2026 Spring National Conference – Track I (Presented by National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives)

Robyn R. Griffin, Esq., Senior Attorney | Legal Counsel for the Elderly

Robyn R. Griffin is a Senior Attorney with Legal Counsel for the Elderly, where she advocates on behalf of District of Columbia seniors to secure the income, benefits, and services they need to live independently in the community. She assists clients in navigating complex public benefits systems, including Social Security, Medicaid, and Home and Community Based Waiver services. In addition to her client representation work, Robyn trains and mentors volunteers, interns, and attorneys handling these matters, and regularly presents throughout DC to educate residents on the importance of public benefits planning and elder law.

• Education & Credentials

Robyn R. Griffin is a licensed attorney practicing elder law and public benefits law in the District of Columbia. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of Social Security benefits, Medicaid, and Home and Community Based Waiver services — specialized areas of law that require command of complex federal and local regulatory frameworks. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Robyn is recognized as a trainer, mentor, and community educator within the elder law and public benefits space in Washington, DC. She plays a leadership role within Legal Counsel for the Elderly by developing and supervising volunteers, interns, and fellow attorneys on public benefits matters. Her outreach work — through presentations to DC residents on benefits planning and elder law essentials — reflects her commitment to expanding access to legal knowledge beyond the courtroom and into the communities she serves.

• Professional Involvement

Beyond her direct client representation, Robyn is actively engaged in legal education and community outreach throughout the District of Columbia. She regularly delivers presentations to DC residents on public benefits, elder law, and the tools available to help seniors maintain independence. She also trains and mentors the next generation of legal advocates — volunteers, law student interns, and attorneys — ensuring that high-quality representation for elderly clients is sustained and expanded across the organization.

• Experience

As a Senior Attorney at Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Robyn Griffin represents DC seniors in matters involving Social Security benefits, Medicaid, and Home and Community Based Waiver services. Her work is focused on ensuring that vulnerable elderly clients receive every benefit and service to which they are legally entitled, empowering them to remain in their homes and communities rather than institutional settings. Her practice combines direct legal advocacy with a broader mission of education and capacity-building, making her a central figure in the organization’s efforts to serve DC’s senior population.

 

Christine Burnside, Esq., Managing Attorney, Social Security Department | Deuterman Law Group

Christine Burnside is the Managing Attorney for the Social Security department at Deuterman Law Group, where she has practiced Social Security disability law since graduating from law school in 2012. A double Tar Heel, she earned both her undergraduate degree and her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Christine has been certified by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in Social Security disability law since 2019, serves on the NC Bar Social Security Specialization Committee, and was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), where she serves as Fourth Circuit Representative.

• Education & Credentials

Christine holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Law, Class of 2012). She is certified by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in Social Security disability law — a designation she has held since 2019 — and serves on the NC Bar Social Security Specialization Committee. Her credentials reflect sustained excellence and recognized expertise in one of the most technically demanding areas of benefits law.

• Recognition & Leadership

Christine has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), where she serves as the Fourth Circuit Representative — a role that places her among the leading voices in Social Security disability advocacy at the national level. She also serves on the NC Bar Social Security Specialization Committee, contributing to the standards and oversight of legal specialization in this field. Her board-level leadership at NOSSCR reflects the confidence of her peers in her expertise and commitment to the profession.

• Professional Involvement

Christine is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of Social Security claimants’ representatives through NOSSCR’s NextGen program. She is passionate about developing newer practitioners in the field and helping them build the skills and confidence needed to effectively advocate for clients with disabilities. Her involvement in NextGen, combined with her committee and board service, reflects a professional philosophy centered on both client advocacy and the long-term health of the Social Security disability bar.

• Experience

Christine has practiced Social Security disability law exclusively since joining Deuterman Law Group immediately after law school in 2012, building over a decade of focused expertise in this area. As Managing Attorney of the firm’s Social Security department, she oversees the legal representation of clients seeking disability benefits while also mentoring staff and newer practitioners. Her NC Bar specialization certification, board service at NOSSCR, and committee work with the NC Bar reflect a career defined by deep subject matter expertise, professional leadership, and a genuine passion for helping clients navigate the Social Security disability system.

 

Christine Latona, Esq., Social Security Attorney | Deuterman Law Group

Christine Latona is a Social Security Attorney at Deuterman Law Group, bringing a distinctive professional journey to her advocacy for disability claimants. She completed a dual degree program at the University of Pittsburgh before earning her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2000. Her legal career spans workers’ compensation defense, certified mediation, and plaintiff-side personal injury work before she found her calling in Social Security disability law — a practice shaped in part by her own health experiences and by watching her mother, a factory worker, navigate the system firsthand. Christine currently chairs the Disability Advocacy Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and is a member of NOSSCR NextGen.

• Education & Credentials

Christine completed a dual degree program at the University of Pittsburgh and earned her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2000. She is also a certified North Carolina Superior Court Mediator, a credential that reflects her training in alternative dispute resolution and her understanding of how parties navigate complex legal and administrative processes. Her multidisciplinary academic and professional background informs a well-rounded approach to Social Security disability advocacy.

• Recognition & Leadership

Christine currently serves as Chair of the Disability Advocacy Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, one of the state’s leading plaintiff’s advocacy organizations. In this leadership role, she helps set the agenda for disability law advocacy across North Carolina and provides a forum for attorneys working on behalf of disabled individuals. She is also a member of NOSSCR NextGen, further demonstrating her engagement with the national Social Security disability bar and its emerging practitioners.

• Professional Involvement

Christine is an active member of NOSSCR NextGen and chairs the Disability Advocacy Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, positioning her at the center of both the national and state-level communities dedicated to representing individuals with disabilities. Her personal connection to the challenges her clients face — drawn from her own health experiences and her mother’s journey through
the Social Security system as a factory worker — gives her advocacy a depth of empathy and authenticity that distinguishes her practice and her professional engagement.

• Experience

Christine’s legal career began in workers’ compensation defense at a large multi-state firm before she became a certified North Carolina Superior Court Mediator and transitioned to plaintiff-side work, where she developed her Social Security disability practice. That path — from defense to mediation to plaintiff advocacy — gave her an unusually broad perspective on how disability and injury claims are evaluated, contested, and resolved. At Deuterman Law Group, she now focuses that experience on representing Social Security disability claimants, guided by a deeply personal understanding of what is at stake for clients who depend on these benefits to survive.

 

Laci N. Hamilton, Esq., Founder & Managing Attorney | Hamilton Law

Laci N. Hamilton is an attorney, author, and educator based in Louisiana. She is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Hamilton Law, a firm dedicated to personal injury and Social Security Disability representation. With years of experience representing claimants before the Social Security Administration and in federal administrative courts, Ms. Hamilton brings a practical, advocacy-focused perspective to every case and every classroom. She is also the author of Social Security Disability Cases: A Practical Guide for Attorneys and Advocates, a comprehensive manual used by practitioners and students across the country to navigate the complex process of disability representation.

• Education & Credentials

Laci N. Hamilton is a licensed attorney practicing in Louisiana, with a practice concentrated in personal injury and Social Security Disability law. She is the published author of Social Security Disability Cases: A Practical Guide for Attorneys and Advocates, a nationally used manual that has established her as a recognized authority in disability representation. She also serves as an adjunct professor teaching legal writing, analysis, and bar preparation — credentials that reflect both her doctrinal expertise and her commitment to legal education. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Ms. Hamilton is recognized nationally as both a practitioner and an educator in Social Security Disability law. Her book, Social Security Disability Cases: A Practical Guide for Attorneys and Advocates, is used by practitioners and students across the country, cementing her reputation as a leading voice in disability advocacy training. As an adjunct professor and founder of her own firm, she has built a career at the intersection of legal practice, scholarship, and public service — known for her clarity, energy, and passion for making law accessible to attorneys and advocates at every stage of their careers.

• Professional Involvement

In addition to her active law practice, Ms. Hamilton serves as an adjunct professor teaching legal writing, analysis, and bar preparation. Her teaching reflects a deep commitment to training the next generation of attorneys and non-attorney advocates to represent disability claimants with excellence and empathy. Through her book, her classroom work, and her law practice, she has built an integrated professional presence dedicated to advancing the quality of Social Security Disability representation across the country.

• Experience

Ms. Hamilton founded Hamilton Law to provide dedicated personal injury and Social Security Disability representation to clients in Louisiana, and has developed substantial experience appearing before the Social Security Administration and in federal administrative courts. Her approach to practice emphasizes strategic case development, persuasive writing, and client-centered advocacy — principles she applies equally in the courtroom and the classroom. As both a managing attorney and an educator, she has built her career on the conviction that law should be accessible, and that well-trained advocates — whether attorneys or non-attorneys — are essential to ensuring that disabled individuals receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

 

Regina Carpenter, Esq., Former Administrative Law Judge | Social Security Administration

Regina Carpenter is a retired Administrative Law Judge with more than three decades of experience in Social Security law, spanning roles as a paralegal, claimant’s attorney, attorney advisor, senior attorney advisor, and ALJ. She served as an Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration from 2011 through 2025, and spent the final two years of her career as co-lead of SSA’s national judicial training program. Over the last decade of her tenure, she was heavily involved in formally training and mentoring new ALJs, cementing her legacy as one of the agency’s foremost judicial educators.

• Education & Credentials

Regina graduated magna cum laude from Fairmont State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education. She earned her law degree from West Virginia College of Law in 2001, graduating Order of the Coif — a distinction reserved for the top academic performers in her graduating class. Her academic honors reflect the same rigor and commitment to excellence that defined her subsequent career in Social Security law and judicial service.

• Recognition & Leadership

Regina’s career culminated in a leadership role that few ALJs achieve: co-lead of the Social Security Administration’s national judicial training program, a position she held for the final two years before her retirement in 2025. In this capacity, she helped shape how ALJs across the country are prepared to adjudicate Social Security disability claims — a contribution with lasting institutional impact. Her decade-long involvement in mentoring and formally training new ALJs reflects the trust and recognition she earned from the agency over the course of her distinguished service.

• Professional Involvement

Throughout her career, Regina maintained deep involvement in the Social Security disability community from multiple vantage points. As a claimant’s attorney in private practice, she was a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR). As an ALJ, she dedicated significant time and energy to the formal training and mentoring of new judges, ultimately co-leading SSA’s national judicial training program. Her trajectory — from paralegal to claimant’s rep to SSA attorney advisor to ALJ to national trainer — gives her a uniquely comprehensive perspective on every stage of the Social Security adjudication process.

• Experience

Regina’s involvement in Social Security law spans over three decades, beginning in 1992 as a paralegal managing a disability practice at a small law firm. After earning her law degree in 2001, she practiced as a claimant’s attorney in private practice and was a member of NOSSCR. In 2009, she joined the Social Security Administration as an attorney advisor, quickly advancing to senior attorney advisor before being appointed as an ALJ in 2011 — a role she held until her retirement in 2025. During the last ten years of her judicial career, she was extensively involved in training and mentoring new ALJs, and served as co-lead of SSA’s national judicial training program for two years prior to her retirement. Her career represents one of the most complete trajectories in Social Security law, having served claimants, the agency, and the judiciary with distinction.

 

Joseph Ira Frydman, Esq., Founder

Joseph is the founder of his own Social Security law firm, established in 2023 following more than 13 years of service at the Social Security Administration’s Appeals Council. During his tenure at the Appeals Council, Joseph spent the majority of his career analyzing cases involved in federal court litigation — a specialized caseload that provided him with a panoramic view of the entire SSA appeals system and a granular understanding of the substantive reasons cases are remanded. Since launching his firm, he has applied that insider expertise to help clients obtain remands from the Appeals Council and the U.S. District Courts.

