How to pursue a career in medical negligence

Medical negligence is thought to be one of the most competitive areas of law and students who are looking to pursue a career in this area need to make themselves stand out in this challenging industry. From having a good understanding of how the healthcare sector works to excellent qualifications in maths and science, students need to possess a whole range of skills. Sara Duxbury, head of people at leading medical negligence law firm Fletchers Solicitors, advises students on how to get their dream job in the medical negligence sector.

When compared to some of the other areas of law, medical negligence is very technical in that lawyers in this field not only need to have a detailed knowledge of the law; they also need to have a good understanding of the medical system. Every day as a medical negligence lawyer will offer a different experience - one day you may work on a case that involves the family of a person who has died after receiving poor healthcare; the next day you may have to support a client who has suffered from a cosmetic surgery error. Therefore if you’re looking to enter into this profession, you need to be able to handle a variety of difficult situations and be confident in dealing with medical information too.

So what do you need to do to become a medical negligence lawyer?

One of the main things to bear in mind is that the medical sector is vast and there is a wealth of information that you need to know. For this reason, you will be required to possess good qualifications in maths and science – you will be dealing with issues concerning the human body. Biology is a big area that you should focus your studies on when it comes to gaining qualifications in science. It is highly recommended that you achieve an A-level qualification in this subject so that you have a firm understanding of the topic. You should also pay particular attention to medicine and ensure that you are aware of the continued developments in this area.

Likewise, you need to have a strong interest in healthcare and the issues and laws that affect the sector. I would suggest reading up on legislation such as the Mental Health Act 2007, as this comes up a lot, and also other human rights issues, such as the deprivation of liberty (DOLLS). It’s worth considering taking an additional subject such as healthcare law at master’s level so that you have a specialist qualification under your belt that will strengthen your law degree. This subject will enable you to study the relevant legislation that you are likely to come across in your work.

Aside from all of the required areas of study, it is also of great importance to acquire some work experience. Real life experience is invaluable, as it allows you to learn on the job and gain first-hand knowledge of what it would be like to actually work in the industry. There are a few places where you should try and get work experience or visit for further insights into the industry. The obvious one would be to secure a placement with a solicitor or barrister who specialises in your chosen area of study, so that you can gain an insight into what the role entails. Further to this, regularly visiting the public gallery of a crown court will help you gain valuable experience of a courtroom setting. Although this is a criminal law location, it will enable you to see advocates and judges in action while also learning more about evidence. It is also helpful to go to a local civil court and ask the clerks if you can sit in on a medical negligence case. These are often heard in public, but it is always prudent to ask just to make sure.

In addition to this, it’s advisable to get work experience in a hospital or clinical setting to understand how the healthcare sector works and learn about good standards of care. In your profession you will come across many different healthcare professionals and by placing yourself in their work setting, you will gain a better understanding of how they operate.

All of this experience will help you to demonstrate to potential employers that you have a strong understanding of medical negligence and that you are committed to developing and broadening your skills. This is really important so that employers recognise your dedication to the profession and that you’re willing to work hard to succeed. As previously mentioned, this sector is extremely competitive, so you have to show that you have something that the firm needs. It’s not an easy sector to work in and can be very distressing and emotive at times, but if you are compassionate, understanding and determined to help people rebuild their lives after suffering from medical negligence, then you will achieve your goals.

Sara Duxbury is head of people at Fletchers Solicitors.