I confess I am often perplexed by a person who can never for the life of them achieve a goal they’ve set for themselves. They set the goal, they want the benefits of achieving that goal and then that’s the end of it.
*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.
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