From medical exam rooms to courtroom advocacy, Susan Craig brings an extraordinary perspective to her role as Counsel in Robins Kaplan's Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Group. Her dual experience as a physician and attorney creates a powerful advantage for clients seeking justice in complex medical negligence cases.
From Medicine to Advocacy
Susan's path to law began in an unexpected place—the courtroom—where she testified as a treating physician in child sexual abuse cases. "I was impressed at how the legal system swept in, first with CPS, then the courts, to protect these children," Susan recalls. The experience revealed her natural aptitude for testimony and a deep satisfaction in seeing "wrongs being righted."
Despite a fulfilling career in family medicine, Susan found herself drawn to the intersection of medicine and law. "I was surprised to find out I enjoyed testifying," she said. The decision to attend law school proved to be a natural transition.
A Physician's Eye for Detail
Susan's medical background provides her with distinct advantages in medical malpractice litigation. "Because I understand the medicine involved in my cases, I am able to ask pertinent questions both of my clients and also of the experts," she said. This expertise is particularly valuable when establishing the standard of care and identifying when it hasn't been met.
Her familiarity with medical documentation is also invaluable. "I have lived in medical records, I can zip right through," Susan said. "I can find things that other people don't realize are a problem." In one case, she identified an abnormal laboratory value that had been overlooked by everyone else, ultimately becoming the key to securing a significant settlement.
The Doctor in the Room
Perhaps Susan's most significant contribution comes during physician depositions, where her medical knowledge commands respect. "It's especially helpful when I depose physicians," she notes. Her ability to speak the language of medicine often leads to more forthright testimony, as opposing experts recognize they're facing someone who understands the nuances of medical practice.
Parallel Professions
Susan sees profound similarities between medicine and law. "Medical malpractice is a lot like practicing medicine—someone comes with a problem, and we have specialized knowledge and can guide them through," she said. Both professions involve helping people through difficult circumstances and providing clarity in confusing situations.
For wrongful death cases in particular, Susan understands that validation through the legal system can be as important as financial compensation for grieving families. Her approach combines clinical precision with compassionate advocacy.
Personal Values and Legacy
Outside the courtroom, Susan's greatest pride comes from her children—a son who is a professor at Oxford and a daughter with a PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology who works with medical schools. "When I was younger, I wanted to change the world – and having kids has helped accomplish that," she said. "They are both doing things that are impacting the next generation."
This commitment to making a difference continues to drive Susan's professional aspirations. Her goals in medical malpractice are "to continually learn and improve my skills, to be a productive part of our team, and to provide the best possible care and representation for my clients."
With her unique blend of medical expertise and legal acumen, Susan brings an invaluable perspective to Robins Kaplan's already formidable medical malpractice practice—ensuring that her clients receive representation informed by both the science of medicine and the principles of justice.
Related Attorneys
Counsel
