Program Description

This 40-hour non-credit certificate program is designed for doctors, registered nurses, physical therapists, LPNs with three or more years of experience, or those with a degree in a medically related field. Those professionals considering a career change but who want to capitalize on their medical training and experience are excellent candidates to take the Medical Legal Consultant program that the Legal Studies Institute offers. This course was designed to enable health care professionals to become proficient in the necessary legal knowledge, skills and techniques essential to assist clients in the interpretation, analysis, evaluation and development of legal strategies of medically related issues in the legal arena. This emerging field offers those experienced in the medical field, the opportunity to enter the legal profession as a valuable member of the legal team.

Medical Legal Consultants are found in law firms, insurance companies, government agencies, hospital risk management departments, and as independent consultants. The role of the MLC is to provide legal practitioners with an evaluation of the delivery of health care services. They often consult in regard to cases involving personal injury, toxic torts, negligence, medical malpractice, criminal law, worker’s compensation and product liability. MLCs are in much demand and can command high salaries with flexible working hours in convenient locations.

Upon completion of the program, the participant will possess the abilities to market and maintain an effective and competent practice as a Medical Legal Consultant or employee working for various clients including law firms, insurance agencies, health care organizations, risk management departments and governmental agencies.

At the conclusion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

• Assess issues of damages and causation with regard to liability
• Understand issues related in Risk Management
• Review insurance files
• Aid in the development of trial strategy
• Review, summarize and analyze medical records and related documents
• Interview and prepare expert witnesses
• Draft reports to the attorney and make recommendations
• Participate in the discovery process
• Work with expert witnesses and physical evidence
• Gain knowledge of Marketing and Business Principles for the MLC Independent Practitioner

The program is offered for a duration of seven Saturdays, from 9:30am to 4:30pm, beginning on March 1, 2008

Admission requirements:

Student must present an application for admission into the program, along with proof of formal training in the medical field and/or proof of work experience (minimum of 3 years), by submitting a letter from your present or previous employer and a $25 non-refundable application fee.

Juan D. Reyes Juan D. Reyes ARM, LHCRM, is a private risk management consultant. He has a broad healthcare industry background in administration and operations. His most recent position was as Chief Operating Officer for the Westchester Healthcare Network, a privately owned for-profit community hospital company. Before accepting this position, he was the Director of Risk Management and Compliance Programs for the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County/University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Medical Center for six years. Mr. Reyes is a graduate of the University of Miami with a Master's in Business Administration/Health Administration, and a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is certified as a Health Safety Professional (CHSP), a Professional in Health Care Quality (CPHQ), and in Healthcare Compliance (CHC). Mr. Reyes has been the main instructor of the Risk Management Pre-Licensing Healthcare Certificate Program since May 2001 and his students have consistently rated him as an excellent instructor.

Mercedes Prieto Alonso-Knapp is the research assistant to the Honorable Robert L. Shevin, of the Third District Court of Appeal. She has worked as a Judicial Assistant at the Third District since 1989. Ms. Alonso-Knapp was appointed to the Appellate Law Clerk Education Committee in 1999. She received her B.S., Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Miami with majors in English and Psychology. She received her J.D., Cum Laude, from the University Of Miami, where she served as a Student Author Advisor of the University of Miami Law Review. Ms. Alonso-Knapp was a Legal Research and Writing instructor at the Law School. In 1995, she joined Florida International University Legal Studies Institute as an adjunct professor, and from 1997 to the present, she is member of the Legal Studies Institute Advisory Council, acting also as Academic Advisor for the LSI Paralegal Program.