Program Overview
Program Overview
Successfully advancing a workers’ compensation appeal—from an adverse Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) decision to a hearing before the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT)—requires more than familiarity with workers’ compensation legislation and policy. It requires strategic thinking, careful preparation, persuasive evidence, and effective advocacy.
In this practical, skills-based workshop, experienced worker and employer advocates will guide participants through the key stages of preparing and presenting a successful workers’ compensation appeal. Through faculty insights, practical discussion, and an interactive case study, participants will explore the procedural requirements, strategic considerations, and advocacy techniques that contribute to successful outcomes before the WSIAT.
Topics will include
- Initiating an appeal following an adverse WSIB decision
- Meeting applicable appeal timelines and procedural requirements
- Identifying, organizing, and prioritizing the issues in dispute
- Developing a persuasive theory of the case
- Meeting disclosure obligations and preparing hearing materials
- Obtaining, organizing, and presenting persuasive evidence
- Effectively using and challenging medical evidence
- Anticipating and responding to opposing arguments
- Preparing clients and witnesses for hearings
- Delivering persuasive opening statements and closing submissions
- Conducting effective witness examination and cross-examination
What to Expect:
Designed for professionals involved in workers’ compensation appeals, this virtual workshop focuses on the practical knowledge and advocacy skills required throughout the appeal process—from challenging an adverse WSIB decision through to presenting a persuasive case before the WSIAT.
Throughout the day, participants will work through a realistic case study that follows a workers’ compensation appeal from the initial WSIB decision to the Tribunal hearing. Working in small groups, participants will analyze the facts, identify key issues, develop a theory of the case, assess the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence, and prepare their advocacy strategy before receiving practical feedback and guidance from experienced practitioners.
Participants will also receive comprehensive digital program materials developed by Lancaster House’s legal editors and program lawyers, including textbook chapters, case summaries, WSIAT practice directions, and curated reference materials to support continued learning and future advocacy work.
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for professionals involved in workers’ compensation appeals, including:
- Worker advocates and representatives seeking to strengthen their advocacy and hearing preparation skills
- Employer advocates, labour relations consultants, and workplace advisors representing employers before the WSIB and WSIAT
- Labour relations and human resources professionals responsible for workplace injury and return-to-work matters
- Lawyers and paralegals practising in labour, employment, or workers’ compensation law
- Union representatives involved in workers’ compensation and return-to-work advocacy
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Navigate the workers’ compensation appeal process from an adverse WSIB decision through to a WSIAT hearing
- Identify, organize, and prioritize the legal and factual issues in a workers’ compensation appeal
- Develop and present a clear, persuasive theory of the case
- Assess, organize, and effectively present documentary, medical, and witness evidence
- Prepare clients and witnesses for hearings with greater confidence
- Apply practical advocacy strategies to improve hearing preparation and presentation before the WSIAT
Pricing
Pricing
$995.00Add to cart
Speakers
This program has been approved by CPHR Alberta for 4.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
This program has been approved by CPHR BC & Yukon for 4.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
This program has been approved for Continuing Professional Development 4.5 hours under Section A of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Log of the Human Resource Professionals Association (HRPA).
- This program has been approved by the Law Society of British Columbia for 4.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
- Members of the Law Society of New Brunswick may consider this program for 4.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
- Members of the Law Society of Ontario may consider counting this program for 4.5 Substantive hours; 0 Professionalism hours.
- Members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society may count this program for 4.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
Supported by the Institute for Work & Health:
