Legal Nurse Consultant Certificate [30-36 credit]

Code: CERT.LGN.CONS

The Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) Certificate Program is an American Bar Association approved 30-credit program.  The program is one of only a handful of ABA-approved legal nurse consultant programs in the country.

The LNC program is open to registered nurses who hold an AAS or BS in science degree, current licensure in New Jersey and have a minimum of 2,000 hours of nursing experience. The curriculum prepares nurses for paralegal nurse consultant positions in law firms, hospitals, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, government offices, and risk management companies, either as an independent contractor while remaining active in traditional nursing or through full-time employment as a legal nurse consultant. By combining health care expertise with basic legal knowledge the Bergen Community College LNC Graduate will be prepared to deal with the medical aspects of a lawsuit, offer expert opinion and testimony and act as liaison between the attorney, the health care provider, and the client.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Apply practical skills including the techniques of legal research, practice and procedure, investigation, interviewing, drafting of documents, motions and pleadings and other practical skills needed for an array of potential positions in the public, private and corporate law sectors.
• Promote the adherence to ethical practice and professional responsibility as a paralegal and legal nurse consultant.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the legal environment and work under the supervision of lawyers in the private and public sector.
• Develop an understanding of the needs of the legal community and the economical and efficient delivery of legal services through paralegals and legal nurse consultants working under the supervision of attorneys.
• Attain up‐to‐date skills in law office technology including the use of computers for word processors and computer assisted legal and non‐legal research.

Total Credit Hours: 30

Specific Program Notes

*Course may be offered only in the evening and only in either the Spring or Fall semesters.

Students enrolled in this program ARE REQUIRED to successfully complete a course in basic algebra if indicated by Placement Testing.

THIS IS AN ABA APPROVED PARALEGAL PROGRAM Please note: The practice of law is limited to attorneys admitted to practice within the jurisdiction. Completion of the Paralegal Studies or Legal Nurse Consultant Programs do not authorize the graduate to practice law. Program Goal: It is the goal of the Paralegal Studies and Legal Nurse Consultant Programs to provide students with knowledge in a wide range of substantive legal fields and to provide practical skills necessary for the legal workplace environment. The program shall promote adherence to ethical practice and professional responsibility as legal professionals working in cooperation with and under the supervision of attorneys. The programs shall respond to the needs of the legal community and promote the economical and efficient delivery of legal services through the use of quality instruction and modern technology. For complete Program Goals, visit the Paralegal Studies and Legal Nurse Consultant website: http://www.bergen.edu/pages1/Pages/2642.aspx