Medical-Legal Consulting Is a Great Physician Side Gig
Medical-legal consulting is a great physician side gig. I previously published a post about the 10 best physician side gigs. This post discusses how physicians can leverage their expertise to generate supplemental income. Medical-legal consulting was among them as one of the best ways that physicians can diversify their income. With this article, we deeply dive into medical-legal consulting, what it is, and why it can be the perfect physician side gig for physicians. Legal consulting may be an excellent avenue for you, whether you are retired, semi-retired, or just looking to prevent burnout.
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What are physician side gigs?
Before diving into the specifics of medical-legal consulting, let us start by clarifying what a physician side gig is and why legal consulting is excellent. A physician side gig is any additional work or income-generating activity outside a physician’s primary clinical practice. These side gigs have become increasingly popular in recent years due to various factors, including the desire for financial stability, career diversification, and the pursuit of a better work-life balance.
Physicians often find themselves seeking side gigs to counteract the financial pressures associated with medical school debt, maintain a flexible schedule, or explore alternative career paths within the medical field. These side gigs can range from medical writing, blogging, telemedicine, and real estate investing to medical legal consulting as we will discuss in detail. Here is a link to explore some of the best physician side gigs.
What is medical-legal consulting?
Medical-legal consulting is a specialized niche within the legal industry where physicians apply their medical knowledge and expertise to assist attorneys and legal professionals in cases involving medical issues. Medical-legal consultants serve as intermediaries, bridging the gap between medicine and the law.
Primary responsibilities
- Reviewing medical records.
- Providing expert opinions on medical matters.
- Assisting with case preparation.
- Testifying in court as expert witnesses.
This role is pivotal in legal cases, such as medical malpractice suits, personal injury claims, disability claims, and workers’ compensation cases, where a deep understanding of medical complexities is crucial.
Medical-legal consultants play an essential role in helping legal teams navigate the intricacies of medical evidence, ensuring that cases are built on a solid foundation of medical knowledge and expertise.
What types of physicians can do legal consulting?
Medical-legal consulting is a versatile field that welcomes all physicians. However, certain medical and surgical specialties and sub-specialties are prioritized in some situations. While some specialties naturally align more closely with certain cases, the breadth of medical issues in legal matters means that physicians from virtually any specialty can find opportunities in this physician side gig. Here is how I tend to categorize medical consulting needs based on specialty:
Internal medicine and general practitioners
- These physicians can offer expertise on various medical conditions, making them versatile assets in various legal cases.
Emergency medicine physicians
- The expertise of emergency medicine physicians in handling critical situations and trauma cases can be beneficial in personal injury and medical negligence cases.
Psychiatrists and psychologists
- Mental health professionals can contribute to cases involving psychological trauma, malpractice in mental health care, or disability claims related to mental health conditions.
Orthopedic specialists
- These physicians are well-suited for medical legal consulting, particularly in cases involving musculoskeletal issues, fractures, joint injuries, and orthopedic surgeries. They can provide expert opinions on surgical techniques, post-operative care, and expected outcomes. In personal injury cases, their expertise is invaluable in assessing the extent of injuries and determining causation.
Neurologists
- Neurologists specialize in disorders of the nervous system, making them essential in cases involving neurological conditions, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and other disorders. Their expertise helps legal teams understand the medical intricacies of these conditions, their impact on the patient’s life, and potential negligence in their diagnosis and treatment.
Rheumatologists
- These physicians are experts in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. They can offer critical insight in cases where patients suffer from misdiagnosis or dealyed diagnosis of these conditions, leading to worsened health outcomes.
Cardiologists
- Cardiologists are instrumental in cases related to heart diseases, heart attacks, and cardiovascular health. They can provide expert opinions on the standard of care, diagnostic accuracy, and the appropriateness of medical interventions.
Otolaryngologists (ENT Specialists)
- Otolaryngologists, or ear, nose, and throat specialists, can lend their professional experience in cases involving hearing loss, sinus issues, vocal cord disorders, and complications related to head and neck surgeries. They play a vital role in cases related to medical negligence during surgeries, misdiagnoses, or the impact of medical treatments on patient’s quality of life.
Specialists in occupational medicine
- They are often consulted in workers’ compensation cases related to workplace injuries and illnesses.
