MBA / FEATURE
Certified Specialist In Workers’ Compensation Law By Thomas C. Lowry, Esq.
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nder Article 5 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is authorized to oversee the practice of law in this Commonwealth. In 2012, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for the first time ever approved a recommendation of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Review and Certifying Board to grant accreditation to the PBA Workers’ Compensation Law Section as a certifying organization in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law. An attorney must have successfully completed the certification process by submitting a variety of documents showing that at least 50% of his/ her legal practice is in the specialty field of Workers’ Compensation Law, that the attorney has practiced in the field for more than 5 years and that the attorney has participated in Continuing Legal Education in Workers’ Compensation Law. After meeting these stringent qualifications, the attorney is permitted to take a four-hour comprehensive exam that measures the attorney’s expertise and knowledge of Workers’ Compensation Law. The first annual test was administered by the PBA Workers’ Compensation Law Section on Friday, March 8, 2013 at three locations throughout Pennsylvania. On May 3, 2013, 149 attorneys successfully passed the certification exam and became certified as a Specialist in the practice of Workers’ Compensation Law by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s
Section on Workers’ Compensation Law as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Their certification lasts for 5 years. “This new opportunity to become certified in the area of workers’ compensation is beneficial for experienced lawyers in the field and their clients,” said Forest N. Meyers, Esq., PBA President. “Certification is going to give those in need of legal services in the workers’ compensation field valuable guidance when seeking counsel, and it is going to offer legal practitioners the ability to highlight their knowledge and expertise.” Recently certified Joseph T. Forkin, Esq. of Plymouth Meeting, PA stated, “Such certification will quickly become the gold standard for excellence.” Lou Lombardi II, Esq., Co-Chair of the MBA Workers’ Compensation Committee predicted that “more workers’ compensation practitioners will seek certification
in the future to enhance their qualifications and expertise.” Twelve attorneys have achieved certification as Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law in Montgomery County. They are: Thomas C. Lowry, Esq. and Joseph T. Forkin, Esq. of Plymouth Meeting, PA; James Monaghan, Esq. and Jeffrey Matteo, Esq. of Norristown, PA; James B. Mogul, Esq., Diane Fenner, Esq. and Kenneth Brodsky, Esq. of Bala Cynwyd, PA; Daniel E. McCabe, Esq. and Levi S. Wolf, Esq. of Pottstown, PA; James C. Veith, Esq. of Willow Grove, PA; Marc H. Snyder, Esq. of Jenkintown, PA and Terence S. McGraw, Esq. of Blue Bell, PA. Congratulations to all!