• Education & Credentials

Joseph is a licensed attorney with deep specialization in Social Security appellate practice. His professional credentials are defined by over 13 years at the SSA Appeals Council, where he developed expertise in federal court litigation, appellate review, and the substantive legal standards that drive remand decisions across the SSA adjudication system. He also facilitated and developed training programs for Administrative Appeals Judges, managers, senior attorneys, and new attorneys at the agency. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Joseph received numerous awards for his work and training contributions during his tenure at the Social Security Administration. His recognition reflects both the quality of his analytical work on federal court litigation cases and his effectiveness as a trainer and educator within the agency. His role in facilitating and developing training for Administrative Appeals Judges, managers, and attorneys at multiple career levels placed him among the Appeals Council’s most trusted institutional resources — a distinction that now informs the expertise he brings to his private practice clients.

• Professional Involvement

During his time at the Appeals Council, Joseph was extensively involved in the training and development of SSA legal staff, facilitating and designing programs for new Administrative Appeals Judges, senior attorneys, managers, and incoming attorneys. This work established him as an educator and institutional leader within the agency well before he transitioned to private practice. Since founding his firm in 2023, he has remained engaged with the broader Social Security disability bar, sharing his unique perspective on the appellate process with practitioners seeking to understand how cases are viewed from the Appeals Council’s vantage point.

• Experience

Joseph spent more than 13 years at the SSA Appeals Council, where he primarily analyzed cases involved in federal court litigation. This specialized focus gave him an unusually complete understanding of the SSA appeals process — from how cases are reviewed internally to the specific substantive grounds on which courts remand decisions back to the agency. In 2023, he founded his own law firm to bring that expertise directly to claimants, focusing on securing remands from the Appeals Council and U.S. District Courts. His background on the agency side equips him with insights into the appellate review process that few claimants’ attorneys possess, making him a distinctive and highly effective advocate at the most advanced stages of Social Security litigation.

 

Laura Beth Waller, Esq. | Federal Court Social Security Disability Appeals

Laura Beth Waller is an attorney specializing in Social Security disability appeals in federal court. Following her tenure as Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer for the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), she returned to appellate advocacy, where she manages a dedicated federal court caseload and serves as a strategic resource for disability firms nationwide. She also partners with other firms to provide brief writing and litigation analysis for cases challenging agency decisions at the federal level. A registered federal lobbyist and the Legislative Chair for the NCAJ Disability Advocacy Section, Laura Beth is licensed to practice in North Carolina, Georgia, and Washington.

• Education & Credentials

Laura Beth Waller is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in North Carolina, Georgia, and Washington. She is also a registered federal lobbyist, reflecting her active engagement at the intersection of Social Security disability law and federal policy. Her credentials span litigation, executive leadership, and legislative advocacy — a combination that distinguishes her as one of the most versatile practitioners in the Social Security disability bar. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Laura Beth’s leadership profile is among the most distinguished in the Social Security disability community. She served as Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of NOSSCR, the nation’s leading organization for Social Security claimants’ representatives, placing her at the helm of the profession’s most prominent advocacy body. She currently serves as Legislative Chair for the NCAJ Disability Advocacy Section and is a registered federal lobbyist, keeping her at the forefront of policy developments that directly affect disability claimants and their representatives nationwide.

• Professional Involvement

Laura Beth remains deeply engaged in both the litigation and policy dimensions of Social Security disability law. As Legislative Chair of the NCAJ Disability Advocacy Section and a registered federal lobbyist, she actively shapes the legislative and regulatory landscape affecting disability claimants. She also serves as a strategic resource for disability firms across the country, providing brief writing, litigation analysis, and appellate strategy support — extending her impact well beyond her own caseload and into the broader practice community.

• Experience

Laura Beth’s career spans federal court appellate advocacy, national organizational leadership, and federal legislative engagement. After building her practice in Social Security disability appeals, she served as Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at NOSSCR before returning to her appellate work. In her current practice, she manages a federal court caseload, collaborates with disability firms nationwide on brief writing and litigation strategy, and continues to advance disability policy as a registered lobbyist and legislative leader. Her multi-dimensional background — litigator, executive, and lobbyist — gives her a uniquely comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Social Security disability practitioners today.

 

Marisa Burkett, Esq. Head of Social Security Disability Practice | Capital Injury Law

Marisa Burkett is a Social Security disability attorney and head of the Social Security Disability practice at Capital Injury Law, with offices in Tacoma and Olympia, Washington. A 2013 graduate of Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, Marisa has practiced exclusively in Social Security disability law since graduating and is licensed in both New York and Washington State. She has experience writing appellate briefs for disability claims nationwide and has represented individuals at all levels of the appeals process, both before the Social Security Administration and in federal district courts.

• Education & Credentials

Marisa earned her Juris Doctor from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 2013. She is licensed to practice law in New York and Washington State and has practiced Social Security disability law since the start of her legal career. Her appellate brief writing experience spans disability claims nationwide, reflecting a practice that extends well beyond her home jurisdictions and encompasses the full spectrum of SSA and federal court appeals.

• Recognition & Leadership

Marisa leads the Social Security Disability practice at Capital Injury Law, a plaintiff’s firm with offices in Tacoma and Olympia, Washington. Her role as practice head reflects the trust her firm places in her expertise and her ability to manage complex disability matters at both the administrative and federal court levels. Her nationwide appellate brief writing work further demonstrates the recognition she has earned from disability practitioners across the country who rely on her analytical and writing skills for their most challenging federal court cases.

• Professional Involvement

In addition to leading her firm’s disability practice, Marisa provides appellate brief writing and litigation support to disability firms on a nationwide basis — a contribution that extends her professional involvement well beyond her local caseload. Her work at both the SSA administrative level and in federal district courts gives her a comprehensive view of the appeals process, and her multi-state licensure and national brief writing practice reflect a broad engagement with the Social Security disability bar across jurisdictions.

• Experience

Since graduating from Dickinson Law in 2013, Marisa has dedicated her entire legal career to Social Security disability representation. She has assisted clients at every stage of the appeals process — from SSA administrative hearings through federal district court litigation — and has developed particular expertise in appellate brief writing for disability claims across the country. As head of the Social Security Disability practice at Capital Injury Law in Tacoma and Olympia, Washington, she brings over a decade of focused experience to her clients and her firm, combining deep substantive knowledge with strong appellate advocacy skills.

 

Melissa Palmer, Esq., Equity Partner | Olinsky Law Group

Melissa is an Equity Partner at Olinsky Law Group, where she joined in February 2017 and became a partner in January 2022. Licensed in New York and California and admitted to practice in various district and circuit courts across the country, Melissa built her practice on Social Security federal court appeals before expanding her role to lead the firm’s Approved Claims Department. In this capacity, she oversees all fee-related matters — from the filing of fee petitions to fee collections at both the agency and federal court levels — making her the firm’s authority on post-award compensation issues.

• Education & Credentials

Melissa is licensed to practice law in New York and California and is admitted to practice in multiple district and circuit courts throughout the country — a breadth of federal court admissions that reflects her extensive experience in Social Security federal court litigation. Her multi-jurisdictional credentials support a practice that spans the full scope of federal appellate and fee-related proceedings in disability cases. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Melissa’s elevation to Equity Partner at Olinsky Law Group in January 2022 reflects the firm’s recognition of her expertise and her contributions to its federal court practice. As the attorney in charge of the Approved Claims Department, she holds one of the firm’s most operationally significant leadership roles, overseeing the complete lifecycle of fee-related matters across both agency and federal court proceedings. Her dual specialization in federal court appellate advocacy and post-award fee administration makes her a distinctive and highly valued practitioner within the Social Security disability bar.

• Professional Involvement

As head of Olinsky Law Group’s Approved Claims Department, Melissa manages the firm’s fee petition and fee collection processes at both the SSA administrative level and in federal court — a specialized area of Social Security practice that requires command of complex procedural and regulatory requirements. Her admissions to multiple district and circuit courts across the country reflect sustained engagement with federal courts in jurisdictions beyond her home states, positioning her as a nationally active practitioner in Social Security federal court litigation.

• Experience

Melissa joined Olinsky Law Group in February 2017 with a practice focused exclusively on Social Security federal court appeals. Over the years, she developed deep expertise in federal district and circuit court litigation for disability claims, earning her admission to courts across the country. In January 2022, she became an Equity Partner and assumed leadership of the firm’s Approved Claims Department, where she oversees all fee-related matters from petition filing through collection at both the agency and federal court levels. Her career at Olinsky reflects a trajectory from specialized federal court litigator to firm leader, combining strong appellate advocacy with sophisticated knowledge of post-award fee practice in Social Security disability cases.

 

Sarah Deaver, Esq., RN, Senior Director for Disability Programs | Enlyte

Sarah Deaver, Esq. is the Senior Director for Disability Programs at Enlyte, where she oversees Social Security operations along with the Disability Absence and Ticket to Work divisions. As both a licensed attorney and a registered nurse, Sarah brings a rare interdisciplinary perspective to program integrity and medical evidence development. With over 16 years of Social Security experience, she leads legislative affairs for the organization, anticipating enforcement trends and regulatory interpretations before they affect case outcomes. Her workshops on strategic case development are designed to help practitioners navigate evolving disability landscapes and challenging fact patterns, translating complex regulatory changes into actionable strategies.

• Education & Credentials

Sarah earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Emory University. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and is a registered nurse in Georgia — a dual licensure that anchors her uniquely interdisciplinary approach to Social Security disability practice. Her combined legal and clinical training equips her to address both the regulatory and medical dimensions of disability claims with equal depth and authority.

• Recognition & Leadership

Sarah is recognized as a thought leader at the intersection of Social Security disability law, nursing, and claims management. As Senior Director for Disability Programs at Enlyte, she leads a broad operational portfolio and heads the organization’s legislative affairs efforts, positioning her to anticipate and respond to regulatory shifts before they reach the case level. Her workshops on strategic case development have earned her a reputation as a practical, forward-thinking educator whose guidance helps disability professionals navigate a constantly evolving regulatory environment.

• Professional Involvement

In addition to her executive role at Enlyte, Sarah is actively engaged in professional education, delivering workshops that equip disability practitioners with strategies for complex case development and regulatory compliance. Her leadership of Enlyte’s legislative affairs function places her at the forefront of policy monitoring and advocacy within the disability industry. Her dual credentials as an attorney and registered nurse allow her to offer an integrated approach to medical evidence development and program integrity that is rare in the field and highly valued by practitioners and organizations alike.

• Experience

With over 16 years of Social Security experience, Sarah has built a career that spans legal practice, nursing, and claims management leadership. At Enlyte, she oversees the Social Security, Disability Absence, and Ticket to Work divisions, combining her legal background and nursing expertise to drive operational excellence and regulatory compliance across a complex program portfolio. Her ability to translate intricate regulatory changes into practical strategies for practitioners — and to anticipate enforcement trends before they affect outcomes — reflects the depth of expertise she has developed across disciplines. As both a licensed attorney and a registered nurse, Sarah offers a blueprint for interdisciplinary excellence in a field that increasingly demands it.

 

Jennie Gailey, Esq., Vice President of Utilization Management | Enlyte

Jennie Gailey, Esq. is the Vice President of Utilization Management at Enlyte, where she drives strategy and operational excellence across the company’s Utilization Review, Social Security, and Ticket to Work programs. With over 21 years of experience in Social Security Disability, Ms. Gailey has represented tens of thousands of individuals before the Social Security Administration and built a distinguished reputation for leadership, innovation, and client-centered program management. She brings deep industry expertise and a customer-first approach to delivering solutions that improve outcomes and efficiency across Enlyte’s disability programs.

