This week marked the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission opening up for live hearings at the Daley Center. I was able to squeeze in a trial on Thursday, June 17th. For those who are wondering how to get to the new Commission location, here is my attempt at directions:
- Enter the Daley Center from the Washington Street side. As of Thursday, June 17th they were still requring masks in the hallways and common areas, so be sure to bring a mask.
- Once you enter the Daley Center, you will have your temperature taken. On your right will be the security lines to enter the courthouse. You don’t want to go that way. Instead, go to your left and take the escalator down to the lower levels.
- After the first escalator, you can hang a left and head for the security line / attorney entry if you don’t want to carry your trial bags down the next flight of stairs. But if you’re traveling light, all you have to do is keep walking straight off the escalator to the stairs that will take you to the lower level. If you don’t want to have to go through the security line, you will need your Cook County Sheriff’s ID to get through if you’re an attorney.
- If you take the elevator down, take a left as you exit and you will see a long corridor. Follow that corridor all the way to the end. The Commission is on the right at the very end of that corridor.
- If you take the stairs down, you will walk into an area that looks like the DMV. It’s not the DMV, but when you see it you’ll know what I mean. Hang a quick right and then another quick right and you’re in the same corridor as the elevator people.
- Follow that corridor all the way down and the Commission is on your right.
- The ladies’ restroom is right next to the Commission. The one men’s restroom I saw was at the beginning of the corridor. So as you leave the Commission, and walk back towards the elevators / stairs, the men’s restroom is on your right just before you get to the elevators / stairs.
The Commission’s office is very nice. When you walk in, the Commission staff are right there. To get to the waiting area, just head to your right and follow the hallway. The waiting area opens up on your right. A few more steps and a right will lead you to the hearing rooms. Everything is new. New carpet. Freshly painted walls. New furniture. Feels very Federal. For those who have appeared before Federal agencies, you’ll know what I mean when you see it.
Congratulations to the Commission. It’s a very professional hearing site, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to have a hearing during the first week of operations. I look forward to the next one!
If you would like to know more about how workers’ compensation law works in Illinois, you can read all about it in my new book: The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law Field Guide. The book is available via Kindle and in paperback. You can also reach out to me if you find yourself in a bad situation with a workers’ comp claim, or if you’ve been injured at work and want to start off on the right foot. All initial consultations are free of charge. I look forward to hearing from you!