As I said… pretty much any physician can do it. The diversity of medical specialties ensures that there is a niche for virtually every physician interested in pursuing medical-legal consulting.
How does legal consulting work?
OK, so how does medical-legal consulting work? Medical legal consulting involves several steps, from case intake to providing expert testimony, if necessary. Here is a brief overview of how this typically works:
1. Case evaluation
- Step one for medical legal consulting involves attorneys, law firms, or government entities who will contact medical-legal consultants when they need medical expertise. The consultant physician (i.e., you) reviews the case details to determine if their expertise aligns with the case’s medical aspects.
2. Engagement agreement
- Next, if the consultant physician decides to take on the case, an engagement agreement (contract) is drafted, outlining the scope of work, fees, and other relevant items.
3. Medical records review
- The consultant physician thoroughly reviews the case’s medical records, diagnostic tests, and relevant documentation to form their expert opinion.
4. Expert opinion
- Based on their review, the consultant physician provides an expert opinion, which can then be used to strengthen the legal team’s strategy.
5. Deposition and testimony
- In some cases, the consultant physician may be deposed by opposing counsel. If the case goes to trial, the consultant physician may testify as an expert witness in court.
6. Billing
- Consultant physicians typically charge on an hourly or per-case basis. Rates can vary significantly depending on the consultant’s expertise, specialty, and the case’s complexity.
7. Confidentiality
- Maintaining strict confidentiality is paramount in medical-legal consulting, as consultants often have access to sensitive medical information regarding the cases reviewed.
This is a simplified review of the steps taken to provide medical-legal consulting. Medical-legal consultants must maintain objectivity and provide unbiased opinions, as their role is to assist the legal process by offering expert medical insights.
How much can you make for legal consulting?
OK, now to what you came here for. How much can physicians make with medical-legal consulting? Is it really that lucrative? Well, first, the earning potential in medical legal consulting can be quite lucrative, depending on a few factors:
Specialty and expertise
- Physicians with specialized knowledge or extensive experience in a particular area of medicine may command higher fees.
Case complexity
- More complex cases may require more extensive work and thus offer higher compensation.
Geographic location
- Earnings can also vary by location, with consultants in urban areas often earning more than those in rural regions. However, with the evolution of technology, case review remotely is becoming more and more efficient.
Market demand
- The demand for medical legal consultants in a specific specialty or region can affect earnings.
On average, medical-legal consulting can earn physicians anywhere from $150 an hour to $500 per hour or more (in extreme cases). Some physician consultants also receive a percentage of the settlement or award if the case is successful. However, this is a rare exception, and most medical-legal consulting work is strictly on a per-hour or per-case basis. Building a reputation and client base may take time, so initial earnings may be lower.
Further, medical-legal consulting can provide opportunities for consistent part-time income or full-time career transitions, making it a desirable option for physicians who have retired, are semi-retired, or are looking to supplement their income in their free time.
What are the benefits of legal consulting?
Legal consulting can be a lucrative physician side gig, sure. However, what are some of the other benefits of legal consulting? There are a few:
Financial reward
- One of the most important advantages of medical-legal consulting is the potential for substantial supplemental income. This can help physicians pay off their student loans faster, save for retirement, or accelerate physician FIRE!
Career diversification
- Medical-legal consulting allows physicians to diversify their careers and explore new professional opportunities outside traditional clinical practice.
Intellectual stimulation
- Analyzing complex medical cases and providing expert opinions can be intellectually stimulating, keeping physicians engaged and challenged. Further, it can provide education on avoiding similar legal issues in your practice.
Flexible schedule
- Many medical-legal consultants enjoy the flexibility of setting their schedules, which can be particularly appealing for those seeking a better work-life balance.
Networking
- working with attorneys and other medical-legal professionals can expand a physician’s professional network and open doors to different career possibilities.
Contribution to justice
- Lastly, by providing expert opinions in legal cases, medical-legal consultants can play a vital role in upholding justice and ensuring that the medical aspects of cases are thoroughly and appropriately examined.
What are the challenges of legal consulting?
