I frequently get emails from frustrated disability claimants who are upset at the long delays.  Often the claimant expresses frustration with his lawyer because of the delays.  Earlier this week, for example, I received an email from an individual who is suffering with a fairly significant medical problems and who is about to lose her home – she wanted to fire her lawyer and retain me.  I responded by telling the claimant that the delays were not her lawyer’s fault and to stay the course.  In that case, I happened to know the lawyer and I also told her that she had very capable counsel.

This morning I received a slightly different question about attorneys, which I will reproduce here:

I hired a law firm to help me with my disability appeal. I am at the ALJ stage and needed help filing that appeal, representing me at the hearing. It is going on 3-4 weeks of talking with the lawyers clerk about filing for me. They say they filed one day, then the next say they are going to be filing, this has gone on 4 times now. Although I have not talked to the actual attorney that will be representing me, I don’t mind as long as the person I do talk to knows what they are doing and are truthful about it. What advice can you give me to handle this situation? Should I fire this firm and find another? I appreciate your suggestions, thoughts, advice.

Thanks,
Leighann

My response: Leighann’s question raises a somewhat different issue than delays.  Here, the problem is lack of communication.  Since short (60 day) deadlines are involved, I think that Leighann has the right to be concerened about missing the deadline.

Bear in mind that not missing deadlines is topic #1 in any malpractice or lawyer discipline seminar.  Every law firm should have a solid calendaring system to insure that no deadlines are missed.

Given the run-around that Leighann has been getting, it may be time for becoming a bit more forceful in her communications.  I would advise her to get the name of the paralegal who is assisting her, then write a letter to the paralegal, with a copy to the lawyer who is the actual representative.  The letter should express her concerns (like she did in her email to me) and ask for a copy of the filed appeal paperwork.   Both copies of this letter should be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested.

I don’t know the law firm at issue, but if they handle Social Security cases regularly, I would be surprised if they did not have the appeal deadlines of their cases under control.  However, nothing gets the attention of a lawyer like a registered letter from a client inquring about possible missed deadlines.