Friday, September 22, 2023

2:30pm – 3:00pm
REGISTRATION / LOG ON 

3:00pm - 3:50pm
IMPLICIT BIAS AND LGBTQ COMPETENCY IN LEGAL PRACTICE
Lettie Dickerson, Esq., Empire Justice Center 
(1CLE Credit - Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias)
This training will provide an overview of implicit bias in the courts and best practices in working with LGBTQ clients. The training will include an update of current ethical obligations for attorneys, the state of the legal protections for LGBTQ people in New York State, and a statistical analysis of recent studies pertaining to LGBTQ people and their experiences with courts and the legal profession. 

Lettie Dickerson is the LGBTQ rights attorney at the Empire Justice Center in Albany, New York. He represents and advises clients experiencing discrimination in education, employment, or public accommodation. He also represents clients in name change proceedings, and provides training and technical assistance. He was appointed a member of the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York Courts, an advisory commission providing training and educational programming to judges and court personnel in New York. 

3:50pm - 4:00pm
BREAK

4:00pm - 4:50pm
PARALEGALS AND WORKERS' COMP
Jessica Morris, Founder, The Paralegal Digest
Moderator: Mary Ellen O’Connor, O’Connor Law PLLC
(1CLE Law Credit - Practice Management)
This session will discuss the important role that paralegals play in a law firm and in particular, workers’ comp cases.  She will share expertise and strategies that can help firms develop effective solutions while providing excellent support to attorneys and staff. 

Jessica Morris is a Senior Paralegal and Innovation Strategist. As a legal professional who built a successful 10+ year career at a top New York Workers’ Compensation law firm, Morris developed exceptional communication, negotiation, organization and problem solving skills. As a Paralegal herself, who now equips organizations with innovative tools implemented by modern technology, her goal is to build high performing teams that deliver efficient and cost effective services while adhering to company expectations and budgets. Morris has a Bachelor degree in Legal Studies and is bilingual in Spanish.

5:00pm
WCA Reception

Saturday, September 23, 2023

8:00am - 9:00am
BREAKFAST AND REGISTRATION / LOG ON

9:00am - 9:50am
AN OVERVIEW OF CONSTRUCTION “CARVE-OUT” ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAMS
Robert R. Snashall, Esq.
(1 CLE Credit - Areas of Professional Practice)
The Federal Infrastructure Program will provide historic funding amounts for infrastructure projects throughout New York State.   Many of these projects will use  Project  Labor  Agreements  [PLA]  and  Collective  Bargaining  Agreements [CBA] which will authorize the use of Construction Carve Out Programs for the administration of workers’ compensation claims for workers injured on those projects.  This discussion will review the history of Construction “Carve-Out” ADR  Programs;  the  statutory  and  regulatory  requirements  for  such  ADR Programs in New York State; and, the operational aspects of the ADR Programs. Moreover, it will examine the issues which the legal practitioner must consider and navigate under these ADR Carve Out Programs.

From 1995 to 2003 Robert served as the Chair of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. During his tenure, he oversaw the NYSWCB implementation of the 1996 Reform Act including the introduction of Section 32 Agreements. He supervised the reorganization of the NYSWCB and the modernization of the agency with the elimination of paper files and the introduction of the award winning ECase system. Following the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers, he led the NYSWCB response to the thousands of injury and death claims arising out of the attack.  For his contributions to the NYS workers compensation system, Robert has received honors from the New York State Bar Association; New York Workers Compensation Bar Association; New York State Trial Lawyers Association; New York State AFL-CIO; New York State Business Council; and, New York Claims Association. In addition, he has received the Presidents Award as well as the Francis Perkins Award from the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions where he has chaired the Task Force for Disaster Preparedness; the Committee on Legislation and Regulations; and, the Associate Member Committee.  Now retired, Robert resides in Cazenovia, New York.
(1CLE Credit)

9:50am - 10:00am
BREAK

10:00am-10:50am
BUSINESS MEETING (Members Only)

10:50am-11:00am
BREAK

11:00am - 11:50am
WHAT IMEC CAN DO FOR YOU
Amy McEathron, President/Owner, Independent Medical Evaluation Company, LLC. (IMEC)
Moderator: Mary Ellen O'Connor, Esq. O'Connor Law
(1 CLE Credit - Skills)
IMEC was established in 2006 and performs schedule loss of use and classification examinations. This presentation will present the options of doing IME’s for your clients and information and answers to complete your cases or assist your clients with treatment and get your cases closed.  Examples on the "good" way, as well as what you do not want to do for your evaluations.  She will answer any questions involving workers’ compensation and or any other type of IME’s. 

Amy McEathron is the hands-on owner of IMEC. IMEC was established in 2006. IMEC is a 100% certified woman owned business in New York. Amy works with quality review to records preparation, she does it all. Amy personally handles all fee negotiations with physicians to get you the best fee possible. Amy has more than 30 years of experience in the independent medical evaluation industry. Amy works directly with every client to ensure that every examination meets IMEC’s standards and exceeds theirs. Amy’s outside interests include boating, camp, the American Legion Auxiliary, motorcycling, and spending time with friends and family. A native of New Jersey, Amy is a long-time resident of Carthage and is very proud to call Carthage and New York State home.

Attendee Information 

• This event is being planned as a hybrid event, both in-person in Saratoga and virtually on Zoom.
• Registration is the same whether you attend in-person or virtually.
• Agenda subject to change.
• The content of this program is appropriate for experienced attorneys, as well as newly admitted attorneys.
• This continuing legal education program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Legal Education Board.
• Financial aid is available for this program.  Please click here for more information.
• A pre-event email will be sent the week prior to the event and will include all log in and event information. 
• If you have registered to attend, but find yourself unable to attend, you must cancel your registration by no later than noon on Monday, September 16th, or IWBA will be charged and, therefore, must then pass the cost along to you. If you cannot attend, please contact the office to have a substitute individual on your behalf.

Registration Information

Conference Registration Deadline: Friday, September 15, 2023 by noon

Member Registration Fee: $325
One Day Member Registration: $225

Non-Member Registration Fee: $525
One Day Non-Member Registration Fee: $425

All registrants are encouraged to register for the Friday Evening WCA Reception with a donation of $100.
Your donations protect the Injured Workers of New York and those that represent them. 

WCA RECEPTION REGISTRATION

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