• Education & Credentials

Jennie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia. Her academic foundation in sociology and law informs a practice philosophy centered on understanding the human dimensions of disability while applying rigorous legal and operational frameworks to program management and client representation.

• Recognition & Leadership

With over two decades in Social Security Disability, Jennie has established herself as one of the field’s most experienced and respected leaders. Her representation of tens of thousands of individuals before the Social Security Administration reflects a career of extraordinary scope and impact. As Vice President of Utilization Management at Enlyte, she holds a senior executive role overseeing multiple program areas, a position that reflects the confidence her organization places in her strategic vision and operational leadership. He reputation for innovation and excellence has made her a trusted voice in disability program management nationwide.

• Professional Involvement

Jennie’s professional involvement spans direct client representation, executive program leadership, and strategic innovation in disability services. At Enlyte, she leads a broad operational portfolio that encompasses Utilization Review, Social Security, and Ticket to Work — programs that collectively serve a wide range of clients navigating disability-related transitions. Her customer-first approach and focus on measurable outcomes reflect a commitment to continuous improvement in how disability programs are designed and delivered, and her long tenure in the field keeps her attuned to the evolving needs of both practitioners and the individuals they serve.

• Experience

Jennie Gailey’s career in Social Security Disability spans more than 21 years, beginning with direct representation of claimants before the Social Security Administration — work that gave her ground-level insight into the challenges individuals face navigating the disability system. Over the course of her career, she has represented tens of thousands of clients, developing deep substantive expertise and a strong operational foundation that she now applies at the executive level. As Vice President of Utilization Management at Enlyte, she leads strategy and operations across Utilization Review, Social Security, and Ticket to Work programs, driving innovation and efficiency across a complex portfolio with a consistent focus on delivering better outcomes for clients and practitioners alike.

 

Debora Wagner, Work Incentives Training & Technical Assistance Specialist | Cornell University Yang-Tan Institute

Debora Wagner is a nationally recognized specialist in Social Security work incentives and benefits law, with a career spanning legal services, law school clinical education, and policy-level training and advocacy. She spent 25 years representing individuals with disabilities in benefits cases before the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, with a specialization in work incentives planning. Since December 2021, she has been a member of the Work Incentive Support Center at Cornell University’s Yang-Tan Institute, where she provides work incentives training and technical assistance. She serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists (NABWIS), on the SSA’s Standing Committee of Medical and Vocational Experts for Disability Programs, and became a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance in January 2025.

• Education & Credentials

Debora’s credentials reflect a distinguished career at the intersection of law, clinical education, and disability benefits advocacy. She has taught at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and Saint Louis University School of Law, with a focus on clinical legal education and poverty law. She has served as Managing Attorney at both Colorado Legal Services and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, and holds deep specialization in Social Security work incentives, VA benefits, and post-entitlement issues. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Debora serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists (NABWIS), a role she has held since June 2022, and on the Social Security Administration’s Standing Committee of Medical and Vocational Experts for Disability Programs — two positions that place her among the most influential voices in the work incentives and disability benefits community. In January 2025, she was welcomed into the National Academy of Social Insurance, further recognizing her expertise and contributions to the field. She is frequently invited to present on Social Security post-entitlement issues and the intersection of VA and Social Security benefits.

• Professional Involvement

Debora’s professional involvement spans direct legal representation, law school clinical teaching, statewide training network support, and national policy engagement. From 2016 to 2022, she provided training and technical assistance to Ohio’s statewide network of work incentives planners. Since joining Cornell University’s Yang-Tan Institute in December 2021, she has continued that work at a national level through the Work Incentive Support Center. Her board service at NABWIS, her committee role at SSA, and her membership in the National Academy of Social Insurance reflect a career defined by sustained engagement at every level of the disability benefits ecosystem.

• Experience

Over a 25-year career in legal services and law school clinical programs, Debora represented individuals with disabilities in benefits cases before the VA and the SSA, specializing in work incentives planning. She served as Managing Attorney at Colorado Legal Services and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, and taught clinical legal education and poverty law at three law schools. From 2016 to 2022, she supported Ohio’s statewide work incentives planning network before joining Cornell University’s Yang-Tan Institute in 2021. Her current work combines national training and technical assistance on work incentives with leadership roles at NABWIS and SSA’s Standing Committee of Medical and Vocational Experts — making her one of the most experienced and broadly credentialed practitioners in the country on the intersection of work, disability, and federal benefits.

 

Bette Ann Mobley, Director | Maryland ABLE Program

Bette Ann Mobley is the Director of the Maryland ABLE Program, a position she has held since launching the program seven years ago. Under her leadership, Maryland ABLE has grown to serve more than 7,300 account holders with over $108.6 million saved and invested — a testament to her vision, outreach, and commitment to financial empowerment for people with disabilities. With more than 45 years of experience in the disability field, Bette Ann brings an unmatched depth of perspective to her work, having moved from direct support of individuals with disabilities and their families to statewide and national program leadership. She currently serves as Chair of the National Association of State Treasurers’ ABLE Savings Plan Network.

• Education & Credentials

Bette Ann attended the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, where she earned both a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and a master’s degree in education and counseling. Her interdisciplinary academic background — spanning therapeutic practice, education, and counseling — laid the foundation for a career dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities across direct service, training, quality systems development, and organizational consultation. She is also Chair of the National Association of State Treasurers’ ABLE Savings Plan Network, reflecting her recognized leadership at the national level.

• Recognition & Leadership

Bette Ann’s leadership accomplishments are among the most tangible in the disability financial empowerment space. She launched the Maryland ABLE Program seven years ago and has grown it to more than 7,300 account holders with over $108.6 million in savings and investments — concrete outcomes that reflect her effectiveness as a program builder and community outreach leader. She serves as Chair of the National Association of State Treasurers’ ABLE Savings Plan Network, a national leadership role that amplifies Maryland’s model and her expertise across the country. Her more than 45 years in the disability field have established her as a trusted authority on the financial and systemic challenges facing people with disabilities and their families.

• Professional Involvement

Bette Ann is actively engaged with state and national organizations focused on disability policy and financial empowerment. As Chair of the National Association of State Treasurers’ ABLE Savings Plan Network, she partners with organizations across the country to expand awareness and access to ABLE accounts. Her outreach work is driven by firsthand knowledge of the financial barriers facing people with disabilities — particularly the growing population of aging parents with adult children with disabilities living at home — and by a conviction that ABLE accounts represent a critical tool for independence and long-term security. She continues to present widely on the program and its benefits for individuals, families, and caregivers.

• Experience

Bette Ann’s more than 45 years in the disability field encompass direct support services, family advocacy, training and mentorship, quality systems development, and organizational consultation. She has served in numerous leadership roles with state and national disability organizations, building a career defined by both hands-on service and systemic impact. Seven years ago, she launched the Maryland ABLE Program — a tax-advantaged savings and investment program for individuals with disabilities — and has grown it into one of the country’s notable state ABLE programs, with more than $108.6 million saved by over 7,300 account holders. As Director of Maryland ABLE and Chair of the National Association of State Treasurers’ ABLE Savings Plan Network, she continues to champion financial empowerment and independence for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.

 

Linda L. Landry, Esq., Senior Attorney | Disability Law Center

Linda L. Landry is a Senior Attorney at the Disability Law Center, where she has practiced since 1990. With over 40 years of experience in legal advocacy, her work encompasses individual representation, training, impact and policy work, class action litigation, and technical assistance to a statewide network of attorneys and advocates representing Social Security and SSI disability claimants. She focuses on Social Security benefit issues and work incentives, as well as the related health benefits programs MassHealth and Medicare. A graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, Linda is a nationally recognized presenter and writer on disability benefits law and has received some of the field’s most distinguished honors, including the NOSSCR Distinguished Service Award and the Massachusetts Bar Association Equal Access to Justice Award.

• Education & Credentials

Linda earned her Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law. She began her legal career at Neighborhood Legal Services in Lynn, Massachusetts in the 1980s before joining the Disability Law Center in 1990 — where she has practiced for more than three decades. Her specialization in Social Security benefits, work incentives, MassHealth, and Medicare reflects a depth of expertise developed over more than 40 years of focused legal advocacy in these highly technical areas.

• Recognition & Leadership

Linda has received some of the most distinguished honors in her field. She was awarded the NOSSCR Distinguished Service Award in 2006, the Massachusetts Bar Association Equal Access to Justice Award in 2011, a Massachusetts Top Women of the Law Award in 2013, and the Boston Center for Independent Living Marie Feltin Award in 2018. These honors reflect her decades of impact across individual representation, systemic advocacy, and professional training — and the deep respect she has earned from colleagues and organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

• Professional Involvement

In addition to her direct representation work, Linda provides backup, support, and technical assistance to a statewide project of attorneys and advocates who represent individual Social Security and SSI disability benefits claimants — a multiplier role that extends her impact far beyond her own caseload. She writes and presents on a wide range of topics for local and national audiences, bringing clarity and depth to some of the most complex intersections of disability law, benefits policy, and health coverage.

Her engagement in impact litigation and policy work alongside individual representation reflects a comprehensive approach to legal advocacy in the disability space.

• Experience

Linda’s legal career began at Neighborhood Legal Services in Lynn, Massachusetts in the 1980s before she joined the Disability Law Center in 1990 — an institution where she has built a career of more than 35 years. Over four decades of advocacy, her work has spanned individual client representation, class action litigation, impact and policy work, and statewide training and technical assistance for attorneys and advocates handling Social Security and SSI matters. Her focus on the intersection of Social Security benefits, work incentives, MassHealth, and Medicare has made her one of the country’s most knowledgeable and experienced practitioners in this specialized area, and her national writing and speaking work continues to shape how practitioners across the country approach these issues.

 

John S. Whitelaw, Esq. Advocacy Director | Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI)

John S. Whitelaw is the Advocacy Director at the Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) in Delaware — the first person to hold that position when he rejoined the organization in December 2017. With more than 35 years of experience representing low-income and other vulnerable clients across legal aid programs in multiple states, John has dedicated his career to government benefits advocacy and Social Security representation. He has represented claimants at all administrative levels and in federal and state court, and has been a national trainer on SSI and Social Security Disability matters. He is also a member of the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners, believed to be the first legal aid attorney in Delaware to hold that distinction.

• Education & Credentials

John is a licensed attorney with more than 35 years of experience in legal aid practice across multiple states, including Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Minnesota. He is a member of the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners — a position that appears to make him the first legal aid attorney in Delaware to serve in that role. His extensive experience spans government benefits law, Social Security disability, and capital habeas litigation, reflecting a broad and distinguished legal career across diverse practice areas and jurisdictions. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

John’s appointment as CLASI’s first Advocacy Director reflects the organization’s recognition of his strategic vision and leadership in systemic advocacy. His membership on the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners — a distinction he appears to hold as the first legal aid attorney in Delaware to do so — further underscores the professional respect he commands across the state’s legal community. As a national trainer for the AARP National Training Project on SSI and Social Security Disability, he built a reputation as one of the country’s most traveled and trusted educators in these practice areas, presenting at national and regional trainings throughout his career.

• Professional Involvement

In his role as Advocacy Director at CLASI, John works with advocates to develop creative strategies to address systemic problems faced by clients, while also providing supervision and mentorship on government benefits and SSA matters. He has been a presenter at numerous national and regional trainings and previously traveled across the country as a trainer on SSI and Social Security Disability for the AARP National Training Project. His service on the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners adds a professional standards dimension to a career already defined by mentorship, education, and systemic advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations.

