Launch of New E-Filing and Case Management System Announced

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) has announced the launch of a new e-filling and case management system. The IWCC is rolling out a new, cloud-based electronic filing and case management system. The system is called CompFile. It allows for paperless filing and processing of court documents for workers’ compensation cases in Illinois.

Michael J. Brennan had been appointed as Chairman to lead the IWCC in March 2019. He made it a priority to modernize the IWCC’s operations. The IWCC had been working for over the past year to create a fully paperless electronic filing system. They brought consulting firm WorkComp Strategies and technical resources from Microsoft Consulting Services on board to design and implement the system.

The system is scheduled to roll out in three phases. On Feb. 10, 2020, the first phase was launched. It involved registration of law firms and account setup. The second phase will begin on July 22, 2020. It will include the drafting, signing, and approval of settlement contracts. The third phase is planned for late fall of 2020. It will incorporate applications, motions, decisions, and reviews.

The first phase was successful. In the first week alone, 1,000 registrations were made. The IWCC provides multiple ways to learn how to navigate the new system on the CompFile Implementation webpage, www.iwcc.il.gov/compfile. The COVID-19 Pandemic has shown us the importance of leveraging technology for remote work.

Around 40,000 applications, 35,000 settlements, thousands of hearings, and tens of thousands of motions and other filings are processed by IWCC every year. Faster processing and immediate, around-the-clock access to critical information for attorneys and their firms, as well as self-represented litigants, will be allowed by the new e-filling system.