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Re: CA Baby Bar Multiple Choice Questions
Posted by Crown Prince on 8/30/08

    I have pleaded fewer than a dozen cases before ALJ judges. My success rate has been good on
    cases that I knew would do well with. Some didn't have a hope or a prayer, but I took them on
    for the experience. I was suprised that some of them won, and suprised that some of them
    lost. What it comes down to, so long as you have a competent judge who isn't an as$hole, is
    medical evidence. If you have a thick file with reports from doctors in your clients favor,
    you will win (most of the time).

    Any idiot can do this. I am not the smartest guy in the world, but I know some people who
    certainly were not the sharpest tool in the shed who have win records of over 90% without
    being selective on cases (at all).

    Crown Prince

    On 8/29/08, WTFE wrote:
    > I did not say it was a bad idea.
    >
    > I have been practicing social security for nearly nine years so I require no education
    > about the legal, medical or procedural issues involved in such a practice. I have clients
    > across five states and built my practice from the ground up. ALL of my clients come to me
    > via an attorney referral.
    >
    > And you are incorrect that its all about paperwork. My trials before the ALJ come down to
    > proving elements like any other civil trial. In fact, if a layperson doesn't know enough
    > about the law of evidence he can easily destroy federal appelate issues for his client.
    >
    > Sure, a layperson can represent claimants before the SSA. They must still be competent
    > and that requires legal knowledge, medical knowledge, procedural and evidence knowledge,
    > and analysis skills.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > On 8/29/08, Patrick wrote:
    >> There are some issues that are relevant with regard to practicing Social Security
    >> Disability Law. First, anyone can practice before an administrative law judge. Second,
    >> there are a great many lay practitioners that are just as effective, and even more
    >> effective, than attorneys.
    >>
    >> My wife has been applying for SSDI benefits (as she is chronically ill) for the last two
    >> years. On the advice of my supervising attorney, she terminated the attorney she had
    >> and went to a lay practitioner the my boss recommended. She prevailed in her hearing
    >> before the administrative law judge.
    >>
    >> As to Crown Prince's idea, it is sound. He may have indeed represented clients in
    >> appellate hearings and may have prevailed. Social Security law is more a matter of
    >> complete paperwork, dotting i's, and crossing t's, than anything else. The SSA is
    >> completely bureaucratic and is not in the business of approving claims. Rather, it is
    >> in the business of doing everything possible to disallow a claim.
    >>
    >> I too have noticed that there are many on here that post and who seem to have no
    >> knowledge whatsoever concerning law schools, the avenues available to those who have to
    >> work, ABA school alternatives, and the day to day practice of the law. It is said that
    >> law school does not teach a person how to practice the law. This they learn in their
    >> first job. Further, the people they learn the practice from are legal assistants and
    >> paralegals. Example - I'm a paralegal and we have a law clerk (3L) working for the firm
    >> now. The supervising attorney doesn't have the time to answer his questions or give him
    >> direction. That is my job.
    >>
    >> Crown Prince and I are coming from the same background and the same direction and
    >> heading in very similar directions. His goal is SS law. Mine is immigration law, which
    >> up until 2003, a lay person could represent a client there as well.
    >>
    >> Good luck with your ideas Crown.
    >>
    >>

     
     

 
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