• Experience

John’s legal career spans more than 35 years of legal aid practice. He began in Minneapolis, Minnesota (1987–1990), moved to Beckley, West Virginia (1990–1995), and then to CLASI in Wilmington, Delaware (1995–1997), before spending a year with the Federal Public Defender Association’s Capital Habeas Unit in Philadelphia (1997–1998). He then served for nearly 20 years as Co-Director of the Aging and Disabilities unit at Community Legal Services in North Philadelphia, before rejoining CLASI in December 2017 as its first Advocacy Director. Throughout his career, John has represented clients in matters involving TANF, General Assistance, SNAP, Medical Assistance, and Social Security — at all administrative levels and in federal and state court — making him one of the most broadly experienced government benefits attorneys in the country.

 

Chi-Ser Tran, Esq., Supervising Attorney, SSI Unit & Language Access Project | Community Legal Services

Chi-Ser Tran is a Supervising Attorney in the SSI Unit and Language Access Project at Community Legal Services (CLS) in Philadelphia. Her practice focuses on representing adults and children with disabilities who face challenges attaining and maintaining Supplemental Security Income benefits, while also leading CLS’s language access advocacy to improve access to legal services, courts, and government agencies for individuals with limited English proficiency. Ms. Tran began her career at CLS as a law student intern in 2015 and was awarded a fellowship by the Initiative for Public Interest Law at Yale upon graduation to continue her work at the organization — a distinction that reflects both the quality of her advocacy and the significance of the issues she addresses.

• Education & Credentials

Chi-Ser earned her law degree from Yale Law School, where she was awarded a fellowship by the Initiative for Public Interest Law to support her continued work at Community Legal Services upon graduation. Prior to law school, she built a strong foundation in public interest advocacy through her work as a Voting Rights Organizer at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, a Programs Fellow at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, and Project Coordinator of the inaugural Summer Youth Career Exploration Program at BPSOS – Delaware Valley. Her academic and pre-law credentials reflect a consistent commitment to advancing the rights of underserved communities.

• Recognition & Leadership

Chi-Ser’s recognition includes a competitive fellowship from the Initiative for Public Interest Law at Yale, awarded to support her fellowship project in CLS’s Employment Unit addressing barriers faced by low-wage, limited English proficient Asian immigrant workers. She has since advanced to Supervising Attorney at CLS, where she leads both the SSI Unit and the Language Access Project — dual leadership roles that reflect the breadth of her expertise and the trust her organization places in her advocacy and institutional leadership. Her work sits at a distinctive intersection of disability benefits law and language access advocacy, giving her a platform that is rare and highly valued in the public interest community.

• Professional Involvement

In addition to her direct representation work, Chi-Ser leads CLS’s language access advocacy, working to remove systemic barriers that limit access to legal services, courts, and government agencies for individuals with limited English proficiency. This dual focus — on SSI representation and language access — reflects a professional philosophy centered on dismantling the overlapping obstacles that vulnerable populations face when seeking to exercise their legal rights. Her work in both areas involves impact advocacy and systemic reform alongside individual client representation, extending her influence well beyond the cases she personally handles.

• Experience

Chi-Ser’s career at Community Legal Services began as a law student intern in 2015 and has grown into a supervising attorney role spanning two of the organization’s most critical practice areas. Her Yale fellowship project focused on the barriers low-wage, limited English proficient Asian immigrant workers face — experience that laid the groundwork for her subsequent leadership of CLS’s language access work. As Supervising Attorney in both the SSI Unit and the Language Access Project, she now oversees the representation of adults and children with disabilities in SSI matters while simultaneously leading systemic advocacy to expand access to justice for limited English proficient individuals across Philadelphia and beyond. Her career trajectory — from student intern to fellowship recipient to supervising attorney — exemplifies the depth of commitment and expertise she brings to public interest advocacy.

 

Violeta Arciniega, Esq., Project Head, Maximizing Access to Federal Disability Benefits Project | The Legal Aid Society

Violeta Arciniega heads the Maximizing Access to Federal Disability Benefits Project at the Legal Aid Society in New York City, where she provides free legal assistance to individuals seeking Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability benefits. Her representation spans the full scope of the appeals process — from administrative hearings and appeals council reviews through federal court litigation. A graduate of the City University of New York Law School with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland, Ms. Arciniega has dedicated eight years to the Legal Aid Society’s mission of ensuring that vulnerable individuals can effectively advocate for themselves before all levels of government.

• Education & Credentials

Violeta holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Maryland and a Juris Doctor from the City University of New York School of Law — an institution with a strong tradition of training public interest lawyers committed to social justice. Her economics background informs her understanding of the financial stakes that SSI and Social Security Disability benefits represent for low-income individuals with
disabilities, while her CUNY Law education grounded her in the principles of community-centered legal advocacy that define her practice at the Legal Aid Society.

• Recognition & Leadership

Violeta leads the Maximizing Access to Federal Disability Benefits Project at the Legal Aid Society, one of the country’s most prominent public interest law organizations. Her eight years with the organization and her leadership of this specialized project reflect the confidence her institution places in her expertise and her commitment to the communities she serves. Her advocacy philosophy — that the fundamental purpose of public interest work is to help vulnerable individuals speak for themselves and amplify their voices before all levels of government — has guided a career defined by principled, client-centered representation.

• Professional Involvement

As head of the Maximizing Access to Federal Disability Benefits Project, Violeta leads the Legal Aid Society’s efforts to ensure that New York City residents with disabilities receive the SSI and Social Security Disability benefits to which they are entitled. Her work spans the complete administrative and judicial appeals process, from hearing-level representation through federal court, reflecting a comprehensive engagement with the full scope of disability benefits litigation. Her practice is rooted in a conviction that public interest advocacy must not simply resolve individual cases but equip clients to effectively navigate government systems on their own terms.

• Experience

Violeta has worked at the Legal Aid Society for eight years, building expertise in SSI and Social Security Disability appeals at every level of the adjudication process — administrative hearings, appeals council reviews, and federal district court litigation. As the head of the Maximizing Access to Federal Disability Benefits Project, she provides free legal assistance to some of New York City’s most vulnerable residents, ensuring that disability and income do not become barriers to accessing the federal benefits system. Her background in economics and her training at CUNY Law equip her with both the analytical rigor and the advocacy values that define her approach to this work, and her eight-year tenure at the Legal Aid Society reflects a sustained commitment to the organization’s mission of equal justice for all.

 

Nathan A. Craig, Esq., Owner & Attorney | Nathan A. Craig & Associates

Nate Craig has been a practicing Social Security Disability attorney for over 21 years. He owns and operates a small law firm in western Kentucky dedicated to helping clients receive the disability benefits they deserve and need. Beyond his legal practice, Nate is deeply engaged in his community — serving as the General Manager of the Hoptown Hoppers, a summer collegiate wooden-bat baseball team, and playing an active role in civic and governmental affairs in the Hopkinsville area. He is also deeply committed to his faith, currently serving as an Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States Southeast Area. He and his wife, Amy, have been called as Mission President and companion, with service beginning in July 2025.

• Education & Credentials

Nate Craig is a licensed attorney with over 21 years of dedicated practice in Social Security Disability law. He is the founder and owner of Nathan A. Craig & Associates, a firm in western Kentucky focused exclusively on helping individuals navigate the Social Security disability system. His two-decade-plus tenure in this specialized area of law reflects a depth of expertise built through thousands of client representations and a consistent commitment to the communities he serves in western Kentucky. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Nate’s leadership extends well beyond the courtroom. He currently serves as an Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States Southeast Area — a significant ecclesiastical leadership role — and he and his wife Amy have been called to serve as Mission President beginning in July 2025. In the civic arena, he serves as General Manager of the Hoptown Hoppers, a summer collegiate wooden-bat baseball team, and is active in governmental affairs in western Kentucky. His multi-faceted leadership profile reflects a commitment to service in every sphere of his personal and professional life.

• Professional Involvement

Nate is actively involved in civic and governmental affairs in western Kentucky, bringing the same advocacy orientation that defines his legal practice to the broader community. As General Manager of the Hoptown Hoppers, he contributes to the cultural and recreational life of Hopkinsville and the surrounding region. His deep engagement in his faith community — including his current service as Area Seventy and his upcoming Mission Presidency — reflects the values of service and dedication that permeate both his personal and professional endeavors.

• Experience

Over more than two decades of practice, Nate Craig has built Nathan A. Craig & Associates into a trusted resource for disability claimants in western Kentucky. His firm’s singular focus on Social Security Disability law has allowed him to develop deep expertise in helping individuals navigate what is often an overwhelming and high-stakes process. His practice is rooted in a genuine commitment to the clients he serves and the community in which he lives — a community where he is known not only as an effective disability attorney but as a civic leader, faith leader, and engaged member of Hopkinsville’s civic life. He is the proud father of three daughters and resides in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

 

Jaime Nobis, Esq., Attorney | Nathan A. Craig & Associates

Jaime Nobis is an attorney at Nathan A. Craig & Associates, where she focuses her practice in Social Security Disability law. A native of Southern Illinois, Jaime brought to the firm a background in public defense, having previously worked for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. She resides in McCracken County, Kentucky, with her husband Ryan — a recently retired United States Army veteran — and their twin sons.

• Education & Credentials

Jaime Nobis is a licensed attorney whose career has been dedicated to public interest and disability law. Prior to joining Nathan A. Craig & Associates, she practiced at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, where she developed her foundation in
representing vulnerable individuals navigating complex legal systems. Her transition from public defense to Social Security Disability reflects a consistent commitment to advocating for those who most need effective legal representation. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Jaime’s professional profile reflects a commitment to public service that has defined both her legal career and her personal life. Her background at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy — an institution dedicated to representing individuals who cannot afford private counsel — speaks to the values that guide her practice. At Nathan A. Craig & Associates, she continues that tradition of service, focusing on Social Security Disability representation for clients in western Kentucky and the surrounding region.

• Professional Involvement

Jaime practices Social Security Disability law at Nathan A. Craig & Associates, contributing to the firm’s mission of helping western Kentucky clients secure the disability benefits they need. Her prior experience at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy gives her a strong foundation in the representation of low-income and vulnerable individuals — experience that translates directly to effective advocacy on behalf of disability claimants. She is rooted in the McCracken County community and brings a personal understanding of the lives of working families and veterans’ households to her legal work.

• Experience

Jaime’s legal career began at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, where she represented individuals in public defense matters and developed the advocacy skills she now applies in Social Security Disability practice. She subsequently joined Nathan A. Craig & Associates, where she focuses exclusively on helping clients navigate the Social Security disability system. Her background in public interest law, combined with her personal ties to the region as a McCracken County resident and member of a military family, gives her a grounded and empathetic perspective on the challenges her clients face.

 

Ann Biddle, Esq., Litigation Supervisor, Mental Health Project | Urban Justice Center

Ann Biddle is the Litigation Supervisor for the Mental Health Project at the Urban Justice Center and has served as a statewide coordinator for New York State’s Disability Advocacy Project for more than 25 years. A graduate of Emory University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, Ann has dedicated more than 30 years to civil legal services, specializing in Social Security disability issues and matters affecting the elderly. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the Courts of Appeals for the Second and Federal Circuits.

• Education & Credentials

Ann holds a Bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second and Federal Circuits. Her multi-court admissions reflect decades of active federal litigation in Social Security disability matters at both the district and appellate levels.

• Recognition & Leadership

Ann’s more than 25 years as a statewide coordinator for New York State’s Disability Advocacy Project represent one of the most sustained leadership contributions in the state’s disability legal services community. In her role as Litigation Supervisor at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, she provides strategic and supervisory leadership for one of New York City’s most prominent public interest litigation teams. Her three-decade career in civil legal services, combined with her long-tenured statewide coordination role, has established her as a foundational figure in the network of advocates serving New York’s disability claimant population.

