Vocational Experts – Rachel Hawk, owner of WORK – WISE, Inc. has worked in both the public and private sectors for thirty years providing vocational analysis, research, training and job placement to adults, including those with disabilities. For the past twenty years, she has specialized as a vocational expert and consultant. Her forensic work involves analysis of family law, workers compensation, personal injury and employment law cases. As a member of Bay Area Vocational Experts (B.A.V.E.), Ms. Hawk helped establish standards used in family law cases. This set of standards was reviewed by peers, attorneys and judges to insure it met the needs of all involved in family law cases. Ms. Hawk is a Diplomate with The American Board of Vocational Experts, a member of International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals and The Collaborative Council of The Redwood Empire, an organization in the North San Francisco Bay Area devoted to divorce without court.

RACHEL HAWK, M.S., C.R.C., D/A.B.V.E.

Vocational Consultant and Expert

829 Sonoma Avenue

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

(707) 823-7889 Fax: (707) 823-8861

E-mail:[email protected]

EDUCATION

Graduate Business Course Vocational Economic Analysis (Spring 1997), Marylhurst College, Marylhurst, OR.
M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling, California State University, San Francisco (1974)
B. S. Sociology, California State University, San Francisco (1971)

CREDENTIALS

Diplomate American Board of Vocational Experts (1999) Santa Cruz, Ca. #1531
C.R.C. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, The Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, (1976) Rolling Meadows, IL #C007598

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1994 – Present: Vocational Expert. Called upon to provide expert vocational opinion in personal injury, workers compensation, employment law and marital dissolution cases. Evaluations include determining employment marketability by transferable skills assessment and testing. This involves looking at all possible skills which can be used in any new employment and conducting labor market research to determine earning capacity and market conditions. Assessment of opposing expert’s relevant documents and/or testimony. Detailed wage loss analysis when medical restrictions apply. Deposition and trial experience. Asked to be the first vocational expert member of the Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire.

1982 – 2002: Owner Work-Wise a full service vocational counseling and evaluation firm. Providing comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to the workers’ compensation insurance industry. Services included assessing and researching vocational alternatives based on post-injury medical data, transferable skills, and a variety of testing. Labor market research analysis and job placement services. Testimony on rehabilitation issues for Workers Compensation Appeals Board.

1977 – 1982: Rehabilitation Specialist State of California Department of Rehabilitation. Assigned a variety of unique cases, which required being responsible for developing and implementing individualized plans for academic, vocational re-training and job placement of individuals with psychological and medical impairments. Worked closely with physicians and psychiatrists to develop specialized rehabilitation services.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

July 2008 to present: Vocational consultant On Your Feet Foundation – San Francisco

The On Your Feet Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps birthmothers who have placed a child for adoption achieve personal and financial independence

PUBLICATIONS

Verdicts & Settlements Supplement to The Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal

February 1998 Co-authored “Establishing an Earnings Base as a Need Offset in Divorce Cases” Family Law News Vol. 21 #1

PRESENTATIONS

Presented: The role of the Vocational Consultant in Collaborative and Family law. Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire August 2015
Presented: The Vocational Expert: Issues of disability, gaps in employment, earning capacity or career counseling? Reasonable time frames of return to work plans. Family Law Section of the Napa County Bar September 2013
Presented “Lessons From the Labor Market” Family Law Section of the Marin County Bar March 2013
Presented “Family Law and the Vocational Expert” International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals seminar February, 2013
Presented “Vocational Evaluations in Family Law “ Family Law Section of the Marin County Bar August 2011
Presented “Vocational Analysis in Collaborative Law” Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Marin April 2009
Presented “ Vocational Analysis in Collaborative Law” Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire March 2009
Presented “Vocational Evaluations in Family Law Cases” Family Law Section of the Solano County Bar April 2007
Presented “Vocational Analysis – Bits and Pieces” to Family Law Section of the Napa County Bar March 2007
Member of a panel discussion on “How to use a Vocational Expert” Family Law Section of the Sonoma County Bar continuing education luncheon September 2006.
Developed and Coordinated a panel discussion about “Collaborative Divorce and the Role of the Vocational Expert” California Association of Rehabilitation and Re-employment Professionals annual convention October 2005
Member of a panel discussion on “Standards of Practice in California Family Law” American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE) Fall Conference October 2004
Member of a panel discussion on “Practice Management Techniques in a Marital Dissolution” American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE) Spring Conference March 2003
Employment Law seminar at The California Attorney Generals Office Oakland, November 8, 2002
Employment Law seminar at The California Attorney General’s Office Sacramento, May 28, 2002

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Member- ABVE Credentials Committee & Peer Reviewer

Diplomate – American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE)

Secretary – International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals CA Chapter 2012-2015

Member – International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP)

Member – Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire (CCRE)

CONTINUING FORENSIC EDUCATION

3/28-3/30/14 ABVE (American Board of Vocational Experts) Spring Conference

9/6-9/7/13 Life TEAM Health Progressive Goal Attainment Program San Diego, CA Seminar

4/12/13-4/14/13 ABVE (American Board of Vocational Experts) Spring Conference

2/9/13 CAL-IARP – (International Association Rehabilitation Professionals) State Conference

3/26/10-3/28/10 ABVE (American Board of Vocational Experts) Spring Conference

3/27/09-4/29/09 ABVE Spring Conference

4/4/08-4/6/08 ABVE Spring Conference

10/19/07-10/21/07 ABVE Fall Conference

3/30/07/074/1/07 ABVE Spring Conference

9/23/05-9/25/05 ABVE Fall Conference

11/12/13/14/04 Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire Mediation Skills for Collaborative Practitioners

10/1/04-10/3/04 ABVE Fall Conference

10/8/03-10/12/03 ABVE Fall Conference

3/20/03-3/23/03 ABVE Spring Conference

9/13/02-9/15/02 Collaborative Divorce Training sponsored by San Francisco Collaborative Law Group

3/15/02-3/17/02 ABVE Spring Conference

10/15/01-10/16/01 Council on Education in Management Untangling the FMLA, ADA and Workers Compensation overlap

3/23/01-3/25/01 ABVE Spring Conference

10/6/00-10/7/00 ABVE Fall Conference