How Do You Find Social Security Attorneys?

Q: What is the best way to find social security attorneys?

A: The most reliable way to find social security attorneys is through recommendations. If you know some people who have recently been through the disability benefits claim process, ask if they had representation from social security attorneys. If you do not have a recommendation, you can contact the bar association for your state. They will have a listing of licensed attorneys. You can also do an internet search for the term “social security attorneys” and the name of your city and state. Most attorneys are online and you can learn more about their practices via their web sites. Your local yellow pages will also have listings for social security attorneys.

Q: What should you ask an attorney you are considering hiring for your disability claim?

A: It is important to always speak with an attorney before you hire him or her. Ideally, you would meet the attorney in person for an informal interview, but you can also do it via the telephone. You want to be comfortable with the communication style and approach the attorney will use to handle your case, and the best way to determine that is by actually speaking with him or her. The first question to ask is how often the attorney deals with social security disability claims and how long he or she has been practicing this type of law. You want an attorney whose primary focus is disability and who has solid experience dealing with the claims process. The second thing to ask is if the attorney will accompany you during a hearing. Some firms send non attorney representatives instead of social security attorneys to represent clients during a hearing. The last thing to ask is what challenges the attorney sees with your particular case and what he or she would do to address them. These basic questions will give you an opportunity to learn about the experience and expertise of the attorney and also lets you determine if you would be comfortable working with him or her.