• Professional Involvement

Ann’s professional involvement spans direct litigation, statewide coordination, and organizational leadership within New York’s civil legal services community. As a statewide coordinator for New York’s Disability Advocacy Project for over 25 years, she has helped build and sustain a network of attorneys and advocates representing Social Security disability claimants across the state. Her Litigation Supervisor role at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project adds a direct supervisory and strategic dimension to a career already defined by broad systemic engagement in disability and elder law advocacy.

• Experience

Ann has worked in civil legal services for more than 30 years, concentrating her practice on Social Security disability issues and matters affecting elderly individuals. She has served as a statewide coordinator for New York State’s Disability Advocacy Project for over 25 years — a role that has given her a panoramic view of the disability legal services landscape across New York State. As Litigation Supervisor at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, she brings that depth of experience to bear in supervising complex disability litigation and guiding her team through the administrative and federal court appeals process. Her federal court admissions in both district and appellate courts reflect an active litigation practice at the highest levels of the Social Security appeals system.

 

Shandanette Chase, Esq., Supervising Attorney, Disability Advocacy Project, Mental Health Project | Urban Justice Center

Shandanette Chase is a Supervising Attorney in the Disability Advocacy Project at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, where she represents Social Security disability claimants in administrative appeals and federal court proceedings. Prior to joining the Urban Justice Center, she worked in Bronx Legal Services’ Disability Advocacy Project. A graduate of Hunter College and the George Washington University Law School and School of Public Health, Shandanette brings an interdisciplinary academic background to her advocacy. She is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, multiple federal district courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

• Education & Credentials

Shandanette holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hunter College and earned her Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School, where she also studied at the School of Public Health — a dual academic background that reflects her commitment to understanding the health and systemic dimensions of disability advocacy. She is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey; the United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and the Supreme Court of the United States — a breadth of admissions that speaks to the scope and ambition of her federal litigation practice.

• Recognition & Leadership

Shandanette’s admission to the Supreme Court of the United States, alongside her admissions to multiple federal district and circuit courts, reflects a litigation profile of exceptional reach. As a Supervising Attorney at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, she holds a leadership role at one of New York City’s most respected public interest organizations, guiding the representation of Social Security disability claimants at the administrative and federal levels. Her career trajectory — from Bronx Legal Services to a supervisory role at the Urban Justice Center — reflects the professional recognition she has earned through her commitment and expertise in disability advocacy.

• Professional Involvement

Shandanette’s professional involvement is centered on expanding access to justice for Social Security disability claimants in the New York metropolitan area and beyond. In her supervisory role at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, she oversees disability advocacy work and contributes to the organization’s broader mission of serving marginalized individuals navigating complex legal and government systems. Her prior experience at Bronx Legal Services and her academic training at GW’s School of Public Health inform a practice philosophy attentive to the intersecting legal, health, and social challenges that disability claimants face.

• Experience

Shandanette’s career in Social Security disability advocacy began at Bronx Legal Services’ Disability Advocacy Project before she joined the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, where she now serves as a Supervising Attorney. She represents claimants at the administrative level and in federal court, with admissions spanning the District of New Jersey, the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, the Second Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Her GW Law and Public Health education gives her a distinctive analytical lens on the intersection of disability, health policy, and legal rights — one she brings to bear every day in her advocacy on behalf of some of New York’s most vulnerable residents.

 

Rob Pfaff, Chief Operating Officer | EmployReward Solutions (ERS)

Rob Pfaff is the Chief Operating Officer of EmployReward Solutions (ERS), bringing over 25 years of federal leadership experience in disability policy, program operations, and employment support. Before joining ERS, he served as Director of the Office of Employment Support at the Social Security Administration, where he led the Ticket to Work Program and related initiatives designed to help SSA beneficiaries achieve self-sufficiency through employment. His federal career also included roles as Director in SSA’s Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise, disability adjudicator, vocational rehabilitation specialist, and a detail to the U.S. House of Representatives Social Security Subcommittee. His leadership has influenced national disability policy, expanded access to benefits and employment for underserved communities, and strengthened cross-sector collaboration on behalf of individuals with disabilities.

• Education & Credentials

Rob’s credentials are anchored in more than 25 years of senior federal service at the Social Security Administration. He has held roles spanning disability adjudication, vocational rehabilitation, program management, and executive leadership — including Director of SSA’s Office of Employment Support and Director in the Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise. His detail to the U.S. House of Representatives Social Security Subcommittee reflects the cross-institutional trust he earned through his federal career. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Rob’s leadership at the federal level has had measurable national impact. As Director of SSA’s Office of Employment Support, he led the Ticket to Work Program — one of the federal government’s principal mechanisms for helping disability beneficiaries transition to employment and self-sufficiency. His policy influence has expanded access to benefits and employment for underserved communities and advanced cross-sector collaboration in the disability services space. He now brings that experience to bear as COO of EmployReward Solutions, where he continues to shape how employment support is delivered to Social Security beneficiaries nationwide.

• Professional Involvement

Rob’s professional engagement spans federal policy, program administration, and the private disability employment sector. During his federal career, he worked across SSA’s program, medical, and vocational operations and engaged directly with Congress through his detail to the Social Security Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives. At ERS, he continues that tradition of cross-sector collaboration, working to align mission-driven employment support with the operational and compliance demands of a national Employment Network serving Social Security beneficiaries.

• Experience

Rob’s career spans more than 25 years of federal service at the Social Security Administration in roles of increasing responsibility — from disability adjudicator and vocational rehabilitation specialist to director-level leadership in SSA’s employment support and medical vocational expertise offices. As Director of the Office of Employment Support, he led the Ticket to Work Program and helped shape national policy on
disability and employment. A detail to the House Social Security Subcommittee further broadened his policy perspective. As COO of EmployReward Solutions, he now applies that deep institutional knowledge to lead operations for a national Employment Network committed to helping Social Security beneficiaries achieve economic independence through employment.

 

Tripp Carter, Vice President of Compliance & Special Projects | EmployReward Solutions (ERS)

Tripp Carter is Vice President of Compliance & Special Projects at EmployReward Solutions (ERS), a national Employment Network under the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program. Since joining ERS in 2010, he has contributed across the full scope of the organization’s growth — leading strategic partnerships, operational improvements, and software development alongside hands-on service delivery. With nearly 15 years of experience, Tripp specializes in program compliance, inclusive recruitment partnerships, and leveraging technology to improve outcomes for ticketholders and employers. He is a committed advocate for disability inclusion and works to connect mission-driven services with measurable, real-world results.

• Education & Credentials

Tripp brings nearly 15 years of specialized experience in the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program to his role at ERS. His expertise spans program compliance, inclusive employment partnerships, technology-driven service delivery, and operational leadership within a national Employment Network — a combination that reflects both practical and strategic depth in the disability employment field. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Tripp’s tenure at ERS since 2010 and his advancement to Vice President of Compliance & Special Projects reflect the organization’s confidence in his expertise and leadership. Over nearly 15 years, he has contributed to ERS’s growth at every level — from direct service delivery to strategic partnership development and software innovation. His focus on connecting mission-driven services with measurable outcomes has positioned ERS as an effective and forward-looking Employment Network within the Ticket to Work ecosystem, and his advocacy for disability inclusion gives his compliance and operational work a clear sense of purpose.

• Professional Involvement

Tripp is actively engaged in advancing disability inclusion through strategic partnerships, compliance leadership, and technology innovation at ERS. His work in inclusive recruitment partnerships reflects a commitment to connecting employers with disability-inclusive hiring practices and ticketholders with meaningful employment opportunities. His involvement in software development at ERS demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to improving the systems that support beneficiaries, employers, and the Employment Network infrastructure — an increasingly important dimension of effective Ticket to Work program delivery.

• Experience

Tripp has been with EmployReward Solutions since 2010, building nearly 15 years of experience across compliance, operations, partnerships, and technology in the Ticket to Work program space. His career at ERS has spanned hands-on service delivery and executive-level leadership, giving him a ground-level and strategic understanding of how Employment Networks can most effectively serve Social Security beneficiaries. As Vice President of Compliance & Special Projects, he leads the organization’s compliance function and drives special initiatives that advance ERS’s mission of supporting disability inclusion and employment — combining operational rigor with a genuine commitment to the individuals ERS serves.

 

Stephanie Whelan, LISW-CP, LICSW, Director of Workforce Strategy and Operations | EmployReward Solutions (ERS)

Stephanie Whelan, LISW-CP, LICSW is the Director of Workforce Strategy and Operations at EmployReward Solutions (ERS), a national Employment Network under the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program. In this role, she drives strategic workforce initiatives and operational excellence to empower individuals with disabilities through meaningful employment opportunities. Stephanie holds dual licensure as a Licensed Independent Social Worker — certified in South Carolina (LISW-CP) and licensed in Massachusetts (LICSW) — bringing a clinical and human-centered perspective to the intersection of disability, workforce development, and program operations.

• Education & Credentials

Stephanie holds dual social work licensure as a Licensed Independent Social Worker — certified in South Carolina (LISW-CP) and licensed in Massachusetts (LICSW). These clinical credentials reflect advanced training in social work practice and her commitment to bringing a person-centered, strengths-based approach to workforce strategy and disability employment services. Her licensure in two states underscores the breadth of her professional standing and the rigor of her clinical and operational background. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

As Director of Workforce Strategy and Operations at ERS, Stephanie holds a leadership role at the intersection of clinical social work, workforce development, and Ticket to Work program management. Her dual LISW licensure distinguishes her within the Employment Network space, where clinical expertise is a significant asset in designing and delivering services that meet the complex needs of Social Security beneficiaries pursuing employment. Her commitment to operational excellence and strategic workforce initiatives reflects a professional philosophy centered on empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve sustainable employment and greater independence.

• Professional Involvement

Stephanie’s professional involvement bridges clinical social work practice and disability employment program operations. As Director of Workforce Strategy and Operations at ERS, she leads initiatives that
align the organization’s workforce programs with the needs of ticketholders and the operational requirements of a national Employment Network. Her LISW credentials bring a clinical lens to program design and service delivery — ensuring that the human dimensions of disability, employment, and benefits intersect in ways that genuinely support individuals on their path to self-sufficiency.

• Experience

Stephanie’s background in licensed clinical social work informs every dimension of her role as Director of Workforce Strategy and Operations at EmployReward Solutions. At ERS — a national Employment Network under the SSA’s Ticket to Work Program — she leads workforce strategy and operational functions designed to help Social Security beneficiaries access and sustain meaningful employment. Her dual licensure as an LISW in South Carolina and Massachusetts reflects a depth of clinical training that equips her to approach workforce development with the empathy, rigor, and person-centered values that define effective disability employment services.

 

Claire Gunner, Esq., Staff Attorney, Disability Advocacy Project, Mental Health Project | Urban Justice Center

Claire Gunner is a Staff Attorney on the Disability Advocacy Project team at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, a position she has held since 2021. She earned a B.C.L./LL.B. from McGill University and was admitted to the New York bar in 2016. In addition to her New York state admission, she is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Her practice focuses on representing Social Security disability claimants at the administrative and federal court levels.

• Education & Credentials

Claire holds a B.C.L./LL.B. (Bachelor of Civil Law and Bachelor of Laws) from McGill University’s Faculty of Law — a dual-degree program that provides training in both civil law and common law traditions, reflecting a rigorous and internationally grounded legal education. She was admitted to the New York bar in 2016 and is also admitted to the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Her federal court admissions reflect an active litigation practice in Social Security disability appeals at both the district and appellate levels.

