Legal Question in Workers Comp in California

I'm not sure why you posted this under Worker's Compensation, as that system involves administrative law claims and appeals, and not lawsuits, which are outside of that system. Generally, an attorney should not need a power of attorney, if he or she is acting on your behalf. With respect to your second question, the trust account should be a "client" trust account, and not the attorney's personal account. The attorney is not allowed to keep his own money in that account, but rather client's money. (With the exception of small amounts to pay for bank charges.) This question should have been posted to the Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility section.