June 21st

Now that I have gotten to know most of the staff in my department it has become easier for me to make suggestions to the rest of the group in order to increase my efficiency. For example, in the beginning i would send various types of mail and faxes throughout the day for correspondence purposes. The fax and stamp machines are located on the upper floor of the firm. One several occasions I would come back down from sending a fax and someone would ask me to go stamp some mail. This became tiring after several trips so I began asking whether or not anyone had anything to be sent before heading upstairs that way I could complete assignments for several people on only one trip.

Another thing that I have suggested is a way in which new cases were being processed into the database. Sometimes I am asked to send information to opposing attorneys and insurance carriers but the contact information for these parties is missing from many of the files. This would slow the pace at which I could complete tasks because I would have to stop and pull the physical file and search through documents to find a phone number. After, I suggested that the contact information be inputed into the computer database immediately after a notice is received of each party's representation in the case.

The first official paperwork that I have become familiar with is the first step of the workers compensation claim process. The first thing that the attorney's office must do is file an application to the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, or WCAB. With new cases coming in every day it is important to get the applications entered into the database. Once all the contact information is entered and the client is contacted by the attorney the next step is to create the application which will be processed in court. After learning what the application would include, I made my first application by accessing the Workers Compensation website and finding the forms with the proper bar codes which are authorized by the Board. Once the applications are issued, each case is assigned a number which will be used to identify the case until settlement is reached.

I am still trying to work on identifying paperwork and I have learned that I can work on that by simply reading the documents and looking for key words such as names of firms or insurance carriers. I have also created my own file on the computer so that i am able to save my work and use them as references for future assignments that call for similar requests. This allows me to see who I sent the document to and  what information I need to include, such as claim numbers and names of clients. I look forward to watching the way new cases grow and observing how far along the cases move in a month's time.