• Recognition & Leadership

Claire’s position on the Disability Advocacy Project team at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project places her within one of New York City’s most respected public interest disability advocacy organizations. Her admissions to the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the Second Circuit reflect the breadth of her federal litigation practice, and her McGill B.C.L./LL.B. brings a distinctive comparative legal perspective to her work. Her commitment to representing Social Security disability claimants in some of the country’s most demanding legal forums speaks to both her expertise and her dedication to public interest advocacy.

• Professional Involvement

As a staff attorney at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, Claire is engaged in the daily work of representing Social Security disability claimants at the administrative and federal court levels. Her role on the Disability Advocacy Project team connects her to a broader network of practitioners and advocates working to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access the benefits and legal protections to which they are entitled. Her practice is grounded in the Urban Justice Center’s mission of serving marginalized New Yorkers who face systemic barriers to justice.

• Experience

Claire has been a staff attorney on the Disability Advocacy Project team at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project since 2021. Admitted to the New York bar in 2016, she brings nearly a decade of legal experience to her representation of Social Security disability claimants in administrative proceedings and federal court. Her admissions to the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reflect an active and growing federal litigation practice. Her McGill B.C.L./LL.B. provides a strong comparative legal foundation that complements her specialized disability advocacy work in the New York federal courts.

 

Emilia Sicilia, Esq., Managing Attorney & Statewide Support Attorney, Disability Advocacy Program | Empire Justice Center

Emilia Sicilia is the Managing Attorney and Statewide Support Attorney for the Disability Advocacy Program at Empire Justice Center in Yonkers, New York. Her practice focuses on Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, encompassing both individual representation and systemic advocacy and impact litigation. Prior to joining Empire Justice Center, Emilia worked at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project and at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York, all four federal districts of New York, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Wisconsin Law School.

• Education & Credentials

Emilia holds a Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and in all four federal judicial districts of New York — the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts — as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. This comprehensive set of federal admissions reflects her active and broad litigation practice in Social Security disability and SSI matters across New York State and in the federal appellate courts.

• Recognition & Leadership

Emilia holds dual roles at Empire Justice Center as both Managing Attorney and Statewide Support Attorney for the Disability Advocacy Program — a combination that reflects her expertise in both direct representation and the systemic and statewide dimensions of disability advocacy. Her career path, which spans public interest work at the Urban Justice Center and private practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, reflects the breadth of legal experience she brings to her current role. Her admissions to all four New York federal districts and the Second Circuit underscore the scope of her litigation footprint in Social Security and SSI matters.

• Professional Involvement

In addition to her direct representation work, Emilia engages in systemic advocacy and impact litigation — tools that extend her reach beyond individual cases and into the policy and legal frameworks that govern how Social Security disability and SSI benefits are administered across New York. As Statewide Support Attorney, she provides technical support and guidance to a broader network of advocates and attorneys handling disability claims across the state, multiplying the impact of her expertise. Her earlier work at the Urban Justice Center and Paul, Weiss informs a well-rounded approach to advocacy that draws on both public interest and large-firm legal practice.

• Experience

Emilia’s legal career spans public interest disability advocacy and large-firm private practice. She began her public interest work at the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, gaining foundational experience in Social Security disability representation, before also working at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. She subsequently joined Empire Justice Center, where she now serves as both Managing Attorney and Statewide Support Attorney for the Disability Advocacy Program. Her practice encompasses individual Social Security disability and SSI representation as well as systemic advocacy and impact litigation, and her admissions to all four New York federal districts and the Second Circuit reflect a litigation practice of exceptional geographic and jurisdictional breadth across New York State.

 

Jim Hermann, MBA, SPHR, ADR, Social Security Disability Advocate & Educator

Jim Hermann is a Social Security disability advocate and educator with 30 years of experience representing SSA claimants. Over the course of his career, he has conducted hundreds of seminars nationwide on Social Security disability topics and has taught at the university level, including at the University of San Francisco, Moraga College, and Ivy Tech College. Jim holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science degree, and carries the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation and an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) credential. He is also the author of a forthcoming book on resolving stage fright.

• Education & Credentials

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), complemented by the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation — one of the most respected credentials in the human resources field — and an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) credential. This combination of business, HR, and dispute resolution credentials informs a practice that brings structured, analytical thinking to the representation of Social Security claimants and to the educational work he has conducted across the country.

• Recognition & Leadership

Jim’s recognition spans three decades of advocacy, education, and professional development in the Social Security disability community. His record of conducting hundreds of seminars nationwide reflects the trust practitioners have placed in his expertise as an educator and trainer. His university teaching appointments at the University of San Francisco, Moraga College, and Ivy Tech College speak to his ability to translate complex Social Security and professional development topics for diverse academic audiences. His upcoming book on resolving stage fright further demonstrates his commitment to helping practitioners communicate and present with confidence — a practical complement to his substantive disability advocacy work.

• Professional Involvement

Jim has been deeply involved in professional education throughout his career, conducting hundreds of seminars on Social Security disability topics for practitioners across the country. His university teaching at the University of San Francisco, Moraga College, and Ivy Tech College reflects ongoing engagement with academic institutions as a vehicle for building the next generation of informed advocates and professionals. His ADR credential adds a conflict resolution dimension to his professional profile, and his forthcoming book on stage fright reflects a broader commitment to equipping practitioners with the communication and presentation skills essential to effective advocacy.

• Experience

Jim Hermann brings 30 years of experience representing SSA claimants to his advocacy and educational work. Over that span, he has built a practice that combines direct claimant representation with a prolific career as a national seminar presenter and university educator. His teaching appointments at the University of San Francisco, Moraga College, and Ivy Tech College reflect the breadth of his educational reach, while his hundreds of nationwide seminars have made him a familiar and trusted voice in the Social Security disability practitioner community. His MBA, SPHR, and ADR credentials bring a distinctive business and human resources perspective to disability advocacy — and his forthcoming book on stage fright adds
yet another dimension to a career defined by a commitment to excellence in both advocacy and communication.

 

Thomas A. Krause, Esq., Social Security Disability Attorney & Brief Writer

Thomas A. (Tom) Krause has represented claimants seeking Social Security disability benefits for more than 40 years. He spent 20 years working for Legal Services programs in Iowa and Minnesota before transitioning to 21 years in private practice, where he focused primarily on federal court appeals of disability claims. After serving as NOSSCR’s Litigation Director, he has returned to brief writing. A Sustaining Member of NOSSCR for 30 years, Tom served on the NOSSCR Board of Directors for eight years and has presented at numerous national and regional conferences throughout his career.

• Education & Credentials

Tom Krause is a licensed attorney with more than 40 years of experience in Social Security disability law, spanning legal services practice, private practice, organizational leadership, and appellate brief writing. His deep specialization in federal court appeals of disability claims, combined with his tenure as NOSSCR Litigation Director, reflects a career of sustained expertise and professional distinction in one of the most technically demanding areas of disability advocacy. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Tom has been a Sustaining Member of NOSSCR for 30 years and served on its Board of Directors for eight years — a significant leadership contribution to the nation’s premier organization for Social Security claimants’ representatives. His service as NOSSCR Litigation Director placed him at the center of the organization’s most complex and consequential advocacy work. He has presented at numerous NOSSCR national conferences, Eighth Circuit Social Security Disability Law conferences, Legal Aid presentations, and Minnesota State Bar Section meetings, establishing him as a trusted and widely respected voice in the Social Security disability bar.

• Professional Involvement

Tom has been deeply engaged in professional education and organizational leadership throughout his career. He has presented at NOSSCR national conferences, Eighth Circuit Social Security Disability Law conferences, Legal Aid gatherings, and Minnesota State Bar Section meetings — a breadth of speaking engagements that reflects his commitment to elevating practice standards across the field. His eight years on the NOSSCR Board and his tenure as Litigation Director further demonstrate a career defined not only by individual client advocacy but by sustained investment in the health and advancement of the disability advocacy profession.

• Experience

Tom Krause’s 40-plus-year career in Social Security disability law encompasses legal services practice in Iowa and Minnesota, two decades of private practice focused on federal court disability appeals, organizational leadership as NOSSCR Litigation Director, and a return to the brief writing work that has defined much of his professional legacy. His combination of legal aid roots, federal appellate expertise, and national organizational leadership gives him one of the most comprehensive and well-rounded careers in the Social Security disability bar. His 30-year NOSSCR Sustaining Membership and eight years of board service reflect the depth of his commitment to the profession and the respect he has earned from colleagues across the country.

 

Ed Olson, Esq., Social Security Disability Attorney

Ed Olson has been representing individuals seeking Social Security disability benefits since 1991. Over more than three decades, he has successfully represented clients at every level of the Social Security Administration’s disability claim process — from initial application through the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ed is a frequent speaker before groups and organizations on the Social Security disability claim process and has been a featured speaker at multiple meetings of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR).

• Education & Credentials

Ed Olson is a licensed attorney who has concentrated his practice in Social Security disability representation since 1991. His credentials are defined by more than 30 years of hands-on experience at every stage of the disability adjudication process — from initial applications through administrative hearings, appeals council reviews, and federal court litigation up to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. His sustained focus on this single area of law reflects a depth of expertise that few practitioners can match. (Specific academic credentials are not included in the provided biography.)

• Recognition & Leadership

Ed has been recognized as a featured speaker at multiple NOSSCR national meetings, reflecting his standing as a trusted and respected voice in the Social Security disability practitioner community. His successful representation of clients through the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals — one of the most demanding venues for Social Security disability litigation — underscores the appellate expertise he has developed over more than three decades of practice. His frequent speaking engagements before groups and organizations on the disability claim process further demonstrate the value his colleagues and the broader professional community place on his knowledge and experience.

• Professional Involvement

Ed is actively engaged in professional education and community outreach, frequently speaking to groups and organizations about the Social Security disability claim process. His appearances as a featured speaker at NOSSCR national meetings reflect his commitment to sharing his expertise with practitioners across the country. His long-tenured membership in the Social Security disability bar and his involvement with NOSSCR demonstrate a consistent investment in the broader professional community that extends well beyond his own practice.

• Experience

Since beginning his Social Security disability practice in 1991, Ed Olson has built a career of more than 30 years representing claimants at every level of the adjudication process — from initial applications and reconsiderations through administrative hearings, appeals council reviews, and federal court appeals up to the Eighth Circuit. His comprehensive experience across all stages of the process gives him an unusually complete understanding of how disability claims develop, where they succeed, and how to effectively challenge adverse decisions at the highest levels. His frequent speaking engagements and NOSSCR featured speaker appearances reflect a professional commitment to education and advocacy that complements his active client practice.

 

Sarah H. Bohr, Esq., Partner | Bohr & Harrington LLC

Sarah H. Bohr is a partner at Bohr & Harrington LLC in Jacksonville, Florida, and one of the country’s most distinguished Social Security disability appellate attorneys. She has specialized in Social Security law for over 40 years, offering a national brief writing service and representing claimants in district courts across dozens of states and in the First, Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. Sarah began her career at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc., where she worked for more than 20 years. She is a past president of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) and was a 2007 recipient of NOSSCR’s Eileen P. Sweeney Distinguished Service Award, given in recognition of her distinguished service on behalf of people with disabilities in America. Among the highest points of her career, Sarah successfully argued Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103 (2000), before the Supreme Court of the United States.

• Education & Credentials

Sarah earned her Juris Doctor from the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. She is a licensed attorney with active admissions across a wide range of federal district and circuit courts, and is recognized as one of the field’s foremost experts in Social Security appellate practice. She is also the author of multiple widely used publications for practitioners, including Sarah Bohr’s Guide to Key Social Security Rulings, Sarah Bohr’s Guide to Social Security Disability Law, Winning Appeals Council Arguments, and Eleventh Circuit Social Security Cases — resources that have become standard references for disability advocates nationwide.

