The Advantages of Local Representation

If you have seen any amount of daytime television, chances are you have seen many ads for disability attorneys. Some are local attorneys with offices in your area, but many of them are large, national firms that are usually located in a different state.

Typically, the mindset of most individuals is that “bigger is better,” however, this is not necessarily the case when it comes to representation in a legal matter.

By hiring a smaller, more local firm, you will receive much more personalized attention in the following ways:

1.       Familiarity with local field offices and courts. This is another advantage over a national firm because a local representative deals with the area Social Security offices and courts on a daily basis. A local representative will be familiar with the staff in these offices and therefore has more ease obtaining information or getting questions answered because they have an established rapport. A local representative can also give you good directions to the court and parking tips that someone from many states away would not know!

2.       Relationships with local medical providers. Since Social Security disability representatives are constantly requesting medical records in support of their clients’ claims, over time relationships are established between the providers and the representatives. A local representative may be aware of a doctor retiring in the near-future and can make sure all the pertinent records are secured from that doctor ahead of time. A representative of a national firm, on the other hand, must rely on the information provided by their clients to find out such things.

3.       Face-to-face appointments. Unless you are willing to purchase a plane ticket, chances are you will never see your representative in-person until it is time for the hearing. Face-to-face appointments are critical when it comes to understanding a person’s disability claim. If the representative is able to physically see how you function, such as difficulty rising from a chair or the panic you experience when you speak with someone for the first time, he is able to get a better idea as far as what your claim is all about. It is also much easier to ask questions when you are face-to-face with someone, and establish that all-important rapport.

4.       Knowledge of local hospital rating programs and other care. There are instances when a claimant does not have insurance. Since medical records are imperative to a disability claim, it is important to find either free or low cost care for these claimants. A local representative is knowledgeable about area hospitals that offer sliding scale fees and free clinics. Local representatives may also have good relationships with social workers that can help coordinate care for claimants.

5.       Familiarity with your area. When you hire representation that is local to you, they, too, understand the local issues that may be important to you, such as the closing of an area hospital or an election where community mental health funding is at stake.  Because issues such as these affect everyone in an area, it helps to establish rapport between client and representative. You may even root for the same sports teams, which creates a nice feeling of camaraderie between the client and the representative.

Representation is a personal choice and sometimes a quite difficult one. With so many representatives with TV commercials and other types of ads, it is hard to know who would be right for you. However, based on the reasons outlined above, choosing someone in your local area is a step in the right direction.

Written by Anna Westfall & edited by Paulette F. Balin

If you need help with your Social Security disability claim, we are right close by if you need us! We are proud to offer office locations in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Mentor, Ashtabula, Youngstown, Lorain and Toledo! Call us today for more information and to set up your appointment.