Medical malpractice attorneys receive a higher salary based on their combined medical and legal knowledge.
Medical malpractice law involves issues arising from the improper or negligent use of medicine. In these cases, doctors or medical facilities are typically being sued by individuals who have allegedly suffered because of mistakes or errors during their medical treatment. These cases require lawyers to have an extensive knowledge of medical procedures and terms as well as knowledge of the law. Medical malpractice attorneys are well-compensated based on their knowledge.
Qualifications
To become a medical malpractice attorney requires the same basic qualifications as other attorneys in other fields of practice. This includes a bachelor's degree, law degree, passing a state bar examination and participating in continuing legal education courses. In addition, medical malpractice attorneys need knowledge in the field of medicine. Some attorneys have a science background from undergraduate school, and some even attend nursing or medical school before becoming an attorney.
National Attorney Average
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2010-11 lists the national median average salary for attorneys at $110,590. The national median average salary for attorneys in state government work is $78,540, whereas attorneys working for companies earn an average salary of $145,770. Medical malpractice attorneys work for large firms or companies, and their salaries fall at the higher end of the pay scale. These attorneys also make more because of the litigation involved in this specialty.
Medical Malpractice Salary
Medical malpractice attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means the attorney does not receive a fee unless his client receives a settlement or wins the lawsuit. The amount a medical malpractice attorney can receive is dictated by state law. As of 2003, 16 states place limits on the amount an attorney can receive from a contingency fee agreement in medical malpractice cases. These limits are typically around 33.33 percent. Some states require only that the attorney fees be reasonable and approved by the court.
Job Outlook
According to the BLS, job opportunities will continue to be competitive for all attorneys. Each year, more individuals graduate from law school than job openings exist. When the economy is down, individuals spend less on legal services for estate planning and financial issues. In the specific area of medical malpractice, jobs will continue to increase because of the changes in health care laws and the increase in individuals seeking medical services. Individuals will continue to file these cases because most medical malpractice attorneys take the cases on contingency fees, and the clients do not have to pay anything up front.
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