The Qualifications Advisory Committee (QAC) has the responsibility of making recommendations to the Governor concerning vacancies on the Workers' Compensation Board of Magistrates. The QAC is now accepting applications for magistrate positions with terms commencing in January 2010. An applicant must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan and either have five years of legal experience in the field of workers' compensation or pass an examination.

To meet the requirement of five years of experience, an applicant must document to the QAC a period of time totaling five years during which the applicant met one of the following criteria: 1) a significant portion of personal practice in active workers' compensation trial practice representing claimants or employers; 2) a significant portion of personal practice in active workers' compensation appellate practice representing claimants or employers; 3) service as a member of the former Workers' Compensation Appeal Board or the Workers' Compensation Appellate Commission. If there is any question as to whether the five years of experience has been met, applicants are encouraged to take the exam so as not to be deemed unqualified.

The exam will be given on September 14, 2009 in Lansing (Dimondale), Michigan. Applicants will be tested in the areas of knowledge of the Workers' Disability Compensation Act; skills in fact finding; knowledge of human anatomy and physiology; and the Michigan Rules of Evidence. Applicants who have already successfully passed the exam do not need to retake it.

Persons who meet the five years of experience requirement or who successfully complete the written exam will be personally interviewed by the QAC in September or October 2009 to determine their suitability for the position, especially with regard to their objectivity.

An applicant who was interviewed and recommended to the Governor in November 2008 must reapply if he or she is still seeking appointment to the Board of Magistrates. However, the applicant does not need to be re-interviewed if the person can certify that there has been no material change in his or her qualifications since the 2008 interview and the person remains a member in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan. If any of these applicants reapply, his or her name will be sent to the Governor with the same recommendation that the QAC made in November 2008. If any of these individuals wish to be re-interviewed, the QAC will interview him or her again and make a new recommendation based on the second interview.

Applications from all those wishing to apply must be received by August 28, 2009.

Application forms are available on the agency's website at www.michigan.gov/wca or by calling 517-322-1106. The mailing address is: Qualifications Advisory Committee (Attn: Sue Bickel), Workers' Compensation Agency, P.O. Box 30016, Lansing, MI 48909. All applicants must complete this form, including those who previously qualified, those wishing to take the exam, and those basing their application on five years of experience.

DELEG is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids, services and other reasonable accommodations are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.