Building a successful expert witness practice requires skills, qualities, and strategies. Whether you are just starting or looking to expand your practice, understanding the key principles can help you thrive in this challenging and rewarding field.
Getting Started
Many experts begin their journey by actively seeking cases or being approached by attorneys or Legal Nurse Consultants (LNCs). Your publications, presentations, credentials, and online presence can make you more visible to those seeking expert witnesses. LinkedIn can be beneficial for networking and showcasing your expertise.
Characteristics of a Successful Expert Witness
To attract more cases, you must be easy to work with, approachable, and professional. Avoid being a prima donna—maintain a humble attitude and treat everyone involved with respect. Return calls promptly, adhere to deadlines, and maintain a clinical role to enhance credibility.
Building credibility through publications, certifications, and experience is crucial. Other key factors include maintaining a balance of defense and plaintiff cases, being reliable and available, and staying active in your professional organization.
Continually seek feedback to improve your performance, be honest, ethical, and genuine, and maintain an active and unrestricted license in your practice state. Understanding the current standard of care and the standard at the time of the care in question is vital. Additionally, polish your writing skills to effectively convey your opinions and medical terms to a layperson’s understanding.
Evaluating Your Performance
Once you’ve taken on the role of an expert witness, your performance will be evaluated based on several critical elements. Promptly acknowledging receipt of materials from attorneys, returning calls promptly, and submitting invoices on time are essential for effective customer service.
Your report quality is crucial. Write thoughtful, concise reports covering significant points that are well-written and carefully proofread. In plaintiff reports, focus on significant deviations from the standard of care and explain them clearly. In defense reports, address the allegations of the plaintiff’s expert and explain why the nurses met the standard of care.
Being True to Standards
Honesty and openness in your opinions are paramount. Avoid being overly clever or straying from your expertise. Attorneys value honest and straightforward experts, even if their views may not always align with their desired outcomes.
Meeting deadlines, having well-organized materials, and being thoroughly prepared for depositions and trials are crucial. Additionally, building strong client relationships, being flexible with payment plans, and using honest and ethical business practices are essential to success.
Marketing Principles and Practices
Understanding marketing and crafting compelling messages for websites and social media can help you reach your market. Finding your niche and focusing on your strengths can set you apart. Building strong client relationships and using honest and ethical business practices are key to success.
Financial Considerations
If possible, avoid borrowing money and use your revenues to invest in your business. Charge reasonable fees that reflect the market and avoid short-changing yourself by underpricing your services.
Leveraging Your Time and Talent
Recognize that you need a solid foundation in clinical nursing to work most effectively with attorneys. Your understanding of how health care works provides invaluable assistance to attorneys.
Use subcontractors to leverage your time and talent, especially in areas lacking expertise.
Train your subcontractors well and hire and fire quickly to maintain a strong team.
For practical advice on being a subcontractor and hiring subcontractors, refer to my book, LNC Subcontracting: How to Boost Your Business
Safeguarding Your Finances
Implement financial controls to prevent embezzlement and theft opportunities. Be cautious about who has access to bank accounts and sensitive data.
Do not allow employees to sign checks. No one should be able to sign except for the owner.
Demonstrating Your Uniqueness
Find ways to set yourself apart from the competition through publications, connections with other legal nurse consultants, or unique services you offer.
Determine your strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan to build on your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses.
Finally, recognize the value of being published and connected to other legal nurse consultants.
Consider Your End Game
Think about your long-term goals for your business. Whether you plan to grow and sell your practice or continue as a consultant, having a clear vision for the future can guide your decisions and actions.
Building a successful expert witness practice requires skills, qualities, and strategies.
Following these principles and practices can establish yourself as a trusted and sought-after expert.
Get my latest book, How to be a Successful Nursing Expert Witness, Second Edition.
It offers valuable, actionable tips. Order it here.
This book is for new and established nursing experts.
Pat Iyer is president of The Pat Iyer Group, which develops resources to assist LNCs in obtaining more clients, making more money, and achieving their business goals and dreams.
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