paramedikisto
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm an attorney and paramedic with a large law firm in the Chicago area. We are seeking a medical paralegal for our fast-growing medical malpractice department.
Before I get swamped with resumes, please take a moment to read below and consider whether you fit the bill. I'm advertising the position here because I think this is a better method of contacting the ideal candidate.
First off, let me say that the ideal candidate is a highly experienced ALS provider. A wide range of EMS and healthcare experience is advantageous. For example, offshore medics who have had a lot of primary care experience, nurses who have worked in flight, ER, surgery, etc., and for both nurses and medics, plenty of transport experience, particularly of critical care patients. If you're a 25 year 911 medic for 1 fire department, I'm sure you've got great experience, but what we're looking for is a bit broader than that.
Second, this is a position that is ideally suited to someone who has 20 years of experience in the blood, the mud, and the beer, and needs to get off the truck and live a normal life and wants a 9-5 office job. If your idea of reading through a 4000 page patient chart for 8 hours a day is torture...job is not for you. However, if you need 15 minutes and 2 tylenol just to get out of bed in the morning, like medical research, have an interest in the law, are a good reader and writer, and are ready to make a career change, please read on.
The main thing we are looking for is someone who can review patient charts, identify issues with the care, *write thoughtful, incisive reports*, educate attorneys on medicine, do research on current standards of care, talk to physicians in their language and then translate that into normal-person-talk for us dumb lawyers. You will be exposed to areas of medicine you have NO experience in, say, mesothelioma or podiatry. You'll need to educate yourself quickly, and then pass on what you've learned in well-written reports to attorneys in the firm. Perhaps the most useful skill is the ability *think creatively* and come up with ideas for aspects of the case we haven't thought about, exhibits for trial we might need, etc. You will eventually need to develop the ability to relate the medical care to the law: just because someone screwed up doesn't mean there's malpractice.
You don't have to know anything about the law, although of course some familiarity will help. We will teach you how to fill out forms, write legal documents, etc. However, you'll be expected to do a crash course in your off time at home studying law books on areas like torts, civil procedure, evidence, etc. You'll also end up doing some fairly boring but very important paperwork completely unrelated to medicine.
Some basic requirements:
-NRP (or state cert)/RN or BSN/PA or FNP.
-Must be in, or willing to relocate to Chicago. South Suburbs area.
-Salary is negotiable, but this is an entry-level position, so expect to make about what you currently make. However, unlike other positions, there is a lot of upside as you gain experience, and some of our employees have developed nice side hustles based on what they learn.
-We are not "Suits". Work atmosphere is excellent. No Louis Litt types. Be able to work and play well with others. We don't do drama.
-Workload is VERY heavy. You can expect to go home late and have to work some weekends, especially around trial. However, management aren't slave drivers, and they respect that there comes a point when you just have to go home.
-Benefits are very good. Full medical/dental/life/401K/paid vacation etc.
To apply:
READ DIRECTIONS: Do not reply to this post! (unless you want to post snide comments or troll me, which is fine, or just generally discuss medical paralegal work, which would be great)
Send a resume and cover letter to **email removed per rules**
Law firm name is confidential, however candidates will be advised of the employer if accepted for an interview so you can do your research on us. The Firm is very well established, has a good reputation, and is very successful. I'm not revealing it simply because I am doing this on my own and not on behalf of the firm (the firm does have a job posting online, but it's written by HR people who don't have a good concept of what is needed. All those resumes go to me anyway, so this is a chance to bypass the Evil HR Director and get your resume into the right hands).
PLEASE NOTE: While I appreciate that it's always a good idea to apply for a job even if you don't meet all the requirements as noted above, trust me- you won't get any response if you don't fit with what I've written above. However, I am sympathetic. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE anyone who is interested in this type of work to look into working as a medical paralegal. Develop a good cover letter, take some online classes in paralegal studies, volunteer at a local attorney's office or legal aid to get some experience, etc. There are MANY attorneys who need medical paralegals. Market yourself well to law firms in your area and you can develop a nice income stream as a side hustle or second career. Knock on doors and talk to attorneys, tell them you're interested. Maybe volunteer to review a case and write up a report and if they like it they can contract out more to you. Think outside the box.
Best of luck to everyone!
