Back to Claims School
Julio E. Martinez never planned on building a career in workers’ compensation law. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in Neuroscience and originally expected medicine to be part of his future. A professional experience in the legal field introduced him to a different kind of problem-solving and he discovered how much he enjoyed analyzing complicated issues, finding practical solutions, and using the law to resolve real disputes. Law school followed and Julio passed the California Bar Exam in 2007. Nearly two decades later, he leads workers’ compensation strategy nationally while remaining deeply connected to the people and claims that first made the work meaningful to him.
Julio serves as National Managing Partner of Workers’ Compensation for Gilson Daub, LLP. Based in Orange County, California, he provides strategic oversight for the firm’s workers’ compensation practice across jurisdictions and works with executive leadership and regional partners on litigation strategy, national practice standards, attorney development, and operational consistency. His earlier experience representing injured workers gives him an additional perspective on the system and the people navigating it. Today, his practice and leadership bring together legal strategy, professional development, mentorship, and the operational realities of managing workers’ compensation across a national platform.
His curiosity extends well beyond the courtroom. Julio regularly speaks on topics ranging from psychiatric injury claims and wage issues to leadership, mentorship, and professional development. He believes experience becomes more valuable when professionals are willing to share what they have learned with the people coming behind them. Claims College gives him a place to do exactly that. His goal is simple: help students leave with something meaningful they can use immediately and continue carrying throughout their careers.
What originally drew you to workers’ compensation?
Like many people in our industry, I “fell” into workers’ compensation and I love that I did!
I originally planned to study medicine after graduating from UCLA with a degree in Neuroscience. A few years later, I was working in a legal capacity and realized how much I enjoyed analyzing issues, solving problems, and using the law as a guide for resolving real disputes.
I decided to attend law school and four years of hard work eventually paid off when I passed the California Bar Exam. I have not looked back since.
I genuinely enjoy representing our clients while also helping injured workers fairly secure the benefits and treatment they need.
What perspective do you bring to the School of Workers’ Compensation?
Nearly 20 years of practice has exposed me to just about every type of claim and challenge the field can offer.
That breadth of experience allows me to share practical insight with claims professionals, adjusters, and other industry peers who are navigating complex files and managing large books of business.
I want professionals to build confidence in their decision-making and understand how experience can help them recognize issues earlier.
I also want to help people develop the knowledge and skills that allow them to advance in their careers.
Why does that perspective matter for today’s claims professionals?
Claims professionals are expected to balance strategic legal knowledge with real human consideration.
Learning from people who have worked through complex situations gives newer professionals a chance to see how decisions develop in practice. Shared experience can make difficult situations feel more manageable and give people greater confidence when they encounter similar issues themselves.
I also think we need to normalize how challenging this profession can be. Everyone started somewhere and most of us benefited from mentors who helped us find our footing.
Passing that knowledge forward is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.
What is one missed opportunity you regularly see within workers’ compensation?
Many people outside the industry do not understand how much workers’ compensation has to offer.
They may think of it simply as “insurance stuff” involving injured workers. The profession actually brings together law, medicine, claims, leadership, operations, analytics, communication, and countless opportunities to build meaningful relationships.
Workers’ compensation can offer a rewarding career in an industry that continues to evolve.
I would love to see more people recognize the possibilities available here.
What has professional experience taught you that a textbook never could?
Self-motivation matters tremendously.
You can study, read, write, and learn as much as possible. A strong internal work ethic is what turns knowledge into progress in a very practical sense.
You have to keep pushing yourself forward and remain willing to do the work.
When you develop that kind of discipline, your possibilities expand considerably.
What do you hope students gain from learning with you at Claims College?
I hope every student leaves with at least one meaningful takeaway they can apply immediately.
If I can help someone become a stronger professional, prepare for the next stage of their career, or see an issue from a new perspective, then our time together has created value.
I want the learning to stay with them after Claims College ends.
The best outcome would be for someone to encounter a future challenge and recognize something from our conversation that helps them move forward with greater confidence.
Complete this sentence: “Excellent claims professionals understand that…”
Not every claim can be handled the same.
A multifaceted person sits behind every new claim. When someone is injured, the benefits, treatment, communication, and support surrounding the claim need to reflect the individual circumstances involved.
Strong claims professionals learn the technical requirements and stay thoughtful enough to recognize the human differences within every file.
What advice would you give someone building a career in workers’ compensation?
Keep pushing forward and learn as much as you can from as many people as possible.
At times, the profession can feel like drinking from a fire hose. Keep going. The work becomes easier to understand as your experience grows.
And just when you think you have seen or heard everything, workers’ compensation will teach you something new.
Network and connect with people throughout the industry. Those relationships remind you how supportive this community can be and why building a career here can be so rewarding.
What might Claims College students enjoy knowing about you?
I love to sing whenever I get the chance.
Give me an older favorite song and I will happily sing along. I am also perfectly content singing a cappella when the mood strikes.
Apparently, national workers’ compensation leadership and spontaneous singing can coexist quite well.
You may just want to choose your seat carefully at Claims College. J
Ready to Head Back to Claims School?
The strongest claims professionals never stop learning. Join the workers’ compensation community in Baltimore from September 9–11, 2026, for the CLM Claims College and three days of practical education, meaningful discussion, and professional connection. The School of Workers’ Compensation gives students the opportunity to strengthen technical knowledge, sharpen professional judgment, and learn directly from experienced industry leaders. Each class is designed to help professionals return to their organizations with greater confidence and new ideas they can apply to their work. Explore the School of Workers’ Compensation and reserve your seat at Claims College today.
The CLM Claims College School of Workers’ Compensation is powered by Paradigm. WorkersCompensation.com proudly sponsors the School’s study halls.
