Oakland, CA – The California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) will conduct a live webinar from 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Pacific) on Thursday, February 20 to introduce workers’ compensation professionals to the new Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Rules of Practice and Procedure that took effect January 1 of this year.  The 90-minute program, presented by CWCI General Counsel Ellen Sims Langille and CWCI Claims and Medical Director Jackie Secia, will also be recorded and made available on-demand for those who are unable to attend the live session.

The webinar, “The New WCAB Rules of Practice and Procedure: What You Need to Know Now,” will cover the myriad changes to the Rules of Practice and Procedure which affect nearly every aspect of workers’ compensation practice in the state, including:

The new rules were formally adopted on December 31 with little notice or fanfare, so most practitioners are unaware that they are now in place, and the judges themselves have not yet received training.  CWCI staff has been involved in the regulatory process related to these rules since 2015, has thoroughly reviewed the final rules that were adopted, and is well prepared to provide a comprehensive review and discussion of the approved regulations and the practical implications for claims and defense professionals in their approach to legal proceedings at the WCAB.

This program is free to CWCI members ($99 for nonmembers) and has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 1.5 hours, including 1.5 hours of Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation.  CWCI also will provide certificates of attendance upon completion of the program for submission to the Association of Hearing Representatives of California and for the verification of hours for those in need of credit for the California Department of Insurance workers’ compensation claims adjuster certification requirements.  To register for the webinar, click https://www.cwci.org/conferences.html and scroll down to the “New WCAB Rules of Practice and Procedure: What You Need to Know Now,” or call Mel Long at 510-251-9470.