Windsor Law Professional Education Programs

WSIB covers over 5 million people in more than 300,000 workplaces across Ontario. In 2023, over 240,000 claims were filed with WSIB. At WSIAT, there are about 4,000 active appeals each year.  This Certificate program is designed for licensed paralegals and lawyers. It will cover workplace safety and insurance practice at WSIB and WSIAT, the appeals tribunal. The program will focus on practical skills and best practices. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from and network with practice area experts.

What does the course offer?

This is a foundational course in Workplace Safety and Insurance law and practice, from initial intake to working on behalf of your client through the WSIB process and an appeal at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

What will I learn? 

• A comprehensive overview of WSIB law, policy, and the statutory framework

• Client intake and management strategies for effective case handling

• How to identify key issues and gather the right evidence to support your case

• Techniques for writing persuasive submissions for reconsiderations and appeals

• Best practices for witness preparation and presenting cases at oral hearings

When is the course offered? 

The course will run May 6 – June 12, 2025.

What is the course format?

The course will be online and synchronous.

How much does the program cost?

$4,000 + GST 
 
Is this course OSAP eligible?  

This course is approved as a micro-credential by the Ontario Government (https://microlearnontario.ca). You can apply for financial assistance through OSAP for Micro-credentials (osap.gov.on.ca). 

The form to be completed for OSAP assitance can be found here. 

 
Will this course be offered again at another time? 

Yes, the course will be offered again starting in Fall 2025.
  
Who should take this course? 

This 6-week intensive online course is designed specifically for paralegals and lawyers who are new to this area or looking to expand their practice. Others with experience in WSIB matters will also benefit from this course. Led by industry experts, this hands-on course provides the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to confidently handle WSIB cases, whether advocating for the worker or the employer. 
 
Why should I take this course?  

If you’re interested in practicing in this area or want to expand your existing practice in workplace safety and insurance law, you don’t want to miss this course. By the end of this course, you’ll have the tools and confidence to successfully advocate for your clients in WSIB matters.  

Upon completion of this 6-week intensive course, you will have completed 36 hours in this particular practice area. Some hours qualify as CPD hours with the Law Society of Ontario.  

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate from Windsor Law Professional Education Programs indiciating that you’ve earned this micro-credential. 

Will there be any networking opportunities? 

Yes, there will opportunities to network with fellow participants, instructors, facilitators and others both virtually and in person. In-person meet-and-greet events will be organized in various locations for participants to attend if you wish. 

The course is offered by Windsor Law — does it count as a law school course for which I’ll receive credit? 

The course is not a law school course. Successful completion will not earn you academic credit at Windsor Law or the University of Windsor. This is a micro-credential approved by the Government of Ontario and offered by Windsor Law Professional Education Program at the University of Windsor. Upon successful completion, you will earn a Certificate from Windsor Law Professional Education Program indicating that you've earned this micro-credential.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Practice Certificate – Course Outline

 

Module	Dates
Foundations of WSIB Law
Understanding the WSIB System Legislative and statutory framework Key definitions and coverage Schedule 1 vs Schedule 2 Employers and Costs WSIB adjudicative process  Time limits	May 6, 2025 9am to 12pm
Legal Research in WSIB Law Key sources of law Statutes and regulations Operational Policies and Administrative Practice Documents Case law	May 9, 2025 9am to 12pm
Building a Strong Case
Client Intake & Case Development checklists and intake materials conducting the initial client interview identify legal issues and missing evidence developing a compelling theory of the case	May 13, 2025 9am to 12pm
Gathering and Evaluating Evidence Assessing existing medical and non-medical evidence Identifying gaps in the evidentiary record	May 15, 2025 9am to 12pm
Strengthening Your Case with Medical Evidence
Medical Opinions: When and How to Use Them Determining when an expert opinion is needed Selecting the right expert witness Crafting an effective referral letter Building a strong evidentiary package	May 20, 2025 9am to 12pm
Mastering Reconsideration Requests Understanding the reconsideration process When and how to challenge prior decisions Writing persuasive reconsideration requests	May 22, 2025 9am to 12pm
Effective Written Advocacy
Written Advocacy  Best practices for WSIB and WSIAT written submissions Using affidavit evidence Structuring persuasive arguments	May 27, 2025 9am to 12pm
Client and Witness Management Preparing witnesses for hearings Managing client expectations Addressing capacity concerns and mental health challenges Trauma-informed advocacy	May 29, 2025 9am to 12pm
Litigation & Advocacy Strategies
The Art of Examination Preparing effective examination-in-chief questions Conducting strategic cross-examinations Navigating sensitive issues using trauma-informed techniques	June 3, 2025 9am to 12pm
Mastering Opening and Closing Statements Crafting compelling opening statements Delivering persuasive closing arguments Presentation and advocacy techniques	June 5, 2025 9am to 12pm
Mock WSIAT Hearing
Mock WSIAT Hearing  Presenting opening statements Conducting witness examinations and cross-examinations Delivering closing arguments	June 10, 2025 9am to 12pm
Course Debrief and Coffee Chat
Open Q&A with instructors and industry experts Reflections and key takeaways Networking opportunities	June 12, 2025 9am to 12pm

 

Michelle Zare 

Licensed in 2008, Michelle is the founder of Zare Paralegal Services. Michelle is a dedicated advocate for injured workers across Ontario, with a specialized focus on mental stress injuries among First Responders. She has extensive experience with appeals before the WSIB Appeal Services Division, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), and CPP Disability Appeals before the Social Security Tribunal (SST). Beyond her advocacy, Michelle is deeply involved in legal education. Since 2017, she has co-chaired the Law Society of Ontario’s annual Workers’ Compensation Law program. From 2019-2020 Michellewas a part-time Professor in the Mohawk College Paralegal Program, and she has continued to serve as a member of the Mohawk College Paralegal Program Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the WSIAT Advisory Group. Recently, she was appointed as the lead co-instructor for the University of Windsor Faculty of Law’s new Workplace Safety and Insurance Practice Certificate—an exclusive program for lawyers and licensed paralegals.

Antony Singleton

Antony Singleton, MA (Wellington), DPhil (Oxford), JD (Toronto), was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2007. He has practiced workers’ compensation law for eighteen years, for the first five years in conjunction with a labour law practice at a leading union-side labour boutique in Ontario. He then spent several years representing injured workers at a government agency, the Office of the Worker Adviser, and at IAVGO, a specialty community legal clinic. In 2015, Antony opened his own firm, exclusively representing workers in their workers’ compensation claims and appeals. He speaks regularly about workers’ compensation issues at continuing professional development conferences held by the Law Society and the Ontario Bar Association.

Please connect with us at windsorlawpep@uwindsor.ca.