• Recognition & Leadership

Sarah’s recognition includes some of the highest honors in the Social Security disability field. She received the NOSSCR Eileen P. Sweeney Distinguished Service Award in 2007, served as president of NOSSCR, and testified before the Social Security Subcommittee of Congress during her presidency. In February 2008, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, presented her with a professionalism award for her pro bono service as court-appointed Inventory Attorney in 72 Social Security federal court cases. She was also presented with a court-appointed role in those cases in recognition of the quality and dedication of her work on behalf of the court. She is a member of NOSSCR’s Council of Past Presidents and is a frequent speaker at national Social Security conferences.

• Professional Involvement

Sarah is a frequent lecturer on Social Security issues at national conferences, covering a wide range of administrative and federal court topics. Through her national brief writing service at Bohr & Harrington
LLC, she provides appellate support to practitioners across the country, writing briefs for filing in district courts nationwide and in most federal circuit courts of appeal. Her published practitioner guides — including her pocket guides on key Social Security rulings and Winning Appeals Council Arguments — reflect a long-standing commitment to elevating the quality of representation across the disability bar, whether through her own advocacy or through the resources she makes available to fellow practitioners.

• Experience

Sarah Bohr’s career in Social Security law spans more than four decades, beginning at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid in 1978 — first as a non-attorney representative while awaiting bar results, and then as a staff attorney for over 20 years. Her practice has covered every dimension of Social Security law, from administrative representation and class action litigation to district court appeals, circuit court appeals, and Supreme Court argument. Her successful argument in Sims v. Apfel before the Supreme Court stands as one of the landmark moments in modern Social Security appellate law. Through Bohr & Harrington LLC, she continues to offer a national brief writing service and to serve as one of the disability bar’s most prolific and respected practitioners, authors, and educators.

 

Jon C. Dubin, Esq., Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of Law & Associate Dean for Clinical Education | Rutgers Law School

Jon C. Dubin is the Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Clinical Education at Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey, where he has been a tenured law professor for over 30 years. He is a recipient of NOSSCR’s Eileen P. Sweeney Distinguished Service Award, an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, and has served on the Administrative Conference of the United States Social Security Disability Adjudication Project Working Group. He is the author of Social Security Disability Law and the American Labor Market (NYU Academic Press, 2021), co-author of eleven editions of the treatise Social Security Disability Law and Procedure in Federal Court, and co-author of the first hardcover Social Security law casebook, Social Security Law, Policy, and Practice. He has also supplied solicited testimony to Congress on Social Security disability reform.

• Education & Credentials

Jon earned his Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College and his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. Before joining the Rutgers faculty, he served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge John L. Kane Jr., as assistant counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, as Director of Litigation for the Harlem Neighborhood Office of the Legal Aid Society, and as the Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellow on the ACLU’s national staff. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance and has served on the Administrative Conference of the United States Social Security Disability Adjudication Project Working Group.

• Recognition & Leadership

Jon’s honors are among the most distinguished in legal academia and the Social Security disability field. He received the 2014 NOSSCR Eileen P. Sweeney Distinguished Service Award, the 2002 Edgar and Jean Cahn Award from the National Equal Justice Library for one of the most outstanding articles about access to justice published in the entire 20th century, and the 2014 Clinical Legal Education Association award for outstanding contributions on behalf of clinical teachers. The U.S. Supreme Court twice cited his scholarship in Sims v. Apfel (2000) — adopting his article’s doctrinal label of ‘issue exhaustion’ — and again in Biestek v. Berryhill (2019). Rutgers University awarded him the Board of Governors Distinguished Service designation, one of only fourteen Rutgers professors ever to receive that honor at the time.

• Professional Involvement

Jon has served on the Administrative Conference of the United States Social Security Disability Adjudication Project Working Group, chaired the Association of American Law Schools’ Poverty Law Section, and served on the boards of the National Center on Law and Economic Justice, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the Clinical Law Review, and the Clinical Legal Education Association. He has supplied solicited testimony to Congress on Social Security disability reform and co-counseled the successful appeal in Sims v. Apfel before the Supreme Court, where he served as principal drafter of the Petitioner’s brief. His scholarship and advocacy consistently operate at the intersection of Social Security disability law, poverty law, civil rights, and clinical legal education.

• Experience

Jon Dubin has been a tenured law professor at Rutgers Law School for over 30 years, serving for much of that time as Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Director of the Clinical Program. His scholarship focuses on the Social Security disability programs, poverty law, civil rights, and clinical legal education. He is the author of Social Security Disability Law and the American Labor Market (NYU Academic Press, 2021) — which examines how SSA disability policy has failed to keep pace with transformations in the American labor market — and co-author of eleven editions of Social Security Disability Law and Procedure in Federal Court (Thomson Reuters) as well as the first hardcover Social Security law casebook. His career integrates teaching, scholarship, Supreme Court advocacy, congressional testimony, and federal advisory service into one of the most comprehensive and impactful bodies of work in the Social Security disability field.

 

Ira Kasdan, Esq., Partner | Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Ira Kasdan is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, a national law firm, where he brings more than 40 years of litigation experience to complex federal matters. He has served as lead counsel in several significant class actions against the Social Security Administration, including Greenberg v. Colvin in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia — which set the precedent for the award of Section 406(b) attorney fees in class actions — and Steigerwald v. Berryhill, litigated in the Northern District of Ohio and the Sixth Circuit. He is currently co-lead counsel in a third certified class action pending against the SSA in the Eastern District of Virginia. Mr. Kasdan is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Maryland bars, various federal circuit courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

• Education & Credentials

Ira earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as an editor on the Georgetown Law Journal. He is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland bars and is admitted to practice in multiple federal circuit courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. His broad federal court admissions reflect four decades of active litigation across jurisdictions, including appellate courts and the nation’s highest court.

• Recognition & Leadership

Ira is recognized as a leading authority in Social Security class action litigation. His role as lead counsel in Greenberg v. Colvin produced a landmark precedent establishing the availability of Section 406(b) attorney fee awards in Social Security class actions — a ruling with lasting significance for disability practitioners nationwide. His subsequent leadership in Steigerwald v. Berryhill in the Sixth Circuit and his current co-lead counsel role in a certified class action in the Eastern District of Virginia further cement his standing as one of the country’s foremost litigators in SSA class action matters. His more than 40 years at a national law firm reflect a career of sustained excellence at the highest levels of federal litigation.

• Professional Involvement

Ira’s professional involvement in the Social Security disability space is concentrated at the class action and appellate levels, where his work has shaped the legal framework governing attorney fees and systemic challenges to SSA practices. His active involvement in multiple certified class actions — including the currently pending matter in the Eastern District of Virginia — reflects a sustained commitment to using complex litigation as a tool for advancing the rights of Social Security claimants on a systemic scale. His practice at Kelley Drye & Warren combines deep expertise in federal procedure with a strategic, precedent-setting approach to complex litigation.

• Experience

With more than 40 years of federal litigation experience, Ira Kasdan has built a practice defined by complex class actions and high-stakes federal court work. His Social Security class action litigation has produced precedent-setting outcomes — most notably Greenberg v. Colvin, which established the framework for Section 406(b) fee awards in class actions, and Steigerwald v. Berryhill, litigated through the Sixth Circuit. He currently serves as co-lead counsel in a third certified SSA class action in the Eastern District of Virginia. His admissions to multiple federal circuit courts and the Supreme Court of the United States reflect a career of national scope, and his Georgetown Law Journal editorship signals the academic foundation underlying decades of sophisticated federal practice.

 

Damon Suden, Esq., Partner | Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Damon Suden is a partner in the New York office of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. An accomplished litigator and trial attorney with more than 20 years of practice in federal and state courts across the country, Mr. Suden has significant class action experience and currently serves as co-lead counsel in a certified class action against the Social Security Administration in the Eastern District of Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1999) and a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law (2002).

• Education & Credentials

Damon holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., 1999) and a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law (J.D., 2002). His undergraduate training in mathematics brings analytical precision to a litigation practice spanning complex federal and state court matters, while his Fordham Law education provided the foundation for more than two decades of accomplished trial and appellate work. He is admitted to practice in federal and state courts across the country.

• Recognition & Leadership

Damon is recognized as a skilled litigator and class action practitioner, with a track record of handling complex matters in federal and state courts nationwide. His elevation to partner at Kelley Drye & Warren and his selection as co-lead counsel in a certified class action against the Social Security Administration in the Eastern District of Virginia reflect both the confidence his firm and clients place in his abilities and his standing as an accomplished advocate in high-stakes, complex litigation. His more than 20 years of trial and appellate experience across jurisdictions underscore the depth and breadth of his litigation expertise.

• Professional Involvement

Damon’s professional practice spans complex federal and state court litigation, with particular depth in class action matters. As co-lead counsel in the pending certified class action against the SSA in the Eastern District of Virginia — alongside firm partner Ira Kasdan — he contributes strategic and trial-level leadership to one of the most significant current challenges to Social Security Administration practices in the federal courts. His broad litigation background across jurisdictions and subject matters allows him to bring a versatile, rigorous approach to complex matters that require both courtroom skill and sophisticated case management.

• Experience

Damon Suden has practiced as a litigator and trial attorney for more than 20 years, building a career at Kelley Drye & Warren that spans federal and state court litigation across the country. His significant class action experience encompasses complex multi-party litigation at both the trial and appellate levels, and his current role as co-lead counsel in the certified SSA class action in the Eastern District of Virginia represents one of the most consequential ongoing challenges to Social Security Administration practices in federal court. His MIT mathematics background informs an analytically rigorous approach to litigation strategy that complements his Fordham Law training and his two-decade record of effective advocacy in courts nationwide.

DAY 1, Tuesday, April 21, 2026

I. Social Security Disability Bootcamp: Foundations for Effective Advocacy | 9:00am – 10:15am

This session will provide a practical introduction to the SSI and SSDI programs, walk through the stages of the disability determination process, and offer concrete strategies for interviewing clients, gathering medical evidence, preparing appeals, and developing strong hearing presentations.

• Identify the different types of Social Security benefits available to clients.
• Understand the stages of the application process, including initial application, reconsideration, and administrative hearing.
• Apply best practices such as holistic client interviewing, gathering medical information, and accurate documentation to strengthen applications.
• Prepare effective appeal forms, prehearing briefs, and hearing strategies to address common hurdles.

Speakers: Robyn Griffin

II. Work after AOD: How to Salvage Your Claim: UWA, TWP, IRWE | 10:15am – 11:30am

This “alphabet soup” session will offer a detailed look at UWA, TWP, and IRWEs – also known as Unsuccessful Work Attempts (UWA), Trial Work Periods (TWP), and Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) – we’ll also touch on subsidies. Walk away from this session with an understanding of how to use each policy effectively to save the claimant’s original Alleged Onset Date (AOD) despite work after onset.

Speakers: Christine Burnside, Christine Latona

III. Winning the Case Before the Hearing: The Power of the Pre-Hearing Brief | 11:30am – 12:30pm

Winning a Social Security disability case doesn’t start at the hearing — it starts long before the ALJ ever takes the bench. This program equips attorneys with a proven, repeatable framework for pre-hearing preparation that controls the narrative, neutralizes risk, and puts the case in the best possible position to win. Attendees will learn how to draft a compelling pre-hearing brief that directs the ALJ’s focus from the start, identify and defuse red-flag issues before they derail the hearing, and mine the ERE file strategically for arguments that hold up under scrutiny. Through evidence-based storytelling, attorneys will learn to align medical and vocational findings into a cohesive, persuasive case theory — turning complex records into a clear path to a favorable decision.

