How Much Does a Medical Legal Assistant Earn?

How much does a medical legal assistant earn? This is a question that many people ask when they are thinking about pursuing a career in this field. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, there are some important factors to consider that can help you determine how much you might earn as a medical legal assistant.

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Job Description

A medical legal assistant is responsible for providing support to lawyers and paralegals by performing administrative tasks, conducting research, and handling case management duties. He or she may be responsible for communicating with clients, scheduling appointments, maintaining files, and preparing documents for court hearings or trials. A medical legal assistant typically earns a salary in the range of $30,000 to $50,000 per year.

Duties

Medical legal assistants work in law firms and handle various medical aspects of legal cases. They work primarily with personal injury cases, such as car accidents or workplace injuries.

A medical legal assistant’s duties vary depending on the type of law firm they work for and the specific needs of the lawyer they are assisting. In general, medical legal assistants:
-Read and summarize medical records
-Work with clients to obtain their medical records
-Coordinate case deadlines with lawyers and insurance companies
-Schedule and attend depositions, mediations, and other meetings related to the case
-Organize case files
-Conduct research on cases
-Prepare documents for trial

Salary

Medical legal assistants are in high demand due to the current litigation climate. Because of this, their salaries are competitive. Most medical legal assistants earn a salary that is commensurate with their experience and education levels. The average medical legal assistant salary is $40,000, but salaries can range from $35,000 to $65,000 per year.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for a medical legal assistant is very good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the occupation to grow by 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth will be driven by an aging population and an increase in the number of people with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Medical assistants will be needed to help manage the paperwork associated with these conditions.

Education

Earnings for medical legal assistants depend on their education and experience. Medical legal assistants with a certificate or associate’s degree from accredited programs earn the highest wages. Medical legal assistants with on-the-job training or no formal education earn the least. In general, medical legal assistants in larger law firms and hospitals earn more than those in smaller practices.

Certification

Certification is not required to work as a medical legal assistant, but many professionals choose to pursue it in order to increase their chances of employment and earn a higher salary. The Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA) credential is the most common certification for medical legal assistants, and can be obtained through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). To be eligible for the CPMA certification Exam, candidates must have completed a Medical coding training program and have at least two years of coding experience.

Skills

As a medical legal assistant, you will need to have excellent research, writing, and analytical skills. You will also need to be able to effectively communicate with lawyers, doctors, and insurance companies. In addition, you should be able to multitask and handle a high volume of work.

Advancement

Medical legal assistants play an important role in our legal system by providing essential support to lawyers and other legal professionals. They help to gather and organize information, prepare documents, and manage cases. As such, they play a vital role in ensuring that the legal system runs smoothly.

Medical legal assistants are typically paid an hourly wage, although some may receive a salary. The median hourly wage for medical legal assistants was $17.14 in May 2019, which means that half of all medical legal assistants earned less than this amount and half earned more. The top 10% of earners made $24.81 or more per hour, while the bottom 10% earned $12.07 or less.

Working Conditions

Medical legal assistants (MLAs) typically work in law firms, in the legal department of a hospital or insurance company, or in the medical records department of a hospital. They may also work for the government. Assistants employed in small law firms or medical practices usually perform a variety of duties, while those working in larger firms or hospitals tend to specialize in particular areas. For example, an assistant working in a small law firm may be responsible for scheduling appointments, maintaining files, and answering the telephone. An assistant working in a larger firm may be responsible for researching cases, preparing documents for trial, and contacting witnesses.

Employment

Most medical legal assistants work full time in doctor’s offices, hospitals, or law firms. A few worked part time in 2011. Many lawyers and office managers of small law firms prefer to hire medical legal assistants who are certified.

In May 2012, the median annual wage of Medical Assistants was $28,860. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,710, and the top 10 percent earned more than $39,960.