CLNC® Consultant FAQ

Legal Nurse Consultant and LegalNurse.com FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about how to become a legal nurse consultant and about LegalNurse.com. If you can’t find an answer to your question in the following list, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 713.942.2200.

Two years ago, I was sick and tired of the job I had. I had a nonexistent self-esteem and was going nowhere fast. Your teaching has changed my life. I am now in business and love everything I do. Thank you so much.

P. Martins
RN, CLNC
New York
  1. How many attorneys need the services of a legal nurse consultant?
    According to the Houston Chronicle, 25% of attorneys deal with medical-related cases. They rely on specially trained CLNC® consultants to help them win cases for their plaintiff or defense clients. Few attorneys know how to read medical records or understand the terminology and subtleties of healthcare issues. While the attorney is the expert on legal issues, the legal nurse consultant is the expert on nursing and the inner workings of the healthcare system. As a CLNC® consultant, you apply your knowledge of medical, nursing and health-related issues to make the attorney’s job easier, more efficient and more effective. Your professional expertise as an RN and a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant qualifies you to review and interpret relevant medical records, screen medical-related cases, prepare chronologies, assist with discovery and provide dozens of other CLNC® services.
  2. Do I need a BSN degree to become certified as a legal nurse consultant?
    No, a BSN degree is not required. You only need an active RN license in the U.S. or Canada to complete the CLNC® Certification Program. Attorneys are more interested in your nursing experience, Certification status and communication skills than the degrees behind your name.
  3. How many years of RN experience do I need to practice as a legal nurse consultant?
    1-3 years’ experience in your specialty is sufficient as long as you are confident of your knowledge and experience in the issues being litigated.
  4. Is there a market for legal nurse consultants in my area?
    Yes, there are more than 1,300,000 attorneys in the U.S. and anywhere there are attorneys, there is a thriving market. Many legal nurse consultants work from home and have successful businesses even in rural areas. Through technology, legal nurse consultants easily communicate with attorneys outside their geographic area.
  5. How many clients will I need to succeed as a legal nurse consultant?
    Most CLNC® consultants surveyed say that 3-5 attorneys keep them busy full time. The CLNC® Certification Program teaches you how to market to attorneys and easily build your client base.
  6. How much do Certified Legal Nurse Consultants charge?
    Most independent CLNC® consultants charge up to $125-$150/hr. This fee is cost-effective for the attorney who would otherwise have to pay an MD expert as much as $1000/hr.
  7. Is a certain type of nursing experience necessary to succeed as a legal nurse consultant?
    No, your experience is invaluable regardless of your nursing background – med-surg, OB/GYN, psychiatry, etc. You can also subcontract with other Certified Legal Nurse Consultants if you are interested in consulting on cases outside your specialty.
  8. Does LegalNurse.com market Certified Legal Nurse Consultants to attorneys?
    Yes, LegalNurse.com markets Certified Legal Nurse Consultants to the million-plus attorneys nationwide. You receive a FREE listing in the NACLNC® Online Directory which makes your Directory listing an important part of your marketing strategy. Everything about the NACLNC® Online Directory is designed to put your CLNC® business in front of more than 1,300,000 attorneys nationwide 24/7.
  9. Can I work part time as a legal nurse consultant?
    Yes, you may start part time to supplement your RN income and become comfortable with your role as a CLNC® consultant as you gain attorney-clients.
  10. Do I have to testify?
    No, most legal nurse consultants only consult behind the scenes, educating the attorney about the case and helping prepare for deposition and trial.
  11. Do I need nurse-paralegal training?
    Absolutely not. We urge you to avoid any nurse-paralegal programs. They do not prepare you to work as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, but rather as a legal assistant, which is equivalent to a nurse’s aide. Every day we get distress calls from RNs who feel they have been misled and that they have wasted thousands of dollars on a dead-end paralegal program. You can complete the CLNC® Online Certification Program in just 40 hours Online and learn everything you need to succeed as a CLNC® consultant. Our program is cost-effective because we don’t waste your time on irrelevant legal courses such as legal research, civil procedure, probate, etc. You will use everything you learn in the CLNC® Certification Program. As a CLNC® consultant, you will be able to charge up to $125-$150/hr as a professional consultant, rather than $16-$18/hr as a paralegal.
  12. How long does it take to complete the CLNC® Online Certification Program?
    You’ll be done in just 40 hours Online with the CLNC® Online Certification Program. Review the Online Certification Program as often as you like to master every detail.
  13. Is financing available?
    Yes, you may apply for a Career Training Smart Option StudentSM Loan from Sallie Mae with payments as low as $75/month.
  14. What is my role as a legal nurse consultant?
    As a legal nurse consultant, you apply your knowledge of medical, nursing and health-related issues to make the attorney’s job easier, more efficient and more effective. You are a medical insider who knows the inner workings of our complicated healthcare system firsthand. Your professional expertise as an RN and a legal nurse consultant qualifies you to review and interpret relevant medical records, screen medical-related cases, prepare chronologies, assist with discovery and provide dozens of other services. We encourage you to complete Module 1: The Role of the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. Click here to enroll in the 3½ hour online video course for free.
  15. Do legal nurse consultants work only for attorneys?
    No, while many legal nurse consultants practice independently or work in-house for attorneys, others provide consulting services to insurance companies, government agencies and private corporations. The opportunities are unlimited.
  16. Can I really succeed as a legal nurse consultant?
    Absolutely, yes. You have succeeded as a nurse, and nurses really can do anything! You make split-second decisions that make the difference between life and death for your patients. You save lives in the middle of the night when the rest of the world is sleeping and an MD is nowhere to be found. Starting a CLNC® business will seem easy compared to saving lives.
  17. What are the prerequisites to become a legal nurse consultant?
    Starting your new CLNC® career is simple.
    • No BSN degree is required. You only need an active RN license.
    • No prior legal nurse consulting experience is required. You only need the legal nurse consulting programs by LegalNurse.com.

