The Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) is the state agency that can assist injured employees with their workers' compensation claims. Our mission is to assist, educate, and advocate on behalf of the injured employees of Texas. OIEC can help injured employees (or beneficiaries of employees who die from a work-related accident) if they have a Texas workers' compensation claim, and aren't represented by an attorney. OIEC has an advocacy role in the workers' compensation system and works on behalf of injured employees. We are a state agency, but separate from the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) that regulates the workers’ compensation system. OIEC provides free assistance in 21 offices across the state. Agency services include advocacy, customer service, and dispute assistance through OIEC’s Ombudsman Program. The agency is led by Public Counsel Jessica Barta.