If there are benefits to medical legal consulting, it is only fair that we touch on some of the challenges associated with this physician side gig. Here are a few:
Legal training
- Physicians may need to invest time in gaining a basic understanding of legal processes and terminology, as well as ethical and legal responsibilities as expert witnesses.
Time commitment
- Preparing expert opinions and, if necessary, testifying in court can be time-consuming, and consultants may need to balance this with their clinical practice schedule.
Emotional impact
- Some cases may involve distressing or emotionally challenging situations, requiring consultants to maintain emotional resilience.
Liability
- Medical-legal consultants can be subject to liability if their opinions are found to be inaccurate or biased, emphasizing the need for diligence and objectivity.
Market competition
- Depending on the specialty and location, there may be significant competition among medical-legal consultants.
Legal requirements
- Licensing and certification requirements for medical legal consultants can vary by jurisdiction and type of case, adding complexity to the consultation process.
How to get started with medical-legal consulting through MedNick Associates
As I alluded to at the beginning of this post, I have partnered with MedNick Associates to provide this sponsored content. So, if you are a physician looking to get started with this lucrative physician side gig, a great place to get started is through MedNick Associates. If your expertise and specialty meet their needs, they can provide you with cases needing a physician’s opinion. I have personally interacted with the team at MedNick Associates and can vouch for their kindness, passion, and excitement to work with interested physicians. Please click here to reach out and learn more!
Take home points
Medical-legal consulting can be a lucrative physician side gig. It presents an intriguing and potentially lucrative side gig for physicians. It offers an opportunity to leverage medical expertise in the legal field, diversify one’s career, and achieve financial independence. Physicians from various specialties can find their niche in this field, contributing to justice while enjoying the benefits of flexible scheduling and burnout prevention. Medical legal consulting may be a perfect match for individuals looking for a real, practical way to supplement their income in their free time or to keep a foot in medicine after retirement. With the proper knowledge and dedication, medical-legal consulting can be a rewarding and fulfilling addition to a physician’s career portfolio. As always…
Stay motivated!
The Motivated M.D.
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Nice post.
Hourly rates are much higher than you quoted though. I’ve never worked for less than $600 an hour and I’m told I could easily raise my rates. Colleagues charge $800-$1,200 per hour.
Hey Wealthy Doc! I’m a fan of your blog and thankful that you made it over to check out the post and leave a comment! Wow, I am always happy to see that I UNDER quoted the expected hourly rate. I will update the post to raise my ‘upper limit of normal.’ Thanks again for stopping by and letting colleagues know that there are others pushing >$1,000.00 an hour. Cheers!
-MMD
Excelent article. I will research this side gig. I ‘ve been doing locums as a side gig.
I’m interested in this legal counsolting thing. I’m a general surgeon.
Hey Alejandro!
Thank you for visiting the site and leaving a comment! It is always rewarding to interact with the community. Yes locums is an awesome side gig. It can be both lucrative and rewarding. Medical legal consulting offer the opportunity to again diversify your revenue streams, and simultaneously make yourself more versatile. I high encourage it. General surgery is also very much sought after for this physician side gig as well. Thanks for stopping by, cheers!
MMD
Nice article; thanks. I am a radiologist specialized in Breast Imaging, with a background in General Radiology such that I can understand and explain other studies used to evaluate metastatic spread and response to treatment. Is there much need for Breast Imagers in the consulting space? I noticed you did not include radiologists in the list of sought-after specialties.
Second, I have 29 years of experience as a radiologist, mostly in Breast, full time for 27 years. I have done part time locums work steadily for the past two years. I have a wealth of experience and am good at what I do, but I have not worked at a famous institution or published papers. Could I still get consulting work without the fancy credentials? Thanks in advance for your answers.
Hey Jane! Thanks for visiting the site. I love your comment. Yes absolutely radiologists are needed specialties as well. It sounds like you have quite extensive experience and no, you do not need diplomas from fancy institutions. As long as you are documented to provide adequate/standard of care for you specialty, then medical legal consulting would be a great physician side gig for you. I think your breadth of experience would actually make you quite good at it! What specialty is needed is so often a case by case basis. With radiography playing such an integral role in patient care universally, radiologists are in high demand for medical legal consulting. I hope that helps! Cheers!
I am an allergist and work with attorneys with mold cases. Referrals would be greatly appreciated!