If you’re looking for a disability lawyer, it’s essential to choose someone who will help you pursue the benefits you deserve. However, a reliable disability lawyer isn’t always easy to find.
There are several qualities that a reliable disability lawyer should have, including experience and honesty. By looking for these traits, you can ensure that you’re working with someone trustworthy and capable of pursuing your disability claim successfully.
Experience
The experience of your disability lawyer is crucial to the success of your claim. It would be best to have someone who has won many cases and has a proven track record.
The right attorney will know how to evaluate your case and craft an effective strategy that improves the odds of getting approved. They will also be able to identify any potential problems in your case and explain them to an administrative law judge.
Another thing to look for is a lawyer who has practiced in your area. This is important because they know the administrative law judges who may hear your case and how to adjust your arguments to appeal if the administrative law judge disagrees with your claim.
You should also be able to get timely callbacks and be treated professionally by the firm. This is especially important if you struggle with dealing with your disability.
Honesty
Honesty is a virtue that promotes trust, fosters healthy relationships, strengthens organizations and societies, and prevents harm. This character trait leads us to think, feel and act honestly.
It also stands against cheating, stealing, breaking promises, misleading, bullshitting, hypocrisy, self-deception, and other forms of wrongdoing.
When looking for a reliable disability lawyer, you want one honest and forthright with you. They shouldn’t make unrealistic claims about winning your case and should be realistic about the time for an initial review or appeals process.
The right attorney will be able to answer your questions, explain how the SSDI or SSI application works and keep you informed of what changes may occur and their plan for handling it. They should also be upfront about their win-loss record and approval rates at the initial review and appeals stages.
Compassion
A compassionate lawyer will be able to empathize with you and understand your situation. They will also be able to recognize your unique needs and create a plan for how they can help you.
Compassion is a feeling of empathy that can extend beyond sympathy to include a desire to alleviate others’ suffering and the causes of their suffering. It involves mindfulness of the emotions of others, empathy, and a willingness to take action to relieve their suffering.
A reliable disability lawyer can show compassion for you and your case. They can make the correct arguments, even when you may be fighting against administrative law judges who are biased against your claim.
Listening Skills
Listening skills are critical for effective communication; attorneys with strong listening skills can build a solid attorney-client relationship. Active listening involves paying attention to the speaker’s gestures, expressions, and other nonverbal cues, as well as their words, so you can understand how they feel about the topic. The listening that you practice varies depending on the situation. Sometimes, it’s enough to make someone feel they’ve been heard; other times, you must invest in the conversation to glean further details or confirm facts. Active listening is also great for demonstrating concern and empathy for others. This can create a sense of mutual trust and respect that encourages honest communication, an essential skill for lawyers.
