Why worry about understanding the vocational assessment process if you have a good expert working for you? Unfortunately, it's what you don't know that can really hurt your case. Experienced faculty will show you how a fundamental knowledge of vocational evaluations can give you an edge over the other side – either enhancing the value of your case by proactively plugging holes in occupational data or asking the right questions to debunk vocational expert testimony. No matter which side of the table you represent, the data and test insights you gain from this instruction will be a powerful weapon in your litigation arsenal. Order today!

1. Vocational Assessment: Techniques and Tools
2. Earning Capacity Assessment: What You Need to Know
3. Assessment Differences by Type of Case
4. Hypothetical Case Studies by Vocational Expert
5. Gray Areas and Recent Developments
6. Effective Use of Vocational Assessments in Court
7. Investigating the Accuracy of Vocational Assessments
8. Vocational Expert Testimony: Cross Examination Techniques
9. Ethical Considerations

MORNING SESSION: Vocational Expert Insights into the Assessment Process

1. Vocational Assessment: Techniques and Tools
   9:00 - 10:15, Glen K. Adams and Cynthia P. Grimley
   1. The Vocational Expert's Responsibilities and Scope of Involvement in Cases
   2. Crucial Records Obtained as Part of the Evaluation and How They are Reviewed
   3. The Components of a Vocational Interview
   4. Psychometric Testing: Commonly Used Tests and Administration
   5. Functional Limitations
   6. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and Other Resources Commonly Used
   7. Impairment vs. Disability: What is the Difference?
   8. Use of Physicians During Assessment
   9. Pain, Mental Distress and Psychiatric Impairment
   10. Dealing with Divergent Medical Opinions
   11. Transferrable Skills: How is this Determined?
2. Earning Capacity Assessment: What You Need to Know
   10:30 - 11:15, Glen K. Adams and Cynthia P. Grimley
   1. What is Being Assessed?
   2. Techniques Used to Assess Present and Future Loss of Earning Capacity
   3. Statistical Data Analyzed
   4. Determination
   5. Use of Economists
3. Assessment Differences by Type of Case
   11:15 - 11:30, Glen K. Adams and Cynthia P. Grimley
   1. Workers' Compensation
   2. Personal Injury
   3. ADA Related
   4. Employment Law
   5. Social Security and Social Security Disability
   6. Long-Term Disability Insurance
4. Hypothetical Case Studies by Vocational Expert
   11:30 - 12:00, Glen K. Adams and Cynthia P. Grimley

AFTERNOON SESSION: Vocational Assessments in Your Case

5. Gray Areas and Recent Developments
   1:00 - 1:30, William B. Salley Jr.
   1. Definition of Disability: Where is it Defined?
   2. Economic and Non-Economic Damages
   3. The Rehabilitation Plan's Effect on Benefits Entitlement (SSDI, Medicare, COBRA)
   4. Return to Work Disputes
6. Effective Use of Vocational Assessments in Court
   1:30 - 2:00, William B. Salley Jr.
1. Should You Use a Vocational Expert?
2. Selecting a Vocational Expert
3. Building Your Case to Showcase the Vocational Expert's Testimony
4. The Deposition
5. Trial Exhibits
7. Investigating the Accuracy of Vocational Assessments
   2:00 - 2:40, J. Tyler Lee Jr.
   1. Limitations of Occupational Knowledge
   2. Commonly Cited Statistical Sources and Their Limitations
   3. Job Categorization and Sample Size
   4. Skill Level/Exertion Demand/Stress Level Classification
   5. Using Estimates and Speculation
   6. Explaining Methodology to Satisfy Daubert Requirements
   7. The Use of Physicians and Economists
8. Vocational Expert Testimony: Cross Examination Techniques
   2:55 - 3:30, Stephen B. Samuels
   1. For the Record: Subpoenas, Stipulation, Briefs and Other Tips
   2. Questioning on the Vocational Expert's Qualifications
   3. Questioning on the Job Titles and Numbers
   4. Questioning on Skill Level and Job Requirements
   5. Questioning on the Statistical Methodology
   6. Questioning on the Data Sources
   7. Questioning on Hypotheticals
9. Ethical Considerations
   3:30 - 4:30, William B. Salley Jr.
   1. Confidentiality
   2. Following the Rules of Discovery
   3. Subjectivity in Testing
   4. Paying for Vocational Experts

