How to Become an Attorney for Nurses
The combination of the complicated demands of nursing, the complexity of medical law and our highly litigious society makes attorneys for nurses highly in demand. Becoming an attorney who specializes in helping nurses requires, on average, seven years of study, including obtaining a college degree and attending law school with a specialization in medical law. Attorneys for nurses can then work with firms, in hospitals or for themselves.
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Instructions
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Complete a bachelor's degree. You must have a bachelor's degree to be accepted to law school. Your major doesn't matter in terms of getting accepted into law school, so you can major in nursing, biology, pre-law, political science or any other discipline that interests you. A medical-based major may be helpful if you are going to be a lawyer for nurses. It is exceptionally important that you maintain a near-perfect GPA in college, as admittance to law school is difficult and competitive.
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Take the LSAT, or Law School Admissions Test. Your score on the LSAT, combined with your college GPA, are the two major factors that determine your acceptance into law school. Many students chose to take an LSAT prep course to help achieve a higher score.
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Complete law school with a specialty in medical law. Law school is, on average, a three-year program. You will learn a broad application of the law, but you can also chose to specialize. In your case, you will want to specialize in medical law, which covers areas such as malpractice and teaches the nuances of the law as it applies to medicine.
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Pass the bar exam. This exam licenses you to practice law, and you cannot do so without passing. Most people take one or more bar review classes, which help prepare for the intense exam. In many states, passing the bar also includes passing the character and fitness evaluation, which examines your ethics and takes into account your criminal background, credit scores and other relevant histories.
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Join a firm that specializes in representing nurses, or apply directly to a hospital or health organization. You can also open your own practice and network with nurses. Most attorneys take on several free or "pro bono" cases per year as community service, and doing so can help you network with nurses needing your services.
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