Two State Nursing Board Complaints Pending Simultaneously: Oh, and I don't Have Any Money To Pay
I was contacted by a nurse who is being investigated by two Nursing Boards and was looking for representation, counseling, and advising in both matters but could not afford to pay an attorney fees. Its becoming more common especially since I practice in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana to see these types of cases.
Attorneys are like nurses, we expect to be paid for the services provided. Would you work for free for a hospital, home care agency, or staffing agency? Of course not, so why would you expect your attorney to handle or assist you in your license defense case or a professional nursing practice matter for free.
I am being asked, why don't license defense attorneys take nursing license defense cases on a pro bono basis? Well let's see, pro bono services are usually provided to the low income, poor, and/or disadvantaged groups.
LPNs, RNs, and APRNs are not low income, poor, and/or traditionally disadvantaged groups in need of access to justice and pro bono services.
I am more willing to work on a reduced fee basis with a nurse with a suspended license seeking license reintatement, NCLEX-Applicant or a nursing student than I am with a licensed and practicing RN, LPN, or APRN. But that's just me and each call and case is different.
Contact The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) at www.taana.org to see if there is a license defense or administrative law attorney in your state
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/
Also I get asked, why don't you provide free legal consultations like most attorneys. If you contact my office, I will speak with you or return your email or fax. I will try to assist anyone because I like to help if I can or refer you to someone who can assist you if I cannot assist you.
I will speak with a nurse about a license defense case or a professional nursing practice, employment contract, etc. without charging a fee however, I will not provide any types of legal advice or counseling without establishing an attorney-client relationship or scheduling a legal consultation.
I have clients who pay me to represent them and I am working for them. I also have nurses who pay me for a workplace, career, or legal consultation and I am working for them. I am not working for you unless you pay me; just like you are not working a healthcare organization, unless you are being paid.
So yes, you can contact Attorney Z, who practice family law, criminal law, and zoning issues, who offers free legal consultations and receive advice on a Nursing Board matter or a professional nursing practice. I am not offended in anyway, shape, or form.
But just keep in mind when you contact an attorney today and you indicate that you needed assistance yesterday (meaning ASAP) in a Nursing Board or professional practice matter, the next statement, shouldn't be "Oh and I don't have any money to pay you."





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