Message from the Chair

By Maria Sager

This month we are highlighting the Technology, Website, and Social Media Subcommittee of the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the California Lawyers Association (CLA).  This subcommittee is Chaired by Elizabeth Furlow and below please find what she had to say:  

The goal of this subcommittee is to recognize the activities of the Workers’ Compensation Section members and Executive Committee.  Our subcommittee also tries to bridge the identity gap between the former State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section and the new CLA Workers’ Compensation Section.

I am happy to announce the Workers’ Compensation Section member’s intellectual property contents previously stored on the State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section member’s website was moved to the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section member’s website. Access to the new CLA Workers’ Compensation Section member’s only website contents requires access to a different online account with a user name and password then what our members previously used.  If you have not already done so, I encourage you to create your new account credentials via the following web link: https://calawyers.org/.

An exciting new addition to the Workers’ Compensation Section website I helped develop is access for our Section members to listen to oral arguments made in Workers’ Compensation cases at various Districts of the California Court of Appeals. Existing audio oral arguments are located here.  There is a discussion of eight Court of Appeal cases heard at oral argument. Audio files for four of the eight oral arguments are available on the website. You can access the audio files simply by logging into the CLA Worker’s Compensation Section website and listening to the oral argument audio files on your cell phone or computer. Internet access is not required.  This is an ongoing project. We are in the process of converting to the proper format and uploading the audio files for the additional four oral arguments for which text is available.  I regularly monitor the cases pending on appellate grants, locate the District Court of Appeal where the cases are venued, and determine whether an oral argument is scheduled. We are fortunate that the CLA website offers us the opportunity to access audio files, and with our outstanding CLA Web Coordinator, we have accomplished this goal. I am sure you will find the oral arguments enlightening, educational, and instructive to your practices offering an opportunity to develop litigation and appellate skills to represent your client’s most effectively.

In addition, the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section web page provides access to our publications including the Workers’ Compensation Quarterly and eNews. We are also in the process of getting the Workers’ Compensation Quarterly 2019 and 2014-2015 editions on the website as well as a Master Table of Contents page that lists all articles. 

In addition, our CLA Web Coordinator recently made changes to the top navigation of the website making it easier to find section pages.  I encourage you to explore the CLA and our Section member’s website contents for information about our Events, Announcements, the Executive Committee, Educational Opportunities, Publications, and the Steve Jimenez Memorial Special Recognition Awards.

Another great and possibly less well-known benefit of membership in the CLA Sections including the Workers’ Compensation Section, is access to Bill Tracking by the CLA.  The CLA provides bill monitoring and tracking services to its sections.  Bills of potential interest are  maintained on the CLA website at here.

Finally, I encourage our members to follow the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section on our following social media accounts:  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Please go like the social media pages so you can stay in the loop while on the go!

Thank you, Elizabeth for the above thorough overview.   Congratulations on the success of your subcommittee.  I can’t wait to listen to all the oral arguments.      

Finally, it is with great honor to congratulate our newest members to the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Section: Alec Beyer; Hon. Kathleen Ferchland Boriolo; Kia Myers Holsey; Hon. Therese Da Silva; and Viviana Santiago.   I am excited about the new journey you are each about to embark upon.  As I mentioned in my last month’s eNews article, joining the  Executive Committee was one of the best decisions I have ever made, right after becoming a lawyer, marrying my husband, and joining Boxer & Gerson.  Each of you have been paired with a mentor to make your transition as smooth as possible.  Your mentors will reach out to you soon.   I look forward to seeing you at your very first meeting on Saturday, October 12 at 10 a.m.  in beautiful Monterey.   Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you have at msager@boxerlaw.com.       

Until next month when the Community Outreach Subcommittee will be highlighted.