Malpractice Law School
 

OK, I was wondering if anyone knows if there is such a "major" as Malpractice Law in law school? I am wanting to go to the University of South Carolina and was wondering what classes to take in order to get specialization of Malpractice law in order to protect doctors. USC has a medical school and they have a few classes but I was wondering ya'lls take on it. Malpractice specialization is on top of the family law specialization that I am wanting to get. I just need something to pay the bills when I get out of law school! hehehe

Re: Malpractice Law School
 

Butt sex?

-Rudey
--Because butt sex is not legal and you can defend it!

I'm currently in law school and from my experience there is really no "major" when you get your JD. Since medical malpractice is typically a tort claim (and all first year students take torts) the most you can do is take whatever course(s) your school offers that are on the subject. I took a Health Law class last semester and I know my school also offers a Law and Medicine class. Most of your education in a field of law happens while you are working (or so I've heard!) and employers want good research and writing skills. Maybe research what schools offer the most med mal courses and that could help in choosing what school to attend! Hope this helps!

This IS an interesting thought. Some legally well versed cons know that anything under $10,000 (tons of things fall in this category) is often better settled by the practitioner than turned over to the insurance company because premiums would go up.
There might be a real need for something like this. Hubby sat in as an "expert witness" for a case that an arbiter was handling.
So actual knowledge of procedure wasn't necessary.


Malpractice claims are out of control.

Actually with most carriers you have to report all claims or potential claims and disputes. In most cases I *believe* it is fraud not to report.

I have never heard of a place where you can major or get a specialization in law school. Some states have a specialization you can get as a practitioner. In California you can get Tax, Appeallate and a few others. Generally to get a specialization you have to win a certain number of cases and publish a certain number of articles.

Med and Legal Mal are popular practice areas that are not that difficult to get into b/c of the number of cases. The pay rates are not that high simply b/c insurance companies do not pay med and legal mal lawyers great rates.

I'm not going to get on my soapbox on this issues but don't go to law school if you want to make a lot of money. Go to business school. You can make a good living out of law school but you will not make a lot of money unless you go into personal injury. I'm not touching that topic.

LD

Yeah my friends working in corporate law with 6 figure starting salaries definitely say there is no money unless you're into personal injury.

-Rudey

Rudey, you read my mind! (no offense bruinaphi!)

Do you really know anything about law school? Have you taken your LSAT yet? Does your undergrad school have a prelaw advisor?

I just ask because you seem to post all these questions about l-school that most people who are sincerely interested in going because they love LAW have known for years.

I know Marquette has a "Sports Law" program that's ranked really highly - and everybody who is in that hates it. Any law school worth its' weight will have classes you can take in a variety of subjects. You could just look at a curriculum (which every law school I've looked at has posted on their website) and see if they offer a lot of health-type classes.

The Princeton Review, among others, have some books on getting into law school. You might want to buy a few.

I'm not too sure about this.

An example-
A patient comes in to a doctor. Treatment is rendered. The patient says. I'm not happy with the results. (Believe me, you can SMELL where this is going.) It is recommended by many (within my Hubby's profession) to refund the money and chalk it up to business.

In the case where he was an expert witness, the claim was malpractice. I couldn't tell you if the Dr. had told his Ins. company or not, but there were no insurance representatives present at the table, only her lawyer the arbiter and including Hubby, 3 professionals.

Maybe you let them know and you can decide how to handle it???
Does Napoleonic Law make a difference? Where is Juniorgrrl.

Edited to make more sense!:)

Co-sign.

I've held my tongue on some of these questions. I'm sorry, but how can you be so dead set on something you know nothing about?

I have just started looking into law school. I have always had in the back of my mind that being a lawyer would be something I'd like to do. I have just recently started researching what I want to do in the legal field.

I am sorry ya'll feel like I am the #1 ignoramus when it comes to law school but when you've just begun you kind of want to ask some questions first. But then again I am the #1 ignoramus on GC according to the responses to this thread.

Use Google. Search for things like "law school admissions" or "getting into law school." You can also use review.com to search for law schools that offer courses of study in certain things.

Have you taken your LSAT yet? That, along with your undergrad GPA, is going to limit where you should apply to.

No I haven't taken the LSAT just yet because I am taking a year off to work at a law firm and to study for the LSAT. I figured that'd be the smartest option for me. I might take some classes here and there at night at the University of South Carolina-Columbia so I won't be way behind everyone that's near my age. I'll do that if I can. That's something else I'll have to look into as well. If someone can answer that, then, that'd be greatly appreciated.

I took a year off as well and that worked out fine for me-I'm actually still one of the youngest people in my program. It seems like most people (at least in CA) take a couple years off to work and then go back to school. Although my class applied right after 9/11 when so many people werw losing jobs so that may explain the average age for my class! I think it is good to ask questions and you are NOT the GC ignoramous! It's usually the people who don't ask questions who are the least intelligent!

You didn't read my whole post. You can make a good living but the equity partners at the top really are not making any money compared to what people make in investment banking or in the corporate world.

There is a difference b/w a disgruntled patient to whom you refund money and a patient or client who disputes charges and initiates a claim against you.

Thanks so much OtterXO! You are such a nice person!

Like I said, I am just starting my research on Law School. I still have a lot to look into, which is apparent. I have a whole list to check off when it comes to researching law school and applying. I still have a year and a half to go before I enter so I feel I have time to look around, take a breather, and apply.

Thanks for those who answered my questions without berating. Ya'll have been very helpful. I appreciate all of your help without discouragement. It's been very nice to hear the constructive advice through all of the muck. I hope to hear more wonderful advice from ya'll! :)

I read your whole post and if you are trying to say that I didn't understand, reword it better counselor.

And the star bankers who do make that much more than lawyers at the top are few and far between and often people at the top of firms like Jones or Skadden are often involved in outside ventures that brings them very lucrative compensations.

-Rudey

Perhaps you can contact some malpractice law firms, and find out where the lawyers went to law school. Maybe they will have some good advice for you. :)

My mother worked as a registered nurse before she went to law school. It gave her the medical background that she needed for the field of medical malpractice.

bruinaphi, if you are a lawyer, this may be one of the FEW times I can ask some legal stuff and not be charged 150/hr!!!:D
SORRY for the hijack.


Of course there is and I see that. By refunding the money, you avoid the suit. BUT, if you don't refund the money the implied threat is-they WILL sue. Even if you KNOW it's bogus, it will cost you more to fight than to pay them off.
Dispute charges-are you talking about (as an example) saying you gave the patient a solid gold eye when it was really electroplate-the patient was given a new gold eye that still doesn't work or the patient never got the eye at all?

Now, one last question, what about the second example? Do you know if an insurance company must be informed? I would think it would be in the contract between the doctor and the insurance company if that was the case.
I'm not challenging, just curious, because if what you say is absolute, there are a lot of professionals who are unaware or, choosing to handle things differently. :eek:

It really depends upon the insurance policy. Usually there is a provision in your policy about what has to be reported, and what has to be reported probably depends on state law as well. I do not do med or legal mal, but if you have a lawyer for $150 an hour you are in good shape.



Edited b/c I can't type today.

THANK YOU!

As much as I gripe about lawyers...Some of them are patients and good friends! LOL! We just keep the freebies down to "professional" courtesies exchanged between friends!;)