Quote:
Originally Posted by finz
If you never had a lawyer involved, I would consider trying to do it on my own to save the lawyer fees.....as you said, you did all of the work.
I would think seriously about getting another lawyer in your case....both because it is now at the ALJ level AND because if another lawyer gets involved, his documentation might pull more weight with the SSA to cut your old lawyer out of the picture or at least split that fee. I'm afraid the the old lawyer has made his case (or will do so) with SSA to claim that 25% of your backpay. If that 25% is going to be taken out anyway, I'd rather it go to the new lawyer. Even if they split it, that would be less for the guy who did nothing.
A new lawyer would have better knowledge/skills in determining what the old lawyer actually did or didn't do......and he would have the financial incentive to try to squeeze the old lawyer out of the equation.
It's a tough decision.....and just adding more stress that you don't need.
Take Care
|
I do have a lawyer finz. I fired him and then turned around and hired him back because either way, he says he can still get up to 25% of my back pay if I win and SSDI backs him up on this. If I hadn't hired him back and he filed a fee petition, this could hold up my back pay for months waiting for a judge to rule on the petition. I can't wait for months.
The lawyer told me that he knew that he could win the case or he wouldn't have taken my case to start with. I was told last Tuesday by the lady handeling my claim at the appeals office that my file was with a senior attorney now. My lawyer called me after he found out that I had been in contact with this appeals office and told me I didn't need to be calling them about my claim.
This just proves to me the fact that he don't won't me knowing the status of my claim so that he can draw it out several more months in order to get more of my backpay. How stupid does he think I am, this is as plain as the sun in the sky. He is not suffering like I am, he don't have to worry about paying bills, his wife don't go to him crying because there just isn't enough money to go around.
Not all but most social security lawyers are crooks, they are taking advantage of a sure fire case and lining their pockets. And they think people like me are too stupid to see this. I have learned in my case alone, this lawyer has not done one damn thing that I couldn't have done myself. But he has me pinned to the wall with the contract I signed to hire him. Because SSA backs the lawyer, there is not one thing I can do about it legaly. I did say LEGALY.