Legal Question in Workers Comp in California

The WCAB must approve a person to be a hearing representative; yo need to check with the WCAB as to their rules, but a long time ago hearing representatives could not handle anything but conferences. As to yourself, unless yo were told that the attorney yo hired was not going to appear themselves at hearing, then the attorney is breaching his contract with you. I do not believe State Bar rules allow a hearing rep to represent a client at a litigated hearing. Contact your attorney and askhim/her what is going on and is such authorized?