Although you are not required to use a disability lawyer in San Diego for your disability case, statistics show that those who make their claim with the assistance of a lawyer have a considerably better chance of being approved by the SSA. If you decide to seek representation in your case, you should keep a few things in mind as you begin looking for the right lawyer.
Professional and courteous: When you first contact a potential lawyer pay particular attention to the way you are treated by both the lawyer and the members of the staff. Disability law firms are busy places but this should not have any negative effect on your being able to ask questions and receive call-backs.
Access to the lawyer: Don’t be surprised or disappointed if you can get access to the lawyer every time you call and don’t be surprised if you are asked to speak to someone else in the firm. Popular disability lawyers spend a lot of their time in hearings with the SSA and rely heavily on their well chosen staff to field questions on their behalf.
Promises of results: It is unfair to you and strictly unethical on the part of the lawyer to guarantee you that your application will be approved. The best you can expect from a good disability claim lawyer in San Diego is his or her honest assessment of the outcome after digesting all the facts.
Success rates: Although a good lawyer will not even suggest that your case will be approved, it stands to reason that if the firm is good, it will have a good track record of getting approvals for their clients, ask:
- What is your overall rate of approval?
- What is your rate of approval if the case goes to a hearing?
- How often do you win full benefits for your clients?
Credentials: It is not necessary for a lawyer to be licensed to represent applicants at disability hearings, as a matter of fact your representative does not have to be a lawyer; anyone can represent you. However, a good lawyer that focuses on disability cases will know Social Security law inside out. Find out from your candidate how long he or she has been practicing disability law, if they are licensed in your jurisdiction and their case load.
