Answers to the questions physicians ask most about contract review, negotiation, and working with Med Contract Law.
Physician contracts contain complex terms — non-competes, compensation formulas, tail coverage, call requirements, and termination clauses — that can significantly impact your income, mobility, and long-term career options. An experienced attorney helps you understand hidden risks and negotiate stronger, safer terms.
Most physicians spend over a decade training for their careers but get less than two weeks to review the contract that defines their professional future. A professional review ensures you understand exactly what you're agreeing to — and gives you the leverage to ask for better terms.
Yes. Nearly every employer expects negotiation. Hospitals, medical groups, and health systems build flexibility into their offers. Professional negotiation does not harm your relationship with the employer — in fact, most employers respect physicians who advocate for themselves.
The physicians who don't negotiate are often the ones who end up underpaid or locked into unfavorable terms. Negotiation is a standard part of the hiring process, not an adversarial act.
A verbal acceptance does not make the contract binding. Employers expect negotiation to continue until the contract is fully signed. We've helped many physicians negotiate better terms after accepting an offer in principle.
Until ink is on paper, everything is negotiable. Don't let a verbal "yes" stop you from getting the terms you deserve.
No. When handled professionally, negotiation enhances respect. Employers routinely negotiate and expect physicians to advocate for themselves or work through an attorney.
In our experience, we've never seen an employer rescind an offer because a physician asked for reasonable contract modifications. The key is approaching negotiation professionally and strategically — which is exactly what we help you do.
Yes. There's no such thing as a truly "standard" contract. Every agreement has terms that can be negotiated, and what's "standard" for the employer may not be standard — or fair — for you.
Even contracts that appear straightforward often contain problematic clauses buried in dense legal language. A professional review ensures nothing is overlooked.
Most comprehensive reviews are completed within 3–5 business days. If you're facing a tight deadline, we offer expedited review options — just let us know when you book your consultation.
We understand that contract timelines are often compressed. We work efficiently to deliver thorough analysis within your deadline.
You receive tangible written deliverables — not just verbal advice. Depending on the reivew tier chosen, you will receive:
You'll have documentation you can reference and use directly in negotiation.
We handle contracts of all lengths and complexity levels. Partnership agreements, multi-location contracts, academic appointments with multiple addenda — all are within our expertise.
During your initial consultation, we'll discuss the scope of your contract and recommend the appropriate service level. If a contract requires additional analysis beyond our standard packages, we'll provide a custom quote.
Absolutely. All documents and communications are protected by attorney-client privilege. We use secure, encrypted systems for document transfer and storage. Your contract details are never shared with anyone outside our firm.
No. While we're licensed in Virginia and North Carolina, we review physician contracts nationwide. Contract review and negotiation support don't require state-specific bar admission.
We work with physicians across all 50 states, helping them understand and negotiate their agreements regardless of location.
While we review every clause, these areas most frequently create problems for physicians:
- Compensation & RVU formulas — Base salary, productivity bonuses, thresholds
- Non-compete restrictions — Geographic scope, duration, specialty limitations
- Termination clauses — With cause vs. without cause, notice periods, penalties
- Malpractice & tail coverage — Who pays, under what conditions
- Call schedule & workload — Requirements, compensation, fairness
- Sign-on bonuses & repayment — Clawback triggers and timelines
- Partnership track — Timeline, buy-in terms, requirements.
Every contract is different, and we tailor our analysis to your specific situation and concerns.
Yes. Some physicians prefer to handle negotiations themselves using our guidance and recommended language. Others prefer us to communicate directly with the employer or their legal team on their behalf.
We support both approaches. During your consultation, we'll discuss which method makes sense for your situation and comfort level.
In our experience, very few contract terms are truly non-negotiable. Employers often say this as an opening position, but most are willing to make modifications when asked professionally.
We help you identify which "non-negotiable" items might actually have flexibility, which battles are worth fighting, and how to frame requests in ways that increase your chances of success.
Results vary by contract, employer, and market conditions. However, physicians who negotiate professionally typically achieve meaningful improvements in areas like:
Even small changes can translate to significant financial value over a multi-year contract.
Non-compete enforceability varies significantly by state and by specialty. Some states (like California) largely prohibit them; others enforce them strictly.
We analyze the scope, geography, and duration of your non-compete to determine whether the restriction is reasonable under applicable law — and whether it can be narrowed or removed through negotiation. Even in states that enforce non-competes, overly broad restrictions can often be modified.
RVU-based compensation can be confusing. We break down the formula, explain how productivity is measured, and evaluate whether bonus thresholds are achievable based on your specialty, practice setting, and patient volume expectations.
Key elements we analyze include:
You'll leave understanding exactly how your compensation works — and whether it's fair.
Tail malpractice insurance (also called "extended reporting coverage") protects you from claims filed after you leave a job for incidents that occurred during your employment. It's required when you have a "claims-made" malpractice policy.
Tail coverage can cost $50,000–$150,000+ depending on your specialty. The critical questions are:
We identify who's responsible, under what conditions, and how to negotiate better terms — potentially saving you tens of thousands of dollars.
Termination provisions determine how you or your employer can end the contract and what happens when you leave. Key issues include:
One-sided termination clauses can trap you in a bad situation or expose you to significant financial penalties. We review these carefully and recommend modifications.
Sign-on bonuses and relocation assistance often come with "clawback" provisions requiring repayment if you leave before a certain date.
We review:
A $50,000 sign-on bonus can become golden handcuffs if the repayment terms are unfavorable. We help you understand the true cost and negotiate better terms.
Yes. Beyond employment contracts, we review partnership agreements, practice acquisitions, and M&A transactions. These high-value transactions carry significant long-term financial and legal implications.
Our partnership and transaction services include:
Partnership agreements determine your ownership stake, financial obligations, governance rights, and exit options. Key areas we review include:
A partnership is a major career milestone and significant financial commitment. We ensure you understand exactly what you're buying into.
Practice acquisitions involve multiple layers of legal and financial analysis. We help physician buyers:
Start with a consultation to discuss your situation, and we'll outline the steps and support you need.
We help physician sellers and partners in mergers:
Our goal is to help you maximize the value of what you've built while protecting your interests through and after the transaction.
We offer clear, flat-fee pricing for contract review services. The specific price depends on the level of service you need — from written analysis only to full negotiation support.
The value of improved compensation, reduced restrictions, and long-term career protection almost always far exceeds the cost of the review.
For more information, see our Pricing Page.
Physicians value predictability. You shouldn't have to worry about the meter running every time you ask a question.
Fixed fees mean you know exactly what you'll pay before we start, and you can ask questions freely within your service package. No surprise invoices, no anxiety about picking up the phone.
Yes. The initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation. We'll discuss your contract situation, answer preliminary questions, and recommend the right service level for your needs.
We accept credit card, debit card, and ACH transfers for your convenience. All payments are processed through a secure, trusted platform.
At this time, we do not offer payment plans.
Your contract is reviewed by an experienced attorney — not a paralegal or assistant. You'll have direct access to the attorney who analyzed your agreement, and your questions will be answered by someone who knows your contract inside and out.
Getting started is simple:
We respond to all inquiries within one business day. During active engagements, we prioritize timely communication — we understand that contract deadlines create urgency.
At Med Contract Law, our relationship with clients doesn't end at delivery. Every contract review tier includes a form of post-signature support, because we believe you should never feel left on your own after making a major decision. See your specific tier for details.
Every contract situation is unique. If you have questions we haven’t addressed here, book a free consultation and we’ll discuss your specific circumstances.