Associate Dean Chong presents on judicial writing at WCAB retreat

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.—Nicole Chong, associate dean of legal writing at Penn State Dickinson Law, was recently invited to speak at the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB) retreat. Her session, titled "Judicial Opinion Writing," provided WCAB commissioners and staff with practical strategies for drafting clear, well-structured appellate opinions.

Drawing on her expertise as the instructor of “Research and Writing for Judicial Clerkships,” Associate Dean Chong offered tailored guidance on opinion writing within the WCAB’s appellate framework. The WCAB reviews decisions from approximately 90 workers’ compensation judges across the Commonwealth, addressing cases involving workplace injuries, occupational diseases, and fatal claims.

Her presentation emphasized the preferred structure of appellate opinions and included a refresher on legal writing fundamentals, such as clarity, conciseness, and effective editing techniques.

Associate Dean and Professor of Legal Writing Nicole Chong is an active member of the Legal Writing Institute and the Association of Legal Writing Directors. Before joining the faculty, she was an associate with Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling in Philadelphia, where her work primarily focused on commercial litigation. Chong was involved in a variety of matters, including representing a major international telecommunications carrier in collection matters and a local manufacturer and retailer of fashion accessories in patent infringement litigation, as well as local and national companies in contract and tort litigation. She also was a member of Klett Rooney’s Appellate Practice Section.