Corporate Unemployment Compensation Hearings
by Michael J. Crocenzi, Esquire

The Commonwealth Court recently held that a corporation must have an attorney represent it at an unemployment compensation hearing. In the Harkness v. UCBR case, the Court found that non-attorneys from a company that routinely represented employers at unemployment compensation hearings were engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.

The practical affect of the decision is that corporations will not be able to have Human Resource directors or other non-attorneys present their case before an unemployment compensation referee. Corporations will need to hire an attorney to present the case. Sole proprietors and partners in a partnership will still be allowed to represent themselves at a hearing.

Please contact Michael Crocenzi, Esq. if you have any questions about the case or need legal representation at an unemployment compensation hearing.