How to Find a Disability Lawyer, Attorney, or Representative for Social Security Benefits

Having the right lawyer for your Social Security disability case can easily make the difference between winning and losing a claim for benefits, so deciding whether to get legal help—and which attorney to hire—is no small matter. You aren't required to get a lawyer for your SSDI claim, but it's a smart idea, especially if you have a complex medical history or have already received multiple denials.

After you've made the decision to get a lawyer, you can then choose whether you want to hire a large nationwide firm, a smaller "boutique" local practice, or a solo practitioner. Excellent disability attorneys can be found in law firms of any size. If you're not sure where to begin your search—or you'd like to narrow down your options—here are some answers to commonly asked questions and helpful tips on finding a good disability lawyer.

Where Can I Find the Best Disability Lawyers Near Me?

Most people begin looking for legal representation online. You can type in search strings such as "disability lawyers," "SSDI attorneys near me," or "Social Security disability law firms" into your preferred web browser and come up with plenty of results.

Two sites that are part of the Nolo family, Lawyers.com and Avvo.com, provide free lawyer directories. These directories allow you to search by location and area of law, and they list detailed information about lawyers. You can visit www.lawyers.com/find-a-lawyer or www.avvo.com/find-a-lawyer to find out more.

If you'd like a free consultation, you can sign up for a case evaluation with our partner, Premier Disability Services. Premier provides disability experts who can help you fill out your application, gather medical information, and meet Social Security's deadlines. If your case goes to a hearing, they'll also provide a lawyer in your area.

Getting the Most Out of Your Disability Attorney Search

During your search, you might be faced with an overwhelming abundance of local lawyers. Here are a few ways you can get your search down to a manageable number of potential representatives.

Recommendations from Friends

If you have a friend or family member who hired an attorney to help with their SSDI claim, reach out and ask them if they were happy with their legal counsel. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to find a good disability lawyer (and avoid not-so-good ones). Even if your friend used a lawyer's services for an issue unrelated to disability, you may want to contact that attorney directly and ask them if they can recommend a colleague with a background in Social Security disability law.

Your State's Bar Association

Most state bar associations maintain an official lawyer directory where you can search all attorneys admitted to practice in your state. You can further sort the directory results by area of legal practice, which may be "Disability Law," "Social Security Law," or even "Elder Law," depending on how your state classifies SSDI advocates. The bar association keeps track of which lawyers have had disciplinary actions taken against them, as well as whether attorneys are currently practicing or on inactive status (retired).

Reviews and Testimonials

When you're conducting your attorney search online, you may see reviews from former clients, especially for larger firms. These testimonials can be a helpful guide if you use the information wisely—even experienced disability lawyers won't win every case, and people who don't win their cases aren't likely going to provide positive feedback about their representative. A smart approach is to look for general trends in reviews. If both good and bad reviews mention that the attorney responded promptly to client communications, for example, that's a strong sign that you won't have to chase them down to get information about your claim.

What Questions Should I Ask to Find a Good Disability Attorney?

Once you've come up with a list of disability lawyers you're considering as potential representatives, reach out to each office individually. Most disability law firms provide consultations where you can speak with an attorney and get an idea of how successful your claim is going to be. You may use this opportunity to ask questions about how the firm operates and what you can expect from their representation. Questions you could ask include:

• Do you have experience representing people with my health condition?
• What are my chances of getting approved?
• How many Social Security cases do you handle each year?
• Do you have a dedicated medical records department?
• Will you help me arrange doctors' visits or lab appointments to get any required tests?
• Will a licensed attorney attend my hearing?
• How will we discuss my case before the hearing?
• What out-of-pocket expenses will I need to reimburse the firm for?
• How does your fee arrangement work?

Disability lawyers are often fairly busy, especially those who work for large firms with heavy SSDI caseloads. While attorneys aren't able to prioritize one individual client at the expense of another, they are still required by the rules of professional conduct to maintain reasonable communication with their clients. Lawyers can decline to take your case if they don't think they can effectively represent you given their current caseload, so don't get discouraged if you don't get an attorney on your first try.

It's important to find a lawyer who strikes the right balance for you in terms of communication style. Somebody who is fine with a laid-back approach might feel comfortable letting their attorney take the wheel and having them check in only when necessary, while somebody who prefers more frequent communications may want a firm whose staff provides regular updates even when there's been no change in the status of the claim.

Qualities to Look For in a Disability Lawyer (and Red Flags to Avoid)

Applying for disability benefits can be an additional frustration during what's usually an already stressful period, and your attorney's demeanor should reflect your needs. Your lawyer should listen to your concerns and treat you with respect at all times. You can generally get a good sense of whether you'll "gel" with a representative by talking with them and noticing how they answer your questions. If they seem dismissive, distracted, or hostile, look elsewhere.

Social Security lawyers mostly work on contingency—meaning they get paid out of your past due benefits only if you win—so a disability attorney asking for an upfront retainer fee should set off alarm bells. Additionally, your lawyer shouldn't make any promises about the outcome of your case. Almost every disability attorney has been surprised when a case they thought was a non-starter turned out to be a winner (and vice versa). Your lawyer should give you a frank assessment of the pros and cons of your case without saying you'll definitely win or lose.

Ideally, your lawyer should be open, honest, and transparent with you about Social Security's disability determination process and your chances of success at every step. They should be able to explain the process in terms you understand and avoid confusing legal jargon. Using overly technical phrases without explanation can mean that you won't have all the information you need to make important decisions, such as when your alleged onset date should be.

When Should I Start Looking at Disability Lawyers?

Most people only start looking for disability attorneys after they've been denied benefits first. But others hire representatives before they even file for SSDI so that they can get help completing the application. Getting help early can help increase your chances of getting benefits after waiting only a few months rather than a year or two.

For an appeal hearing in front of an administrative law judge, you'll almost certainly want to have a disability attorney. Your lawyer will be familiar with a number of advanced strategies they can use to increase your chances of winning at this level that most self-represented claimants won't necessarily be able to implement successfully. And if you've already received an unfavorable decision from a disability judge and want to proceed further, it's important that you get legal advice in order to determine your next steps without jeopardizing your claim.

Applying for SSDI With a Disability Attorney

If you choose to hire a disability lawyer before you begin your application for benefits, you can ask your representative to walk you through the process of filing your claim. Social Security provides several methods for you to start your application, so you should ask your attorney which option works best for you.

You can also file your application on your own if you'd rather wait to hire a lawyer. You can apply online using Social Security's web portal or call the agency's national hotline at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0078) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you'd prefer, you can file in person at your local Social Security field office. Field offices are usually open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but some require you to make an appointment before you visit, so you should call ahead to see if you need to schedule a time to come in.