Do You Need a Local Social Security Attorney?

Social Security is a federal program, so one might assume that a local California lawyer may not be needed to handle your case. On the flipside, some might believe that they should only hire a lawyer in their immediate vicinity. Let’s take these issues one by one.

It  is true that Social Security is a federal program, but case law varies from circuit to circuit.  For example, case law in the 9th circuit helps to interpret how the federal statutes should be applied to residents living in the 9th circuit.  Thus, there is both a federal and a circuit component to Social Security Disability law.  Technically, a lawyer from New York could help resolve a case in California, but he/she would have to be well-versed in the existing case law of that district.  It may be unlikely that you would hire an attorney who lives out of state, but it is important to know the legal implications of statutory and case authority, so you can make an informed decision when choosing an attorney.

Finding a Local Social Security Attorney

District issues aside, there is inherent value in meeting with a lawyer in your immediate vicinity, even if Social Security is a national program.    Though the Internet makes it much easier to remain in contact with your attorney and be updated on your case, person to person conferences are important. A claimant needs to have confidence in his or her lawyer’s abilities and meeting directly with a lawyer can instill this sense of confidence.

So hiring a lawyer who works hours away is not necessarily recommended. However, if the Social Security lawyer works a reasonable distance away, this is an important consideration, so long as the attorney understands the particulars of local case law. It is not necessary for the attorney to be in the same neighborhood, or even in the same city, so long as you are fully confident that the attorney is well-versed in the details surrounding your case. What is paramount is an attorney’s experience with California Social Security law on a district and state level.

When researching a Social Security attorney in California you should look for the most qualified attorney in the state – someone who has been working in Social Security law for many years and has represented a wide variety of cases, including a wide variety of possible illnesses that may qualify for benefits. If this means traveling outside your immediate vicinity, you should do so, as you want the most qualified representation available.

In some cases, an attorney will refer you to another attorney in the state. This may be the case if the attorney has too many cases at once and cannot handle the additional workload. This is common and can actually be a good sign that the lawyer wants to devote as much time as possibly to each individual case. If a lawyer is not able to take a case on, it is not necessarily because he or she doesn’t think your case is viable, but because the lawyer has a full workload. If this is the case, you should look for another lawyer within the state of California or seek out a referral.

About Social Security Attorney California:

West Coast Disability Law Group, LLP is an experienced and caring firm. The founding partners have handled thousands of cases and are well-versed in all the areas of Social Security law at every stage. Our attorneys are also knowledgeable in other areas of disability and estate planning law such as veterans disability law, long term disability claims, healthcare directives, and drafting power of attorney documentation.