The attorneys of NRS Injury Law are committed daily to the firm’s mission of providing empathetic and patient service to every person who calls the firm. The firm’s attorneys relentlessly pursue the best possible outcome on behalf of every client by putting their collective experience, knowledge, and passion to work every day.
Partner Michael O’Neil recently demonstrated that dedication by earning his Attorney Specialist Certification in Workers’ Compensation from the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA).
Firm Partner Michael O’Neil Earns Workers’ Compensation Specialist Certification
“Continuing Legal Education in Ohio workers’ compensation law gives an attorney a fulsome understanding of the legal process,” Mike said when summarizing his experience. “The courses take you on a deep dive into every aspect and facet of the legal process and every possible variable you may come across from claim inception to claim settlement.”
Mike worked toward his certification for nearly three years to complete the requirements. He took online courses on his lunch breaks at the office and during night and weekend hours. Mike attended workshops and seminars in Cleveland and in other Ohio cities, all while continuing to serve the firm’s clients and all while continuing to be present for the NRS Injury Law team in his role as Partner.
Mike completed the required reading in his downtime, citing the Ohio AFL-CIO’s Workers’ Compensation Manual and Phillip J. Fulton’s Ohio Workers’ Compensation Law, Sixth Edition, as particularly helpful in developing a highly nuanced understanding of the intricacies of workers’ compensation law in Ohio.
In addition to the above, Mike completed the on-demand classes covering specific areas of Ohio workers’ compensation law, and he passed the test required to secure the certification. The sum of these actions placed Mike in a small yet coveted group of Ohio workers’ compensation attorneys who have put in the work necessary to achieve OSBA specialist certification in their specific practice area.
Workers’ Compensation Certification Means a Deeper Knowledge in the Field and Better Case Results for NRS Injury Law Clients
Workers’ compensation cases are complicated. The injured worker is a party to the claim. The employer is a party to the claim. The State of Ohio is a party to the claim via the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are also present, making medical decisions based on doctors’ requests. To secure a specialist classification in Ohio workers’ compensation law is to prove that one has the skills, knowledge, and determination necessary to zealously and effectively advocate for injured workers in Ohio.
Securing Workers’ Compensation Specialist Certification does not just mean the attorney increased their knowledge of workers’ comp law. In addition to broadening their theoretical and practical understanding of the law, the attorney must also meet stringent requirements for the OSBA to issue this certification. The attorney must:
- Demonstrate substantial and continuing involvement in a particular field of law, meaning they must devote at least 25 percent of their practice to that area of law.
- Submit five professional references attesting to their competency in the specialty area.
- Have earned a minimum of 36 hours of intermediate or advanced continuing legal education credits in the specialty area during the past three years as part of the CLE hours required of all attorneys.
- Pass a written examination.
- File annual reports attesting to compliance with program requirements, and they must be re-certified every six years by meeting all the original requirements for certification, except for the written examination.
For an attorney to commit themselves to both the educational side of earning a certification and the criteria side of proving their dedication to excellent legal practice is a profound demonstration of commitment to the profession. Clients represented by NRS Injury Law can rest easy knowing they have highly competent and resolute attorneys like Mike O’Neil representing them.
Background on the Ohio State Bar Association
The Ohio State Bar Association is a professional organization dedicated to providing Ohio attorneys with continuing legal education, networking, and resources they need to represent their clients best.
Founded in 1880, the OSBA is Ohio’s largest legal network. It promotes justice, advances the legal profession, and provides an information hub to help clients find legal counsel. The OSBA is deeply involved in legal advocacy and ethics, serving as a watchdog to improve the quality of legal representation in Ohio. The OSBA also works to shape the law and improve the state-level justice system.
One way the OSBA improves legal representation in Ohio is by offering CLE courses to practicing attorneys. “Attorneys who pursue certification in a specialty area demonstrate a high level of dedication, not only to their practices but also to their clients,” said 2021-22 Ohio Bar President David Lefton. “It is a remarkable achievement that requires great effort and discipline.”
An Attorney and a Firm Committed to Client Advocacy and Justice for Working People
“I am proud to have achieved the professional milestone of becoming a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation,” Mike said in closing. “The rigorous process of continuing legal education in the field as well as the preparation for the written examination have increased my knowledge in the area of workers’ compensation and I am able to use this advanced understanding of the law to our clients’ advantage.”
Ohio laws surrounding workplace injuries and the process for obtaining compensation for an injury are extremely complex. Thankfully, knowledgeable attorneys like Michael O’Neil are available to answer your questions and help you chart a path to the outcome you deserve. For questions about workplace injuries, work-related illnesses, worker injury claims, and the rights of injured workers in Ohio, call 855-GOT-HURT or fill out a convenient Online Contact Form.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
