Legal Definitions - locum tenens

The term locum tenens refers to a person who temporarily steps into the role of another professional, performing their duties while the regular incumbent is absent. It essentially means "holding the place" of someone else for a specific, limited period. This arrangement is common in various professions to ensure continuity of service.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of locum tenens:

• Medical Context:

  Imagine a busy dental practice where Dr. Emily, the lead dentist, needs to take a six-week medical leave. To ensure her patients continue to receive care and the practice remains operational, the clinic hires Dr. Alex as a locum tenens dentist. Dr. Alex temporarily takes over Dr. Emily's patient appointments, procedures, and administrative duties for the duration of her absence.

  This illustrates the term because Dr. Alex is "holding the place" of Dr. Emily, providing a temporary substitute to maintain the practice's services during her leave.

• Legal Context:

  A small law firm specializing in intellectual property has one of its senior partners, Ms. Davies, go on an extended sabbatical to write a book. To prevent a backlog of cases and ensure client needs are met, the firm brings in Mr. Chen, an experienced intellectual property lawyer, as a locum tenens attorney. Mr. Chen manages Ms. Davies's active cases and attends court hearings on her behalf until her return.

  Here, Mr. Chen is acting as a locum tenens by temporarily filling Ms. Davies's professional role, handling her legal responsibilities and "holding her place" within the firm's legal team.

• Academic Context:

  At a university, Professor Miller, who teaches advanced physics, is granted a semester-long research fellowship abroad. The university department hires Dr. Anya Sharma, a qualified physicist, as a locum tenens lecturer. Dr. Sharma teaches Professor Miller's scheduled courses and supervises his graduate students for that semester, ensuring the curriculum continues without interruption.

  Dr. Sharma serves as a locum tenens by temporarily assuming Professor Miller's teaching and supervisory duties, effectively "holding his place" in the academic department until he returns from his fellowship.