How to Select the Right Lawyer for a Social Security Appeals Hearing

Selecting the right lawyer for a Social Security Appeals Hearing is the same as selecting a lawyer for any other specialization. He should specialize in the field and not do disability hearings in a general practice firm which focuses on divorces, real estate and criminal law. Getting the right lawyer depends on the lawyer's qualifications and whether he communicates well with his potential client.

Finding Someone Who Specializes in Social Security Appeals

It is important to have an attorney who specializes in Social Security appeals and not someone who does them occasionally. An attorney who spends lots of time each month before an administrative law judge will usually be an expert in the field. Likewise, an attorney who spends his day preparing for disability appeals is usually someone who is well-versed in disability law.

A representative may go to the Social Security appeals hearing instead of a lawyer. A good representative will be someone who is familiar with Social Security law because she has been to many hearings or has worked in the Social Security Administration (SSA). A former claims representative or Examiner in the SSA will have a wealth of knowledge about disability appeals. That person may be as valuable as a lawyer who does Social Security appeals because she will have insider knowledge about how the system works. Even a health care professional may have years of experience doing disability appeals. 

Things to Look for In a Good Lawyer or Representative

It helps to interview the lawyer or representative. A prospective client should feel comfortable with someone who may change her life by doing a good job in a disability appeal hearing. A prospective client should ascertain whether the lawyer returns his phone calls quickly or whether he waits awhile before doing so. The client should remember that she is hiring the lawyer and that he works for her.

Another thing to look for is whether the lawyer makes the client feel important. If he's filing the appeal for the client, he should do so without delay. Any lawyer who allows an appeal application to sit on his desk for awhile, such as a few weeks, will delay the hearing. Also, the lawyer's years of experience and success rate can be a measure of whether this is the right attorney for the job. Other good indicators are if the lawyer seems knowledgeable about disability and if the client feels she can trust him. If the lawyer equivocates, does not answer questions, or fails to explain procedure, the client may want to seek someone else for her case.