Voice From the Chair

By Tiffany Boyland, Chairwoman of the CLA Workers’ Compensation Executive Committee

2022 certainly has not brought the relief I’m sure we had all hoped for.  From trouble on the world stage to Omicron these first few months of 2022 have certainly been rough.  I encourage you all to take care of your mental and physical health in these trying times. 

Turning my attention to the workers’ compensation community itself, you have all likely heard by now that in person trials, lien trials, expedited hearings and Special Adjudication Unit (SAU) trials are returning to in person as of 3/21/22!  After a brief resumption of in person trials in 2021, we returned to all virtual appearances due to Omicron, so this is really exciting news.  Hopefully this marks the transition to another “new normal.”  Trial setting or not, I look forward to seeing your faces.

In other news, we are accepting applications for new committee members through 4/9/22.  If you are added to the executive committee, your commitment would begin in November of 2022 and continue for three years.  I have to say it has been one of the most rewarding commitments I’ve ever engaged in during my career, so I encourage you to apply.  The application can be located on the CLA website, here.

The committee also plans to resume its Awards and Recognition special event at the Annual Conference in September 2022, so I welcome you to submit nominations for applicant’s and defense counsel of the year, judge of the year as well as for lifetime achievement and California young workers’ compensation lawyer of the year.  These forms can also be located on our section page, here. 

Please also check out our section page to see all of our upcoming educational events and webinars.