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Managing General Partner @ the Law Offices of Richard M. Widom LLP
The Council on Litigation Management’s Adam Potter welcomed workers’ compensation attorney Richard Widom as a member to the organization. After an intensive evaluation from its advisory board, the Council of Litigation Management accepted Richard Widom due to his high ethical standards and integrity, accomplishments in the field of law, and adherence to the principles of the Model Code of Professional Conduct.
With a Juris Doctor from San Fernando Valley College of Law, Richard Widom began his legal career in 1977 when he received his license to practice in the state of California and was hired by Beverly Hills law firm Kendig, Stockwell & Gleason in 1978 after working in a general law practice. In 1980, the firm honored Richard Widom’s achievements by making him a shareholder and a member of the Board of Directors. That year, he transferred to the firm’s Ventura, California, office as Co-Managing Attorney. Five years later, he returned to the firm’s Beverly Hills corporate office as Co-Manager. Over the next two decades, Richard Widom became an essential aspect of the firm’s growth as Chief Financial Officer, Co-President, and 31% shareholder in the firm. The firm was eventually renamed Stockwell, Harris, Widom, Woolverton & Muehl. In 2009, Richard Widom would leave and go on to found The Law Offices of Richard M. Widom in Los Angeles.
Richard Widom has dedicated his career to workers’ compensation law and has represented the likes of insurance carriers, self-insured employers, third-party administrators, and the California Insurance Guarantee Association. Richard Widom also conducts training programs for both insurance companies and attorneys on matters related to workers’ compensation law.
Richard Widom's Companies
Richard Widom's Publications
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The State Bar of California and the Bar Examination, Richard Widom
March, 2011
by Richard Widom
Before the formation of the State Bar of California, lawyers in the state belonged to a voluntary organization known as the California Bar Association. Judge Jeremiah F. Sullivan first suggested the formation of an integrated bar in 1917. Over the course of several years, Sullivan and the Bar Association of San Francisco wrote several bills that then died in the California Legislature. After gaining backing from the California Bar Association, Sullivan and his follows finally saw the bill passed in 1925. Governor Friend Richardson, however, vetoed the measure. After lobbying legislators for two more years, the State Bar Act finally became law and the organization began mailing registration forms. After only a few months, the State Bar claimed almost 8,000 lawyers across the state.
Today, rising lawyers must study at an American Bar Association accredited school or another approved program and subsequently pass the California Bar Examination. Lawyers nationwide recognize the California bar examination as one of the most difficult, and many prominent lawyers never passed it or experienced difficulty taking the test. The examination lasts for 18 hours over the course of 3 days. The first and third day, examinees answer three essay questions and participate in a performance test. The second day consists of 200 Multistate Bar Examination multiple-choice questions. The exam covers 17 recognized subject areas, including federal law, common law, and California law. Each essay questions tackles one or more of these subject areas. The performance test examines lawyering skills through a simulation of an actual case. The examinees receive only necessary information, including cases and statutes that may differ from real law so that no one has an unfair advantage based on their legal specialty.
If you are preparing for the California State Bar Examination, the following video offers excellent advice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FG_qQcLyuY
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Workers’ Compensation Law
August, 2011
In his legal practice, Richard Widom focuses on resolving workers’ compensation claims for insurance carriers and private employers. With a strong understanding of workers’ compensation law and its application, Richard Widom advises his clients on how to handle a claim. The following is information on workers’ compensation law for employees who are considering filing a claim against their employer.
Many individuals coping with the short and long-term effects of an injury or illness incurred on the jobsite may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. In California and most other states across the country, legal mandates require that an employer pay into a government-sponsored workers’ compensation insurance program. A system specifically designed to facilitate the needs of injured or sick parties, workers’ compensation ensures that employees receive necessary medical and fiscal support following an occurrence in the workplace that compromises their physical health, ability to perform their jobs, and their overall sense of well-being.
To ascertain your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits, contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. In a careful review of your case, lawyers likely focus on the following factors prior to initiating a lawsuit:
1. In order to take advantage of benefits, a person must be employed with a company or individual business owner already paying into a legally salient workers’ compensation program. A capable attorney establishes the solidity of all significant foundational requirements prior to accepting you as a client.
2. Independent contractors, partners in a business, and non-employee laborers may not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. If you fall into any of these categories, your request for injury or illness-related financial recompense may be denied in a court of law.
3. Any physical or mental harm incurred away from your place of work stands as unrelated evidence regarding a workers’ compensation claim. Your lawyer must prove the relevance of your legal petition in order to facilitate the payout of compensation from an employer.
4. Statutes of limitations apply in the majority of requests for workers’ compensation. To prevent any complications or delays in your lawsuit, contact a legal advisor as soon as possible if you plan to file a complaint against your employer.
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