HOW WE HELP THE DISABLED

An advocate defined is:  One who pleads the case of another before a judge or decision maker.

The primary job of an advocate is to speak for the client, to obtain benefits for the client and protect his or her interests.

There are many aspects of this responsibility.  The advocate will often perform some or all of the following functions:

• Appear before judges to represent the claimant or represent his/her interests
• Gather evidence or helpful information to support a claim or position taken by the claimant
• Analyze medical records or other evidence
• Write briefs or supporting documents to help the case
• Decide the best approach to a case
• Direct the case as it is put together piece by piece
• Answer questions for the claimant
• File appeals on unfavorable decisions

The typical disability hearing will last 45 to 60 minutes.  However, there are probably hundreds of hours spent preparing for that short hearing.

I use the example of a test.  A student may only spend 45 minutes taking a test.  But that's not what is important.  His grade depends on how much preparation he did before he sat down for the test. 

A good disability advocate will spend a lot of time with a case before it ever goes to a hearing before a judge.  These "behind the scene" hours may not been seen or realized by the client; however, they are the key to a good outcome.

I once heard a person remark, "He (attorney) gets paid well for attending a 45-minute hearing."  I wish it worked that way but it does not.  That 45 minute hearing is just the culmination of months, and sometimes years, of preparation.

If the Forsythe Firm accepts your case for representation, we commit to working hard to give you the best representation possible.  

I think it was Thomas Edison who said, "Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."  For the successful disability advocate it is no different!