Are you thinking of becoming a medicolegal adviser?

At the core of MPS is a commitment to offering a high level of service to members. Our communications, advice and educational services must be consistently high.

MPS medicolegal advisers manage a substantial, varied caseload requiring discretion and expert judgment. Our telephone advisory service fields more than 18,000 calls a year; all medicolegal advisers play a central role in providing this service, drawing on their skills and experience to offer first-class advice to callers. In a recent survey of members who had used the service, 97% said that they would recommend MPS to colleagues.

The career is interesting and varied, with plenty of scope for exercising one’s initiative. A medicolegal adviser must have the confidence and experience to work in any of the arenas where a member’s professional reputation is at risk: whether a clinical negligence claim for damages or in any of the increasing number of tribunals, ethical, or disciplinary matters. They must be able to provide detailed instructions to solicitors and independent experts, and to contribute to conferences with barristers and the rest of the defence team. Here a case is subject to detailed analysis and difficult issues are identified and confronted.

Medicolegal advisers may then also be present at the subsequent trial or hearing to support and advise the member.

Medicolegal advisers have a wide range of clinical backgrounds, reflecting the variety of MPS members. All are expected to complete a relevant postgraduate law qualification, such as an LLB or LLM.

Medicolegal advisers play an active part in dealing with some of the 11,000 claims for damages managed by MPS every year, in what is a challenging and rewarding role. Claims are managed jointly by a medicolegal adviser and a specialist solicitor.

The role requires stamina, self-confidence, an eye for detail, strong analytical and communication skills, and good time-management. MPS’s advisers also have a role in promoting the external profile of MPS by lecturing, running workshops, serving on committees and writing articles.

The UK offices are in Leeds and London. Travel between these is a necessary part of the job, as is travelling to any location a particular case requires. Doctors across the world rely on MPS for help in dealing with legal and ethical aspects of clinical practice; some medicolegal advisers are responsible for overseas territories and would be required to visit them as necessary.

We are proud of our Investors in People accreditation, as we devote a great deal of time and money in training our staff. All medicolegal advisers benefit from a detailed in-house training programme and mentor scheme on appointment.

A programme of continued professional education is in place throughout MPS and caters for individual requirements. Full registration with the GMC is required.

MPS values its staff and offers a competitive salary, private medical insurance and an excellent pension scheme as part of an attractive incentives package.