Speakers: Laci N. Hamilton

Lunch | 12:30pm – 2:00pm

IV. How to Think Like a Judge | 2:00pm – 3:15pm

A discussion about how a hearing office works generally, how judges in particular work, how judges review files, how judges analyze cases and how you as a representative can take advantage of those processes.

Speakers: Gina Carpenter

V. To the Appeals Council and Beyond: Practical advice after an ALJ denial | 3:15pm – 4:30pm

This session describes the appeal options after an ALJ denial; the Appeals Council’s internal process of case review and how to use it to your client’s advantage; the most common reasons for Appeals Council remands; and why most Appeals Council denials turn into federal court remands.

We provide handouts with sample arguments to use on appeal to the Appeals Council and provide a strategy for reviewing ALJ denials for appeal to both the Appeals Council and the U.S. District Courts.

Speakers: Joseph Ira Frydman

VI. FDC from A to Z: Federal Court Social Security Appeals | 4:30pm – 5:45pm

This session provides a start-to-finish guide on handling Social Security disability appeals in federal district court. Learn to master the entire process, from effectively spotting and preserving appealable issues in the administrative record to navigating the mechanics of filing the complaint and briefs. We’ll conclude with a practical look at the crucial final step: successfully filing for and negotiating attorney fees under both the EAJA and 42 U.S.C. § 406(b).

Speakers: Laura Beth Waller, Marisa Burkett, Melissa Palmer

 

DAY 2, Wednesday, April 22, 2026

I. Beyond Benefits: Empowering SSDI & SSI Recipients Ready to Return to Work | 8:30am – 9:45am

This session equips representatives with practical strategies and tools to identify, support, and empower SSDI & SSI recipients who show readiness for employment through SSA’s Ticket to Work program, focusing on client empowerment and successful transitions.

• Identifying Work-Ready Clients: Readiness Assessment Tools; Motivational Indicators; Life Transition Opportunities
• Breaking Down Barriers to Participation: Fear Management Strategies; Myth-Busting Resources; Success Stories
• Program Navigation Support: General TTW Program Overview; EN Selection Support; Income Reporting Tools & OP Protection; Timeline Visualization Framework

Speakers: Sarah Deaver, Jennie Gailey

II. The SSI Resource Limit is More Than $100,000 With ABLE Accounts | 9:45am – 11:00am

Discover the power of ABLE accounts! Not sure who qualifies or how to open one? Curious how they can protect resources and help navigate some of SSI’s toughest rules? Join us to learn how ABLE accounts work, who can benefit, and how they can make a real difference for individuals applying for or already receiving SSI.

Speakers: Debora Wagner, Bette Ann Mobley

III. Mining the POMS for Overpayment and Waiver Gold | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Unaddressed overpayments cause claimants financial and emotional distress. When the overpayment POMS were reorganized in 2024, SSA added claimant friendly provisions that can help resolve overpayments earlier. The revised provisions on fault and ability to repay are especially helpful – if only one knows where to look. This presentation will identify and put those helpful provisions in context.

Speakers: Linda L. Landry, John S. Whitelaw

Lunch | 12:00pm – 1:00pm

IV. GENERAL SESSION | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

This session is available for live streaming to virtual attendees but does not qualify for CLE credit.

We’re honored to welcome the Commissioner of Social Security, Frank Bisignano, as the Keynote Speaker for our General Session.

And that’s not all.

Joining the General Session will be SSA’s Acting Chief of Disability Adjudication, Jay Ortis, for what promises to be an insightful and timely discussion. Direct access. Real updates. Meaningful perspective. This is the kind of programming that shapes how you practice.

 

DAY 3, Thursday, April 23, 2026

I. Language Access in Changing Times: Law, Policy, and Practice | 8:30am – 9:45am

On March 1, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14224, “Designating English as the Official Language of the United States.” The Order rescinded a long-standing policy that had established language access protections in federal agencies for the past 25 years. This session will provide an overview of current SSA language access rules and policies, review the legal framework protecting language access, and examine recent federal developments and their impact on enforcement and advocacy strategies. We will also discuss emerging ethical considerations surrounding the increasing use of machine translation, as well as practice tips for representing individuals with limited English proficiency.

Speakers: Chi-Ser Tran, John S. Whitelaw, Violeta Arciniega

II. Transferability of Skills: What Has Changed and Does it Still Matter? | 9:45am – 11:00am

Vocational expert testimony has changed, and so must your approach. With the Social Security Administration’s recent rulings (SSR 24-1p and 24-2p) and the new Transferability of Skills Assessment (TSA) under POMS DI 25015.018, it’s more important than ever to understand what skills truly are and how they transfer to other work. This session provides a clear roadmap for navigating these new rules. We’ll demystify the TSA process and show you how to identify and document your client’s work history and skills in a way that aligns with the SSA’s new framework.

• Deconstructing the New Rulings: We’ll break down the key changes in SSR 24-1p and SSR 24-2p, including the new 5-year lookback period for past relevant work. You’ll learn how these changes impact vocational expert testimony and the overall disability determination process.
• Defining “”Skills”” Under the TSA: We’ll explore how the SSA defines a “”skill”” and what makes a skill transferable in the context of the new POMS DI 25015.018. We’ll use real-world examples to differentiate between skills, aptitudes, and general job traits.
• Optimizing Client Forms: Learn which forms are most critical for documenting your client’s work history and how to complete them to best highlight (or challenge) transferable skills. This includes the importance of the Work History Report (SSA-3369-BK).
• Developing a Winning Strategy: This isn’t just a lecture on rules; it’s a practical guide. We’ll discuss how to frame your arguments and prepare your cases to effectively demonstrate why a client’s skills may not be transferable, a key factor for winning at Step 5 of the sequential evaluation process.

Speakers: Nathan Craig, Jaime Nobis

III. NONPROFIT MEETING | 11:00am – 12:00pm

This session is available for live streaming to virtual attendees but does not qualify for CLE credit.

This informal session brings together NOSSCR members who work in nonprofit and legal services organizations for a collaborative discussion with fellow advocates and NOSSCR leadership. It’s an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and connect with others who understand the unique realities of representing Social Security claimants in the nonprofit setting.

Participants are encouraged to raise questions, highlight pain points, and offer feedback about how NOSSCR can better support nonprofit members—through resources, programming, and advocacy. Come ready to exchange ideas, learn from your peers, and help shape how NOSSCR can best serve the nonprofit community.

Speakers: Beth Bates, Tom Krause

Lunch | 12:00pm – 1:30pm

IV. Use Ethical Rules To Start and Maintain Productive Relationships with Clients | 1:30pm – 2:45pm

We use the model rules, blended with SSA’s conduct regulations, to cover best practices for starting off a productive relationship and then maintaining it. We will consider how to decline a potential client, how to work with clients who have diminished capacity or mental impairments, and how to address the all-evidence rule. We will also look at how the ethical rules can help when communicating with clients and even with setting boundaries with clients.

Note: This session has a later, related workshop in How to Have Difficult Conversations with Clients.

Speakers: Ann Biddle, Shandanette Chase

V. Beyond the Award Letter: Expanding Your Advocacy to Include Economic Empowerment Through Work | 2:45pm – 4:00pm

This session features a holistic approach from an array of stakeholders designed to help advocates and legal representatives guide beneficiaries through the transition from benefits to employment. Returning to work after receiving disability benefits presents unique challenges for individuals and the professionals who support them.

Panel stakeholders in this session plan to include the following:

• Employment Networks (ENs),
• State Vocational Rehabilitation,
• Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Project (WIPA),
• State Workforce, and
• Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS).

Topics will include communicating strategies that increase a beneficiary’s confidence in returning to work such as fear of losing benefits and navigating complex SSA work incentive programs.

Attendees will gain insight into leveraging existing resources, fostering collaboration between stakeholders, and implementing individualized plans that prioritize both financial stability and long-term success. This presentation equips legal professionals with tools to empower beneficiaries and promote economic self-sufficiency.

Speakers: Robert Pfaff, Tripp Carter, Stephanie Whelan

VI. Practical Approaches to DA&A Cases | 4:00pm – 5:15pm

DA&A is not an automatic bar to disability! This workshop is for people who avoid DA&A cases or seek more practical advice about best practices. Come and discuss ways to win your case with DAA issues. We will go over SSA’s Ruling 13-2p and talk about how to marshal the medical evidence regarding substance use in your pre-hearing memo and when cross-examining an ME, and how to elicit useful testimony from your client on direct examination.

Speakers: Claire Gunner, Emilia Sicilia, Shandanette Chase

VII. The Integration of Stage Fright and SSA Regulations: How Composure and Competence Yield Success | 5:15pm – 6:30pm

This advanced-level legal practicum provides representatives with a comprehensive framework for navigating the heightened procedural and substantive requirements of SSR 24-3p and EM-24027. As the Social Security Administration shifts toward stricter “”Issue Exhaustion”” standards, the “”Integrated Advocate”” must master both the technical deconstruction of Vocational Expert (VE) testimony and the ethical mandates of professional competence.

The course focuses on a four-step systematic protocol designed to identify and challenge “”Zombie Jobs””—technologically obsolete occupations—and improper Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) data aggregation. Participants will learn to cross-reference modern vocational data from the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) to effectively rebut outdated DOT descriptions, ensuring that the vocational record is preserved for Federal Court appeal if needed.

Ethics & Professional Responsibility Integration

Central to the curriculum is the application of 20 CFR § 404.1740. The course argues that “”composure”” is a prerequisite for “”competence.”” Through the suggested protocol, attendees will learn autonomic regulation techniques to maintain cognitive clarity during high-stakes cross-examination. This ensures the representative fulfills their affirmative duty to provide “”competent”” representation by executing timely, data-supported objections as required under the new 2025 regulatory landscape.

Speakers: WJ Hermann

 

DAY 4, Friday, April 24, 2026

I. Using SSA’s Own Playbook: Underutilized Policies That Strengthen Disability Claims | 8:30am – 9:45am

This session by Ed Olson and Tom Krause reveals lesser known Social Security policies, including administrative waiver tolerance; past relevant work analysis; composite jobs and workplace accommodations; medical-vocational profiles for arduous work histories and borderline age applications; and recent emergency messages restricting use of obsolete occupations in “not disabled” determinations; and continuing disability review patterns. The materials emphasize practical POMS applications and regulatory updates that disability attorneys can use to strengthen advocacy and better navigate the Social Security system.

Speakers: Tom Krause, Ed Olson

II. SSD Law in the Federal Courts/Circuits | 9:45am – 11:00am

This session will identify, summarize and highlight significant developments and trends in Circuit SSD caselaw and other SSD caselaw developments where appropriate for the past year.

Speakers: Sarah Bohr, Jon Dubin

III. Class Actions Against the SSA: A Refresher and Update | 11:00am – 12:00pm

The session will review the requirements of FRCP 23 to bring and certify a class action with particular focus on issues pertinent to such cases against the SSA, as demonstrated by precedent. Particular attention would be given to a pending class action in the E.D.Va. in which a class already has been certified. One of the significant issues in the currently-pending class action in the E.D.Va. concerned whether the type and quality of notice that SSA provides beneficiaries in award letters or otherwise is sufficient to trigger the requirement under the Social Security Act that they begin to exhaust their remedies or waive their right to sue. The session will explore this issue in some depth as it is relevant not only in the context of class actions but more generally for awardees in pursuing their rights when they believe that their benefits have been underpaid.

Speakers: Ira Kasdan, Damon Suden