I recently watched on the CBS news and then read about how so many people are disabled in the usa and waiting for social security disability hearings. I also read on this blog http://iannellamummolo.blogspot.com/2008/01/cbs-news-disabled-and-waiting-long.html about the same story. I am just wondering how many actual law firms exist in the united states for the specific type of law and who is the best? If that even exists?
2 responses so far ↓
1 grumpyoldman
They are everywhere. The problem is, and it is a real problem, there are not enough judges. Another problem is people that are not disabled, trying to get it. It clogs up the system.
2 Jonathan G
Most Social Security disability lawyers work in small firms based in a single city or community. To my knowledge, most, if not all of the firms that claim to be “national” are actually based in a city and if they have a case elsewhere in the country, they either associate with a local attorney where the case is being heard, or they send an associate on a cheap flight.
I practice Social Security law in Atlanta and, for example, I occasionally handle hearings for a California based firm.
There are also a number of web sites that function as lead services - they have general information and ask for an email and phone - and the lead is forwarded to a local lawyer.
There is nothing wrong with any of this, but if you are asking how the business of Social Security law works, now you have an answer.
The wait for a hearing is dependent on where you live. Some offices are relatively efficient, with a wait of 7 or 8 months. In Atlanta, where I practice, the wait can be 3 years.
If you want to get a sense of what is going in with the hearing offices in your area, run a Google search for “Social Security Disability Attorneys in XYZ (your city).” Look for the web site of a specific firm, as opposed to a lead service. And don’t hesitate to talk to more than one law firm about your case.
As far as “who is the best,” there is no rating system per se. Speaking for myself only, I think that a disability lawyer who lives in a particular city will get an opportunity to get to know the judges in that city as well as the vocational witnesses and medical experts that regularly appear in those hearing offices. A local lawyer will also get to know many of the doctors who treat disability claimants and, by virtue of those relationships, can get forms and narratives filled out. I think a lawyer with a compelling blog and informative web site can demonstrate his/her familiarity with the area of law and experience.
Hope this helps.