Jim D.
I'm an attorney and paramedic with a large law firm in the Chicago area. We are seeking a medical paralegal for our fast-growing medical malpractice department.
Before I get swamped with resumes, please take a moment to read below and consider whether you fit the bill. I'm advertising the position here because I think this is a better method of contacting the ideal candidate.
First off, let me say that the ideal candidate is a highly experienced ALS provider. A wide range of EMS and healthcare experience is advantageous. For example, offshore medics who have had a lot of primary care experience, nurses who have worked in flight, ER, surgery, etc., and for both nurses and medics, plenty of transport experience, particularly of critical care patients. If you're a 25 year 911 medic for 1 fire department, I'm sure you've got great experience, but what we're looking for is a bit broader than that.
Second, this is a position that is ideally suited to someone who has 20 years of experience in the blood, the mud, and the beer, and needs to get off the truck and live a normal life and wants a 9-5 office job. If your idea of reading through a 4000 page patient chart for 8 hours a day is torture...job is not for you. However, if you need 15 minutes and 2 tylenol just to get out of bed in the morning, like medical research, have an interest in the law, are a good reader and writer, and are ready to make a career change, please read on.
The main thing we are looking for is someone who can review patient charts, identify issues with the care, *write thoughtful, incisive reports*, educate attorneys on medicine, do research on current standards of care, talk to physicians in their language and then translate that into normal-person-talk for us dumb lawyers. You will be exposed to areas of medicine you have NO experience in, say, mesothelioma or podiatry. You'll need to educate yourself quickly, and then pass on what you've learned in well-written reports to attorneys in the firm. Perhaps the most useful skill is the ability *think creatively* and come up with ideas for aspects of the case we haven't thought about, exhibits for trial we might need, etc. You will eventually need to develop the ability to relate the medical care to the law: just because someone screwed up doesn't mean there's malpractice.
You don't have to know anything about the law, although of course some familiarity will help. We will teach you how to fill out forms, write legal documents, etc. However, you'll be expected to do a crash course in your off time at home studying law books on areas like torts, civil procedure, evidence, etc. You'll also end up doing some fairly boring but very important paperwork completely unrelated to medicine.
Some basic requirements:
-NRP (or state cert)/RN or BSN/PA or FNP.
-Must be in, or willing to relocate to Chicago. South Suburbs area.
-Salary is negotiable, but this is an entry-level position, so expect to make about what you currently make. However, unlike other positions, there is a lot of upside as you gain experience, and some of our employees have developed nice side hustles based on what they learn.
-We are not "Suits". Work atmosphere is excellent. No Louis Litt types. Be able to work and play well with others. We don't do drama.
-Workload is VERY heavy. You can expect to go home late and have to work some weekends, especially around trial. However, management aren't slave drivers, and they respect that there comes a point when you just have to go home.
-Benefits are very good. Full medical/dental/life/401K/paid vacation etc.
To apply:
READ DIRECTIONS: Do not reply to this post! (unless you want to post snide comments or troll me, which is fine, or just generally discuss medical paralegal work, which would be great)
Send a resume and cover letter to **email removed per rules**
Law firm name is confidential, however candidates will be advised of the employer if accepted for an interview so you can do your research on us. The Firm is very well established, has a good reputation, and is very successful. I'm not revealing it simply because I am doing this on my own and not on behalf of the firm (the firm does have a job posting online, but it's written by HR people who don't have a good concept of what is needed. All those resumes go to me anyway, so this is a chance to bypass the Evil HR Director and get your resume into the right hands).
PLEASE NOTE: While I appreciate that it's always a good idea to apply for a job even if you don't meet all the requirements as noted above, trust me- you won't get any response if you don't fit with what I've written above. However, I am sympathetic. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE anyone who is interested in this type of work to look into working as a medical paralegal. Develop a good cover letter, take some online classes in paralegal studies, volunteer at a local attorney's office or legal aid to get some experience, etc. There are MANY attorneys who need medical paralegals. Market yourself well to law firms in your area and you can develop a nice income stream as a side hustle or second career. Knock on doors and talk to attorneys, tell them you're interested. Maybe volunteer to review a case and write up a report and if they like it they can contract out more to you. Think outside the box.
Best of luck to everyone!
Jim D.
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