Should a Lawyer Review Your Locums Contract?
You’ve found your first locums derm gig and agreed to the basic terms with the clinic. Now the contract is sitting in your inbox. What do you do from here?
When and How to Self-Review
The strongest argument for self-review is the "short gig" scenario. If you're only covering a clinic for two weekends, the ROI just isn't there. It doesn't make financial sense to pay a lawyer hundreds of dollars to review a contract where you might only net a few thousand. In those cases, as long as the language looks standard compared to what you've seen before, a self-review is usually enough.
If you’re going the self-review route, pay attention to these five areas:
Compensation: Review the "Compensation" or "Exhibit A" section line by line. Make sure the hourly or day rate matches exactly what you discussed. If the facility promised to cover your hotel, rental car, licensing, or specific travel costs, ensure those are listed as line items. If it isn't in the written contract, it doesn't exist.
I’ll say this one more time for the people in the back: If it isn't in the written contract, it doesn't exist.
Tail Coverage: If your malpractice insurance is "claims-made," you need to know who pays for the "tail" when the contract ends. If the agreement is silent on this, you might be stuck with a five-figure bill just to walk away. Negotiate this explicitly to ensure the clinic is responsible for the cost.
Mid-level Supervision: Are you being asked to supervise PAs or NPs? Is this something you even agreed to? Check if the contract requires you to sign off on their charts and if your malpractice insurance actually covers that supervision. More importantly, ensure you aren't held legally responsible for their charts on days you aren't physically in the clinic.
Termination Symmetry: This clause dictates how much notice is required to end the contract for no specific reason. You want this to be "mutual" or "bilateral." If the clinic requires you to give 60 days' notice before leaving, they should also have to give you 60 days' notice before terminating your contract. Don't sign a deal where you're locked in for months but they can cut you loose with 24 hours' notice.
Restrictive Covenants: Check for any language that prevents you from working nearby once the contract ends. As a locum, flexibility is your biggest asset. Avoid signing an agreement that bars you from taking a future assignment at a competing clinic or hospital in the same geographic area for a year or two.
When to Hire a Contract Lawyer
You don’t need a lawyer for every gig, but you should bring one in for these specific scenarios:
Your first locums contract. I hired a contract attorney to review my very first one. I had the lawyer mark it up and walk me through the redlines. It was a solid investment because I learned the standard "legalese" and identified common pitfalls. Since then, I’ve felt comfortable enough to review my own contracts.
When the language is complex or unfamiliar. If you don’t fully understand the terms of the agreement, hire a contract lawyer. Never sign a document that contains clauses you can't explain to someone else in plain English.
When the time vs. stress calculation doesn't add up. Your time is an asset. If it’s going to take you several hours of stressful reading to feel 80% confident in your understanding of the document, just delegate it. You can likely earn more seeing patients in that time than the lawyer costs.
Disclaimer: I'm a dermatologist, not a contract lawyer. The info in this post is based on my personal research and experience as a locum tenens physician. It isn't legal advice. Laws and contract standards vary by state and facility, so you should always consult a qualified attorney for your specific legal questions.
