While the money is tempting, there are certainly drawbacks to working on your own. Independent LNCs must provide their own medical and dental coverage, as well as professional liability insurance to protect them against lawsuits. There s not a lot of money in independent contracting when you think of all the benefits you have to provide yourself, says Korniewicz. While good writing skills and flexibility are essential in any aspect of legal nurse consulting, they are especially for independents, who will be met with different expectations from every client. Wetther says that while one client expects brief summaries of conditions, another may want long, detailed reports.
Flexibility is key to keeping clients happy.
However, word of mouth carries fast. Korniewicz, who specializes in barrier protection and latex allergies, found that her first job led to her second and third, which quickly spiraled into a career for her. As an added benefit, she gets to pick and choose her clients and her caseload. She has taken on anywhere between 10 and 50 cases per year. My preference is that I don t particularly want to work for anyone, says Korniewicz.