Malcolm Crosland Discusses the Year’s Highlights as His Tenure as WILG President Concludes

Last year, Steinberg Law Firm attorney Malcolm Crosland was elected president of the Workers’ Injury Law and Advocacy Group (WILG). WILG is a national non-profit organization committed to advancing the interests of those who suffer from workplace injuries and illnesses. The group primarily assists attorneys and non-profit groups in advocating on behalf of injured workers through education, communication, research, and information-gathering.

At the end of September, attorney Crosland’s term as WILG President ended. In a recent interview, Crosland discussed some of the past year’s highlights and challenges as he passed the torch to the incoming president.

One of the most significant accomplishments was the creation of the WILG task force. The WILG task force was formed to advocate against the planned revisions of the sixth edition of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, which are used to determine the amount of compensation an injured worker can recover for their accident-related disability.

Two years ago, the AMA announced its intention to revise the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. While the AMA was unclear in their changes that would take place, attorney Crosland worried that any changes to the Guides would negatively impact injured workers, either by making it harder for them to obtain benefits or by reducing the amount of benefits they are entitled to. When the sixth edition of the Guides was released, it was heavily criticized for reducing impairment ratings. Several states and workers’ compensation systems rejected the Guides, finding that they were unfair to injured workers.

Attorney Crosland is also proud that, under his leadership, WILG has continued working toward bettering diversity within the organization—both in terms of overall membership and board positions. Recognizing the benefits of diversity, Crosland hired a diversity consultant to revise the organization’s diversity policy, which resulted in several permanent changes to policies and procedures that will help ensure a more diverse membership base moving forward.

While Crosland’s term as president has now concluded, he continues to remain on several committees. Attorney Crosland also plans to continue his advocacy for workers’ rights and practice law in workers’ compensation and personal injury with the Steinberg Law Firm, where he is a partner in their Charleston, South Carolina office.

The Steinberg Law Firm was founded in 1927, and since then, has tirelessly advocated on behalf of injured workers. The founder of Steinberg Law Firm, Irving Steinberg, was instrumental in getting the first workers’ compensation laws passed in South Carolina. The Steinberg Law Firm carries on this legacy today, representing clients across all industries who suffer injuries as the result of a workplace accident. Steinberg Law attorneys have more than 170 years of combined experience helping injured workers recover the compensation they need and deserve following a serious workplace accident. For more information, visit their website at https://www.steinberglawfirm.com or call (843) 720-2800.