December 20, 2004 – Applications for a position on the Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission are being accepted by the Qualifications Advisory Committee, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.  An applicant must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan and have five years’ experience as an attorney in the field of workers’ compensation or pass a written examination. The Board of Magistrates examination will be accepted for this purpose. The deadline for filing an application is January 31, 2005.

To meet the requirement of five years’ legal experience as an attorney in the field of workers’ compensation, an applicant must document to the Qualifications Advisory Committee a period of time totaling five years during which the applicant met one of the following criteria:

• A significant portion of personal practice has been in active workers’ compensation trial practice representing claimants or employers.
  
  
• A significant portion of personal practice has been in active workers’ compensation appellate practice representing claimants or employers.
  
  
• Service as a member of the Board of Magistrates, the former Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, the former Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission, or the new Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission.

If there is any question as to whether the five years of experience has been met, applicants are encouraged to take the exam so as not to be deemed unqualified.

An exam will be given on February 4, 2005, in Lansing, Michigan. Applicants will be tested in the areas of: knowledge of the Workers’ Disability Compensation Act; skills in fact finding; knowledge of human anatomy and physiology; and Michigan rules of evidence. Applicants who have already successfully passed the Board of Magistrates exam do not need to take this exam.

Persons who meet the five years’ experience requirement or successfully complete the written examination must also be available to be interviewed by the Qualifications Advisory Committee to determine their suitability for the position, especially with regard to their objectivity.

All applicants interested in a position, including those who have previously qualified, must submit a new application form and be available for an interview by the QAC, if requested, during February or March 2005. Applications from those wishing to apply must be received by January 31, 2005. Application forms are available on the agency’s web site at www.michigan.gov/wca or by calling (517) 322-1106. The mailing address is: Qualifications Advisory Committee (Attn: Sue Bickel), Workers’ Compensation Agency, P.O. Box 30016, Lansing, MI 48909.