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Guest Blog: Why Seniors Need To Hire An Elder Law Attorney

Given the rather complex legal concerns that the elderly have to face, seniors or those who are helping them make decisions should work hand-in-hand with an elder law attorney.

Seniors have rather unique legal needs, and elder law attorneys use their expertise in the different fields of law that elder law encompasses to serve those needs.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons seniors need the services of a lawyer who specializes in elder law.

Help With Medicaid

Seniors are going to need long-term care, and Medicaid is at the forefront of providing them with the necessary funding for it. However, Medicaid’s rules and regulations for eligibility can get rather complex.

By applying legal strategies properly, an elder law attorney can help seniors navigate those complexities and get the Medicaid coverage they need and deserve, and protect their money, property, or income at the same time.

Estate Planning

The elderly will also require assistance with their estate planning.

Many seniors have yet to create wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Others simply need to update and maintain their existing estate planning documents.

Elder law attorneys can help seniors with their estate planning to ensure that their assets are legally passed down without complication, and their wishes carried out to the letter.

Planning For Long-Term Care

It is a fact that health complications will eventually arise as people get older. For seniors, there is no better time to plan for long-term care than now, while they are still able to care for themselves.

Seniors will need to draft an advance health care directive, a document where they can specify the actions they want to be taken for their health in case they become incapacitated. They also need to plan for guardianship, so when they are no longer capable of caring for themselves, they can ensure that the court will appoint a guardian of their choosing. These are a couple of concerns that a skilled and experienced elder law attorney can help plan.

With an elder care attorney providing insight and expertise, seniors will be able to make sound legal decisions that will ensure that their future needs will be taken care of and help them get some much-needed peace of mind.

About the Author

Lauren Summers is the Content Marketing Strategist for Miller, Miller & Canby, one of the most respected law firms in Montgomery County, and the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The firm focuses on five core areas of practice: Land Development, Real Estate, Litigation, Business and Tax, and Trusts and Estates Law. In her spare time, she reads books and plays board games with her husband and two kids.

Guest Blog: How You Become A Legal Nurse Consultant

Legal nurse consultants are registered nurses who specialize in the legal field. They work as consultants for attorneys, insurance agencies, and other companies that deal with legal matters. The duties of a legal nurse consultant can vary from one consulting firm to another; however, most require you to interview plaintiffs and witnesses and document their responses on case files. You also need to take notes on the information from depositions or interviews and prepare reports for your clients based on your findings. This article will help you understand what a Legal Nurse Consultant does, as well as give your insight into what it takes to become one.

What is a Legal Nurse Consultant?

A legal nurse consultant is an expert witness who provides guidance to attorneys on injury cases related to healthcare and medical devices. Legal nurse consultants work on a contractual basis and are often hired by law firms to put together a case against a healthcare entity, such as a hospital or drug manufacturer, that is the defendant in a civil lawsuit. The role of a legal nurse consultant is to review medical records, speak to patients, and review a wide range of materials that attorneys may use to support their claims. A legal nurse consultant can also testify in court, if necessary. Legal nurse consultants are often seen as a crucial part of the pre-trial discovery process.

What Does a Legal Nurse Consultant Do?

As a legal nurse consultant, you could find yourself conducting interviews with patients who’ve suffered injuries and/or death due to medical negligence or errors including IVF in hospital etc. You may also be called upon to examine and review medical records and/or other documents related to the case. Depending on your job duties and the needs of your employer, you could be conducting many different activities that make up the day-to-day life of a legal nurse consultant. Some of the tasks you might be responsible for as a legal nurse consultant include:

– Reviewing medical records to determine if they are accurate and complete – Carrying out physical examinations of patients to document findings

– Interviewing witnesses or clients (under oath) to determine the facts of their cases

– Writing reports summarizing your findings and observations

– Testifying in court about your findings and recommendations

How to Become a Legal Nurse Consultant

To become a legal nurse consultant, you first need to become a registered nurse. You can then gain additional experience by working in a variety of healthcare fields, including oncology, emergency room, and critical care. Nurses who have worked in these areas can better understand the pressures and challenges that can occur in these environments. Some organizations recommend that you have at least five years of experience as a nurse before you apply to become a legal nurse consultant. Most legal nurse consulting firms require that you have experience in a clinical setting. The more experience you have working in different areas of health care, the better your chances of being hired.

Courses You Need to Become a Legal Nurse Consultant

Legal nurse consultants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass a certification exam. There are two certification options that you can take to become a legal nurse consultant: – Registered Nurse Certification Exam: The National Certification Board for Health Care Providers (NCB) offers a Registered Nurse certification exam that covers numerous topics, including health promotion, health assessment, pharmacology, medical terminology, and infection control. You can take this exam either through the mail or online.

Certification Options for Becoming a Legal Nurse Consultant

Legal nurse consultants are not required to be certified or licensed. However, the more education and experience you have in the field, the better your chances of landing a job as a legal nurse consultant, or you can take online tuition for more knowledge. If you’re interested in becoming a legal nurse consultant, you can gain experience as a legal nurse consultant with a consulting firm that offers internships. While working as an intern, you can gain valuable insight into the role of a legal nurse consultant. You can also network with attorneys and gain valuable experience that may help you land a job in this field after you graduate. Once you graduate, you can also apply for a job as a legal nurse consultant at a law firm. You may need to take the certification exam before you can start working as a consultant. You can find out more about how to become a legal nurse consultant by contacting attorneys in your area, contacting consulting firms.

Conclusion

Legal nurse consultants help attorneys build cases against healthcare providers by interviewing patients and reviewing medical records. They are crucial during the discovery process and can testify about their findings in court. Becoming a legal nurse consultant requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing, plus two years of experience. You can then take the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Exam offered by the Health Lawyers Association.