At Hankins & Hankins Vocational Consulting, we’ve worked with hundreds of individuals whose lives changed overnight—due to workplace accidents, injuries, chronic illnesses, or psychological trauma. For them, the question is rarely simple: “Can I return to work?” Instead, it’s often more complex: “What kind of work can I do now?”
Navigating that question is where we come in.
As experienced labor market access analysts, forensic vocational consultants, and vocational expert witnesses, our mission is clear: to help people understand their true vocational potential after life-altering events and guide legal professionals in quantifying that potential in objective, evidence-based ways.
When the Work You Knew Is No Longer Possible
Many of our clients come to us after a career-ending injury or diagnosis. Whether they’ve been a machinist for 20 years, a nurse on their feet all day, or a construction foreman managing active sites, they’ve built their livelihoods around specific skills and physical capabilities.
But when those capabilities are suddenly limited, the path forward becomes unclear.
That’s where our unique role begins: not just assessing loss, but identifying opportunity within limitation.
What Does a Labor Market Access Analyst Do?
A labor market access analyst is tasked with determining what types of employment a person can reasonably pursue following an injury or medical condition, based on their current abilities, education, and regional job market conditions.
Our Evaluation Process
At Hankins & Hankins, our labor market access assessments include:
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A detailed review of medical restrictions and doctor reports
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Analysis of work history and transferable skills
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Identification of occupations aligned with the client’s new functional abilities
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Consideration of geographic, economic, and remote work trends
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Estimation of post-injury earning capacity and job availability
We don’t simply look at job titles—we assess the actual feasibility of reemployment, retraining, and career transition. This ensures that our clients and their legal teams have a realistic understanding of what the future might hold.
Forensic Vocational Consultant: Applying Vocational Science to Legal Cases
In personal injury, workers’ compensation, and employment law cases, vocational issues often become central to legal arguments. That’s where we serve as forensic vocational consultants, offering our objective expertise within the legal context.
How We Contribute to Legal Strategy
We work closely with attorneys, insurers, and courts to:
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Evaluate the loss of earning capacity due to injury or illness
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Determine the individual’s ability to participate in the workforce
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Recommend vocational rehabilitation or retraining when applicable
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Quantify future earning losses and vocational limitations
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Provide written reports that comply with legal standards and are trial-ready
Our evaluations are built to be evidence-based, impartial, and defensible. We recognize that legal decisions often hinge on vocational facts—so our goal is to bring those facts forward in a clear, compelling, and professional way.
Testifying as a Vocational Expert Witness
When cases proceed to trial or hearing, our team members are often called upon to serve as vocational expert witnesses. This role involves presenting our findings in court and helping judges and juries understand the vocational and economic impact of an individual’s injury or disability.
What Makes Our Testimony Effective
Being a successful expert witness requires more than expertise—it demands clarity, confidence, and the ability to explain technical information in understandable terms.
At Hankins & Hankins, we pride ourselves on our ability to:
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Deliver clear, non-technical testimony in court or deposition
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Stay composed and accurate under cross-examination
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Support our findings with data from trusted sources
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copyright the highest standards of professional integrity and objectivity
Our goal in the courtroom is simple: educate, clarify, and support the truth.
A Real Client Journey: From Physical Loss to Professional Reinvention
Let’s take a look at how our team helped one client reshape their career after tragedy.
Client: A 45-year-old warehouse supervisor with 18 years of experience
Injury: Spinal trauma resulting in permanent lifting restrictions
Challenge: Could no longer perform manual labor or stand for extended periods
Our Role in the Case
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As labor market access analysts, we identified new roles in logistics and inventory control that aligned with his skills but involved less physical strain.
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As forensic vocational consultants, we calculated his reduced earning capacity and presented retraining recommendations.
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As vocational expert witnesses, we testified at trial, explaining why certain job roles were no longer feasible and how his earning trajectory had shifted.
Outcome: The court awarded vocational rehabilitation funding and loss-of-earning compensation. The client completed training in inventory software systems and now works in supply chain management—at a desk, with a new purpose.
Why Clients and Legal Professionals Choose Hankins & Hankins
Our multidisciplinary team at Hankins & Hankins Vocational Consulting offers more than vocational evaluation—we offer clarity, guidance, and credibility when it matters most.
What Sets Us Apart
Decades of combined experience in vocational rehabilitation and expert testimony
Thorough, defensible reports tailored to each case
Up-to-date labor market analysis using real-time job data and trends
Courtroom-ready consultants who are as confident on the stand as they are in their assessments
Empathy and respect for the human side of every case we touch
Final Thoughts: Rebuilding Careers with Precision and Compassion
Career-ending injuries and disabilities can leave people feeling lost, frustrated, and unsure of their future. But with the right support, the road ahead doesn’t have to be filled with uncertainty.
At Hankins & Hankins Vocational Consulting, our work as labor market access analysts, forensic vocational consultants, and vocational expert witnesses allows us to give clients the information—and hope—they need to move forward.
Whether you're an attorney navigating a complex case or an individual facing career reinvention, we’re here to bring clarity, objectivity, and compassion to the table.
Ready to work with vocational experts you can trust?
Contact Hankins & Hankins Vocational Consulting today:
[Hankins & Hankins Vocational Consulting]
Let’s turn uncertainty into opportunity—together.