State of Maryland

An Assistant to the Commissioner Lead/Advanced Workers’ Compensation Commission is the lead or advanced level of work at the Workers’ Compensation Commission providing paralegal support to a Workers’ Compensation Commissioner in the review, adjudication and processing of contested workers’ compensation claims.  Employees in this classification that function as Lead assign and review the work of lower-level Assistants to the Commissioner.  Employees in this classification that function as Advanced serve as technical subject matter experts in the review and processing of legal documents, such as settlements, stipulations, stipulations for Advance, lump sum applications, appeals and continuances.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Workers’ Compensation Commissioner.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Assistant to the Commissioner Lead/Advanced is differentiated from the Assistant to the Commissioner II in that the Assistant to the Commissioner Lead/Advanced serves as a lead worker with responsibility for assigning, reviewing and approving the work of and training lower-level Assistants to the Commissioner or as a technical subject matter expert in the review and processing of legal documents while the Assistant to the Commissioner II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

When functioning at the Lead level

Provides technical assistance and training to lower-level Assistants to the Commissioner;

Serves as project leader for on-going assignments assuring timely processing and submission of necessary forms and documents;

Plans, organizes, schedules, assigns and reviews the work of lower-level Assistants to the Commissioner and provides immediate assistance and guidance when necessary;

Assists the public, claimants, Attorneys and Commission personnel by responding to inquiries regarding the proper completion of various Commission forms and by providing information regarding Commission policies and procedures;

Researches and interprets workers' compensation laws and regulations to provide a Commissioner with information needed for the adjudication of workers' compensation claims;

Analyzes, prepares, calculates and processes legal awards and orders from the Commissioner’s decision and legal documents submitted, including but not limited to, no action review mail, motions for rehearing, emergency hearing requests, fee petitions, corrections and other motions;

Addresses inquiries on duty days in the Commissioner’s absence;

Calculates and composes awards of compensation in accordance with established guidelines;

Prepares and enters data regarding various orders resulting from hearing decisions of a Commissioner;

Receives, opens, sorts and routes mail to the appropriate section of the Commission;

Prepares itinerary and expense accounts, coordinates and schedules appointments, conference calls and special set hearings for a Commissioner;

Calls a docket in a hearing room, authorizes continuance of cases, records stipulations and the official filing of documents for a Commissioner's file when acting as a Commissioner's representative;

Prepares general or special administrative reports to furnish statistical information to Commissioners, as requested;

Performs other related duties.

When functioning at the Advanced level

Serves as a technical subject matter expert in the development and implementation of new technology;

Reviews and processes legal documents such as settlements, stipulations, stipulations for Advance, lump sum applications, appeals and continuances;

Assists in the preparation of administrative reports and statistical information;

Formulates new policies and procedures to advance program area goals and objectives, including those associated with modifications to both statute and technology;

Serves as the Training and Experience Specialist by providing guidance and experience to and assisting in formulation and execution of training for lower-level employees;

Acts as a liaison between the Director of Hearing Division and lower-level employees when necessary;

Assists the public, claimants, Attorneys and Commission personnel by responding to inquiries regarding the proper completion of various Commission forms and by providing information regarding Commission policies and procedures;

Researches and interprets workers' compensation laws and regulations to provide a Commissioner with information needed for the adjudication of workers' compensation claims;

Analyzes, prepares, calculates and processes legal awards and orders from the Commissioner’s decision and legal documents submitted, including but not limited to, no action review mail, motions for rehearing, emergency hearing requests, fee petitions, corrections and other motions;

Addresses inquiries on duty days in the Commissioner’s absence;

Calculates and composes awards of compensation in accordance with established guidelines;

Prepares and enters data regarding various orders resulting from hearing decisions of a Commissioner;

Receives, opens, sorts and routes mail to the appropriate section of the Commission;

Prepares itinerary and expense accounts, coordinates and schedules appointments, conference calls and special set hearings for a Commissioner;

Calls a docket in a hearing room, authorizes continuance of cases, records stipulations and the official filing of documents for a Commissioner's file when acting as a Commissioner's representative;

Prepares general or special administrative reports to furnish statistical information to Commissioners, as requested;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the technical nature of legal documents processing for various manners of legal actions;

Knowledge of the governing laws, regulations, policies and procedures relative to the adjudication of workers’ compensation claims;

Knowledge of relevant technology as well as of development and implementation policies and procedures;

Knowledge of current office practices, business mathematics, business English, spelling, punctuation and grammar;

Knowledge of legal terminology and its proper usage;

Knowledge of the principles of office management;

Skill in analyzing, preparing and processing decisions administered by the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner;

Skill in reviewing supportive documentation in a workers' compensation claim for conformity to law, regulations and policies;

Skill in researching and interpreting workers' compensation laws and regulations;

Skill in calculating and composing Awards of Compensation;

Skill in maintaining case files and schedules;

Ability to develop policy and procedures for the purpose of furthering program goals and objectives relative to statute and technology;

Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with Commissioners, supervisors, associates, public officials, other government agencies and the general public;

Ability to prepare and present recommendations and information clearly and concisely;

Ability to maintain the confidentiality of case files, records and testimony;

Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work;

Ability to exercise initiative and sound judgment in executing work assignments.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Five years of experience in work researching and interpreting workers' compensation laws, examining case documents and medical bills for legal sufficiency and accuracy and calculating and composing awards of compensation in workers' compensation cases.

                                                                    OR

Two years and six months experience providing paralegal support to a Workers’ Compensation Commissioner in the review, adjudication and processing of contested workers’ compensation. 

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience in work providing paralegal support to a Worker’s Compensation Commissioner in the review, adjudication and processing of contested workers’ compensation claims on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Paralegal Specialist classifications or Paralegal Specialist specialty codes in the Legal and Kindred field of work involving workers’ compensation claims on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.