GLEN K. ADAMS is a vocational consultant with Adams & Wilkinson Associates, Inc., where he coordinates medical care and arranges return to work for workers injured on the job, conducts job analysis, vocational analysis and labor market survey, and coordinates and conducts on-site video job assessments and, ergonomics assessments. He also is a vocational manager with CorVel Corporation. Mr. Adams is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, he is a Certified Ergonomics Evaluation Specialist by Roy Matheson and Associates, and certified in Advanced Ergonomics by Roy Matheson and Associates. He is a associate member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and a member of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals. Mr. Adams earned his B.S. degree from the University of South Carolina and his master's degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

CYNTHIA P. GRIMLEY is a vocational expert with Cynthia P. Grimley & Associates, LLC. She has been providing vocational evaluation, counseling, employability assessments, work capacity evaluations and job placement services to individuals with physical and mental challenges for more than 20 years. Throughout most of her career, Ms. Grimley has offered forensic consulting and expert services to both plaintiff and defense attorneys in a broad array of litigation including personal injury, Social Security, worker's compensation, ERISA, and domestic law, as well as labor and employment. She has evaluated employer compliance issues with respect to use of essential function job descriptions and reasonable accommodations. Ms. Grimley holds a master's degree. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a Certified Case Manager and a Diplomate of The American Board of Vocational Experts. Ms. Grimley is president-elect of the American Board of Vocational Experts (2011-2013). She previously served a five-year term as secretary for The American Board of Vocational Experts. Ms. Grimley was formerly the editor of The Vocational Expert, the official newsletter publication of The American Board of Vocational Experts. She continues to serve on the Certification Peer Review Committee and Membership Committee for the American Board of Vocational Experts. Ms. Grimley served as member of the board of directors for CARPPS, representing South Carolina during 2002-2003. She is on the Editorial Advisory Board and Peer Review Committee of the Journal of Forensic Vocational Analysis and the Journal of Forensic Vocationology. Ms. Grimley frequently is involved in conducting empirical research and authors' literature involving transferable skills analysis.

J. TYLER LEE JR. is an associate with McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A., where he primarily works in the Columbia office and practices in the areas of automobile accidents, worker's compensation, premises liability, wrongful death, and all other forms of personal injury. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of South Carolina and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. During law school, Mr. Lee was a student member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of American and the South Carolina Trial Lawyers' Association. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the American Association for Justice and the South Carolina Trial Lawyers' Association.

WILLIAM B. SALLEY JR. is the founding attorney with the Salley Law Firm, P.A. Mr. Salley practices extensively in the area of workers' compensation. He is heavily involved in workers' compensation issues and frequently speaks at workers' compensation seminars. Mr. Salley served as president of Injured Workers' Advocates from 2008-2009. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Educational Association. Mr. Salley also is a member of the South Carolina Association for Justice, the South Carolina Bar (Workers' Compensation Section), the Lexington County Bar Association and the Richland County Bar Association. He has served as a member of the South Carolina Bar Workers' Compensation Section Council. Mr. Salley is admitted to practice in South Carolina state and federal courts, and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He is a former assistant solicitor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, a former special federal prosecutor, and a former law clerk for the Honorable Edward B. Cottingham. Mr. Salley earned his B.A. degree from the College of Charleston and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

STEPHEN B. SAMUELS is the founding attorney of the Samuels Law Firm LLC. His practice is dedicated to representing injured workers in workers' compensation cases and victims of injuries caused by the negligence of others. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. As a law student, Mr. Samuels was a member of the Order of Wig and Robe, and an associate symposium editor for the South Carolina Law Review. He was research assistant for Professor David G. Owen, co-author of Prosser and Keeton on Torts. Mr. Samuels is a member of the American Association for Justice, the South Carolina Association for Justice and the Injured Workers Advocates. He has tried more than 100 workers' compensation cases, concentrating on legally complex issues. Mr. Samuels speaks several times a year at workers' compensation seminars and conferences. He also is an active appellate lawyer who has appeared six times before the South Carolina Supreme Court and more than 20 times before the South Carolina Court of Appeals.

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