    The trademark CLNC® Certification Program is the first and most recognized legal nurse consulting certification program.


  18. How do I train to become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant?
    Choose one of the proven CLNC® Certification Systems developed by the pioneer of legal nurse consulting.
    1. VIP Pro CLNC® Certification System
    2. VIP CLNC® Certification System
    3. Executive CLNC® Certification System
    4. Basic CLNC® Certification System

    Every CLNC® Certification System is 100% guaranteed and includes the CLNC® Online Video Certification Program.


  19. What is the VIP Pro CLNC® Certification System?
    The VIP Pro CLNC® Certification System is the most cost-effective program and the quickest path to CLNC® success. As a VIP Pro you get it all, plus Pro-level marketing to build your CLNC® business. Every business resource researched and developed by the Institute is included. You receive what you need to launch and grow your CLNC® business and generate income fast. Plus you receive FREE unlimited priority CLNC® Mentoring for as long as you remain certified.
  20. How do I benefit from FREE CLNC® mentoring?
    LegalNurse.com wants you to succeed. That’s why we developed the FREE CLNC® Mentoring Program – the only mentoring program in the U.S. for legal nurse consultants. Our CLNC® Mentors will guide and coach you every step of the way for one year from date of CLNC Certification. Hands down, our FREE CLNC® Mentoring Program has proven to be everyone’s favorite benefit. The CLNC® consultants love it. VIP Pros receive FREE unlimited priority mentoring for as long as you remain certified. VIPs receive FREE unlimited priority mentoring. Executive CLNC® Certification System purchasers are eligible for FREE mentoring twice a month and Basic CLNC® Certification System purchasers are eligible for FREE mentoring once a month.
  21. Why should I become certified as a CLNC® consultant?
    Your CLNC® Certification is evidence that you have mastered a complex body of specialized knowledge. More important, CLNC® Certification gives you the competitive edge, bolsters your credibility with attorneys and helps you build a profitable business more quickly. Developed and implemented by the nation’s oldest and largest legal nurse consulting training institute, the CLNC® Certification is the first, most credible and most widely recognized legal nurse consulting certification in the nation. Attorneys nationwide respect the trademark CLNC® Certification and the specialized legal nurse consulting programs it represents. The CLNC® Certification is the official certification of the National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants (NACLNC®).
  22. How do I become a member of the NACLNC® Association?
    As a CLNC® consultant, you receive FREE membership in the National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants (NACLNC®). This is the world’s largest association of legal nurse consultants. Your exclusive NACLNC® Association membership benefits include a FREE listing in the NACLNC® Online Directory, networking with thousands of CLNC® consultants nationwide PLUS you’ll get FREE access to the information-packed online NACLNC® Association with its CLNC Marketing Center, sample cases, interview questions and business and report writing templates.
  23. Is the CLNC® Certification nationally recognized?
    LegalNurse.com is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The CLNC® Certification is the official certification of the National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants (NACLNC®), the nation’s largest association of legal nurse consultants. The CLNC® Certification is trademarked by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is recognized by attorneys nationwide.
    ANCC Accredited Provider
    NACLNC® Association Member
    USPTO3002

  24. Is the CLNC® Certification Program guaranteed?
    Because we know the proven CLNC® Certification Systems work, the Institute guarantees every CLNC® Certification System. Each and every system is 100% guaranteed, the most unheard-of guarantee in the industry! If for any reason you feel that you cannot profit from your nursing experience through the Institute’s program, you may return the system – no questions asked. See instructions and conditions below:
    1. You may return your CLNC® Certification System for a full refund within 30 days of invoice date.
    2. For VIP Pro, VIP and Executive CLNC Certification Systems, there are no partial refunds.
    3. Once you take the CLNC® Certification Exam, you are no longer eligible for a refund.

    Call 713.942.2200 for return instructions. All requests to return must be in writing by mail or email.


  25. What will I lose if I don’t invest in the CLNC® Certification Program?
    • You’ll lose thousands of dollars in potential income. The typical Certified Legal Nurse Consultant has an earning potential of up to $150/hr.
    • You’ll also miss out on the satisfaction and freedom of building your own business as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

    The CLNC® Certification Program is so affordable, you can earn more than it costs on your first two cases.

Learn How You Can Earn Up to $150/hr as a CLNC® Consultant

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