BEFORE STARTING THE ACTUAL HEARING
I have the Determination and Hearing Notice open in separate tabs
ALWAYS RECORD YOURSELF DIALING IN, state the phone number and your 6-digit code on the record, and record even the periods of silence if nobody is present.
Once in the conference, if anybody is present, start by announcing that this is an administrative proceeding and it is being recorded, identify who is already on the call (and avoid unnecessary chatter)
If not all parties are present, explain that you need to wait 10 minutes for all to appear, remind whomever is there that they are being recorded in the interim.
STARTING THE HEARING
Administrative hearing
Being recorded
Identify self – name, attorney, hearing examiner
Appeal no., case name (appellant v appellee), identify appellant (claimant or employer)
Identify document being appealed from: state date, effect (you can read the penalty, although I usually don’t)
Identify critical hearing information: READ ISSUE STATEMENT FROM HEARING NOTICE, state that it is a telephonic hearing, state date, scheduled time of hearing, current time
“DESIGNATE” the Agency record: reason for appeal, fact-finding documents (we have a little speech to describe what they are)
SWEAR IN PARTIES
Have each party confirm their address, whether they are waiting for anybody else, and have the claimant ID last 4 of SSN
EXPLAIN HEARING PROCEDURE (claimant starts in a quit, employer starts in a discharge, and agency [if present] starts in an agency case), including right to cross, closing statements