The California Workers’ Compensation System is very complicated. Frequent changes in the law and current events require Attorneys practicing in workers’ compensation to stay up to date. In order to stay up to date, Workers’ Compensation Lawyers participate in educational programs. Therefore, Associations that provide educational programs and address issues such as the standards for Lawyers practicing within the field is of import. Injured Workers are best served when their lawyers are active members of such Associations.
The California Lawyers Association (CLA) provides support to the Workers’ Compensation community to enhance the quality of the practitioners within the field. CLA has a Workers’ Compensation Section which supports the workers’ compensation community. The CLA Workers’ Compensation Section is essentially a spin-off from the State Bar. The State Bar used to have a Section on Workers’ Compensation. Lawyers would join the section by notifying the State Bar when paying their dues and pay an additional fee to participate. Currently, the State Bar allows lawyers to join the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section by designating to do so and paying an additional fee. The CLA, overall, produces programs at the quality level of the State Bar.
Per the CLA, “[t]he purpose of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the California Lawyers Association is to serve our members, workers’ compensation practitioners, and the people of California by promoting an efficient and just compensation delivery system.”
Is The CLA Workers’ Compensation Section Exclusive for Applicant’s Attorneys?
No. the Section is open to all participants in the workers’ compensation field. Therefore, both Applicant’s Attorneys and Defense Attorneys participated.
If an Attorney is a Member of the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section, It That Important?
Yes and No. Any Lawyer can pay to be a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section. Therefore, being a member does not mean anything. Being an active member, however, is important. An active member, in my opinion, is one who regularly attends or participates in the various Educational Program provided.
Should an Injured Worker Value an Attorney Who Is a Member of CLA?
Absolutely. As an active member, I have had the opportunity to attend countless seminars that CLA has provided. These seminars are well attended by both Applicant’s Attorneys and Defense Attorneys. The attorneys who I have seen attend these seminars are quite competent individuals. Further, the materials presented to them keep them apprised as to workers’ compensation law in general as well as recent case law and legislation that impacts the workers’ compensation system. Further, these seminars include many outstanding speakers and presenters in the industry. In sum, active participants in the Workers’ Compensation Section of CLA, are up to date on various workers’ compensation issues.
Further, participation in these programs allows Applicant’s Attorneys and Defense Attorneys to interact and debate ongoing issues within workers’ compensation. It is an opportunity to understand the positions that will be taken by the “other” side.
What are the Activities of the CLA’s Workers’ Compensation Section?
The Workers’ Compensation Section of CLA is involved in the following activities: Publishing newsletters to keep members informed of new developments; establishing committees through which members may actively participate; presenting educational seminars on timely topics throughout the year; originating legislation which, upon approval, is made a part of our legislative program; recommending positions on pending legislation on behalf of the California Lawyers Association, and commenting on administrative regulations and rules of court.
What is the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section’s Purpose?
They ”are dedicated to serving our members, workers’ compensation practitioners, and the people of California by promoting an efficient and just compensation delivery system.”
Per the CLA website “[t]he purpose of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the California Lawyers Association is to serve our members, workers’ compensation practitioners, and the people of California by promoting an efficient and just compensation delivery system. The section, through standing committees, seeks to promote better legal practice, education and legislation affecting workers’ compensation. We review proposed state legislation and regulatory rules, and make recommendations to the authors. Our goal is to achieve the following constitutional mandate: Constitutional Basis of Laws
The Workers’ Compensations Act, codified in the Labor Code, with other related laws, has its jurisdictional basis in the California Constitution, Article XIV, sec. 4, which provides in part as follows:
The Legislature is hereby expressly vested with plenary power, unlimited by any provision of this Constitution, to create, and enforce a complete system of workers’ compensation…to compensate…workers for injury or disability, and…for death…irrespective of the fault of any party…to the end that the administration of such legislation shall accomplish substantial justice in all cases expeditiously, inexpensively, and without encumbrance of any character…””
What Type of Educational Programs Does CLA Provide in the Workers’ Compensation Section?
The Workers’ Compensation Section provides a wide variety of programs. There are seasonal programs which cover a large variety of topics. There are Rating Seminars which deal with rating issues. There are Specialization Seminars which assist attorneys in preparation of the specialization examination. Also, they also have Webinars on a large variety of topics as well.
What Other Services Does the CLA Provide?
Per CLA, the “California Lawyers Association Workers’ Compensation Executive Committee, subcommittee on Technology and Social Media, offers access to our section members to listen to oral arguments made in Workers’ Compensation cases at various Districts of the California Court of Appeals.”
What Types of Committees Does the Workers’ Compensation Section Have? What Types of Things Do they Do?
The Workers’ Compensation Section has an Executive Committee, an Educational Committee, a Practice and Ethics Committee, a Legislation Committee, an Awards and Recognition Committee, Publications Committee, Membership Committee, Technology/Website/Social Media, a Community Outreach Committee, and an Unpublished Cases Committee.
These committees work on many different things such as improving the level of professionalism and competence for all individuals who practice before the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board. They do so by providing quality and affordable education, public outreach, and assist with legislation.
How Does the CLA Workers’ Compensation Section Provide Assistance to the Workers’ Compensation Community?
Per the CLA, the Section “seeks to promote better legal practice, education and legislation affecting workers’ compensation. We review proposed state legislation and regulatory rules, and make recommendations to the authors. Our goal is to achieve the following constitutional mandate: Constitutional Basis of Laws: The Workers’ Compensations Act, codified in the Labor Code, with other related laws, has its jurisdictional basis in the California Constitution, Article XIV, sec. 4, which provides in part as follows: The Legislature is hereby expressly vested with plenary power, unlimited by any provision of this Constitution, to create, and enforce a complete system of workers’ compensation…to compensate…workers for injury or disability, and…for death…irrespective of the fault of any party…to the end that the administration of such legislation shall accomplish substantial justice in all cases expeditiously, inexpensively, and without encumbrance of any character…”
What Do Members of CLA Workers’ Compensation Section Get?
As a member, they are provide a newsletter, and provide access and discounts to Workers’ Compensation Section Programs and Publications. In addition, Members are allowed to participate in the Section and the Committee activities.
What If I Need Advice?
If you would like a free consultation regarding your workers’ compensation claim, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, A Professional Law Corporation. They have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 28 years. Contact us today for more information. Contact us today for more information. Click Here.
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