I'm thinking about becoming a Legal Nurse Consultant. I have 30+ yrs. experience in nursing. Is this something that is needed and reasonable to go into?

Be sure you have the base for it. Check with malpractice and work comp attorneys in order to complete a feasibility study. Many of them have their own in-house legal nurse. Depending on whether you want to remain independent or be hired directly by the attorney may help you decide if you "need" the certification.

I have attended presentations on the legal aspects of nursing and the speaker was a nurse turned JD - I think you would need some legal training?

I am a 35 + year experienced MSN RN. I went through a LNC certification program at a substantial cost and after 2 years of trying to 'break-in' to the legal nurse consulting world, I had to give up. It is all about marketing yourself and bringing to the table an expertise an attorney is in need of. Also, most LNCs are contracted on a case-by-case basis.

What I discovered was that most attorneys already have in-house paralegals with a medical background and have 'expert' medical witnesses either on retainer or have a go-to list. Additionally, attorneys do not want to pay the hourly wage that most LNCs demand + the non-refundable retainer. Paralegals are much cheaper.

It is not impossible to become a LNC but be prepared to encounter a lot of hurdles. Before starting the process to become a LNC, take an opportunity to talk to local attorneys and find out what the need is in your area for LNCs. Best of luck and I hope you are successful.