Lecture by John Jurica – Episode 451

In today’s presentation, John describes how physicians can create additional income by following his guide to expert witness consulting Part 1.

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Expert witness consulting is a long-established side gig for physicians, driven by the frequent filing of malpractice lawsuits. And, although the number of cases filed has remained fairly steady, the size of awards and overall costs have increased during the past two decades. Fees typically range from $300–$600/hour for primary care and $500–$900/hour for specialists, with all time billable.

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Why Expert Witness Work Matters

The work aligns naturally with a physician’s training and experience, particularly in assessing the standard of care, which requires years of active clinical practice. It offers flexibility, as most work involves record review that can be scheduled around clinical duties.

And every billable minute, including phone calls, is compensated at premium hourly rates, often significantly higher than clinical earnings. This allows physicians to diversify income efficiently, building a safety net against job loss or practice disruptions. Additionally, reviewing malpractice cases sharpens clinical skills, improves communication and documentation, and helps physicians avoid their own liability risks.

Common Themes and Key Benefits

At its core, expert witness work is about clear communication and teaching medicine to nonmedical audiences, including attorneys, judges, and juries. Credibility and objectivity matter more than impressive pedigrees. The expert must demonstrate whether the standard of care was met or breached in accessible language.

Cases arrive in waves, often starting slowly before growing, and much of the work has shifted to virtual formats post-COVID. Key benefits include lucrative compensation (frequently double or triple clinical rates when accounting for all hours), intellectual stimulation, schedule flexibility, and income diversification.

Summary

Expert witness consulting represents one of the logical side gigs for actively practicing physicians. It combines high compensation, flexibility, intellectual engagement, and meaningful impact while allowing continued clinical practice and income diversification. For the right physician, this work offers an excellent way to leverage medical expertise beyond the clinical grind.

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Disclaimers:

*Many of the links that I refer you to are affiliate links. That means that I receive a payment from the seller if you purchase the affiliate item using my link. Doing so has no effect on the price you are charged. And I only promote products and services that I believe are of high quality and will be useful to you.

The opinions expressed here are mine and my guest’s. While the information provided on the podcast is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, there is no express or implied guarantee that using the methods discussed here will lead to success in your career, life, or business.

The information presented on this blog and related podcast is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I do not provide medical, legal, tax, or emotional advice. If you take action on the information provided on the blog or podcast, it is at your own risk. Always consult an attorney, accountant, career counselor, or other professional before making any major decisions about your career.