Welcome to the 2023 Workers’ Compensation Law Section’s Legal Specialization Boot Camp! We are proud to offer five fantastic virtual sessions on July 29-30, each offering legal specialization credit in Workers’ Compensation Law. Purchase all five webinars and receive 20% off! Offer ends 07/29/2023 at 9 AM.

Sponsored by Wintersteen | Casarez

JULY 29, 2023

Claims Evaluations

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | REGISTER HERE

2 Hours MCLE and 2 Hours Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation Law

Forget the push-ups. Boot Camp starts your workout with a basic overview of the workers compensation system including an overview of injuries and benefits. Panelist Yvonne Lang, Christina Lopez, and Judge Adam Graff will then go in-depth covering defenses to the compensability of a claim, including Labor Code § 3600 defenses, injury AOE/COE, and statute of limitations issues. Next, the panel will cover the quirks of psychological claims and end with a review of special remedies including serious and willful misconduct and Labor Code § 132a retaliation claims.

Speakers:

• Yvonne Lang
• Hon. Adam Graff
• Christina Lopez

Practice & Procedure

11:15 AM – 2:00 PM | REGISTER HERE

2 Hours MCLE and 2 Hours Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation Law

Now that you’re warmed up, this session will take you through the procedure of a workers’ compensation claim starting with the legal duties of the employer upon receipt of a claim. Panelist Monique Pride Brooks, Omar Hinds and Judge Stevenson will discuss jurisdiction and venue of workers’ compensation cases. They will cover the structure of a case from filing to discovery, hearing, trial, and post-trial appeal. Then, they will review some ancillary issues with the workers’ compensation case, including liens, interpreter services, and insurance coverage issues. Finally, they will examine issues to consider when settling a workers’ compensation case, such as Medicare, Social Security, and third-party injury claims. (Please note there will be a lunch break at 12:15 p.m.)

Medical Knowledge and Issues

2:15 PM – 4:15 PM | REGISTER HERE

2 Hours MCLE and 2 Hours Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation Law

Now that you have a solid foundation in the substance and procedure for the claim, we will build upon that foundation an understanding of medical treatment issues in workers’ compensation. We will start by covering the anatomy of a workers’ compensation claim… literally. The panel will review some of the frequently encountered body systems and diseases in workers’ compensation. Next, the panelists will tackle medical treatment issues in workers’ compensation. They will explain how medical treatment is authorized; how it is denied; and how to appeal the denial. Finally, they will cover the medical legal evaluation process along with the proper procedure for obtaining an independent evaluation through a qualified medical evaluator.

• Lance Peatman 
• Dr. Steven Feinberg 
• Monica Fairwell

JULY 30, 2023

Disability Evaluation

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | REGISTER HERE

2 Hours MCLE and 2 Hours Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation Law

Boot Camp continues the second day by scrutinizing the disability evaluation process. This program will provide an overview of the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides 5th Edition and how they are used to rate injuries in the workers’ compensation system. Judge Ledger will explain how to (and how not to) rate an injury. He will cover the requirements for a medical report to constitute substantial medical evidence. The program will also cover temporary disability, permanent disability, life pensions, and apportionment of disability. Lastly Judge Ledger will go over the technical and legal issues involved in rating permanent disability.

Professional Responsibility

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | REGISTER HERE

1 Hour MCLE and 1 Hour Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation Law

At this point you will have a solid foundation for the substance of a claim and the procedure to follow as well as an in depth understanding of medical and disability issues. However, every good exam question (including the legal specialization exam) has to have an element of professional responsibility. Panelist Clifford Sweet, will cover a multitude of professional responsibility issues unique to workers’ compensation including sanctions, penalties, attorney fees, contempt proceedings, fee agreements, and prohibited conduct.

The California Lawyers Association is an approved State Bar of California MCLE provider.