Social Security Disability Claims and Appeals for Paralegals

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Claim Evaluation: Establishing Disability Timeline, Identifying Weaknesses, Forming a Strategy
   1:00 — 1:15, Chase Villeret
2. Rep Authorization, Initial Application, E-Folder and Supporting Documentation
   1:15 — 1:30, Chase Villeret
3. RFC Questionnaire Best Practices and Good Ideas (With Sample Answers)
   1:30 — 2:00, Benjamin Shapiro
4. Medical Records, Opinion Evidence, and Reporting Referrals
   2:00 — 2:20, Charles Consagra
5. Tackling Requests for Reconsideration
   2:20 — 2:40, Charles Consagra
6. Request for Hearing and Brief: What to Include, How to Frame the Case (With Sample Language)
   2:55 — 3:15, Roger Driskill
7. ALJ Hearing Tactics
   3:15 — 3:45, Roger Driskill
8. Federal Court Appeal and Representative Fee Issues
   3:45 — 4:15, Roger Driskill

Accreditation Details:

Charles I Consagra is of counsel with Needle Law Firm, where he concentrates in the field of administrative law, with primary specialty in the areas of workers' compensation, Social Security, and unemployment compensation. Since 1978, Mr. Consagra has been a part-time faculty member at Keystone College as an instructor in the areas of education, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, and business law. He is an instructor in business for graduate students through Marywood University. Mr. Consagra earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Scranton and his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. He earned his Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology and his Master of Science degree in Ed from Marywood University. Mr. Consagra also holds a M.Div degree and Ph.D. degree (all but dissertations).

Roger M Driskill is a partner with BurnettDriskill, LLC. He represents exclusively persons seeking disability benefits before all agencies and disability insurers, including the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, and the Missouri Employees Retirement System. Mr. Driskill is admitted to practice in all courts in Missouri, the U.S. District Court - Western District of Missouri, the U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Missouri and the U.S. District Court - District of Kansas. He is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Federal Bar Association, the Jackson County Bar Association and the Clay County Bar Association. Mr. Driskill earned his B.A. degree from Southwest Baptist College and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri.

Benjamin M Shapiro is an attorney with the Law Office of Ivan M. Katz, where his practice focuses on social security disability law. Mr. Shapiro is admitted to practice in Connecticut. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association (Social Security Disability Section). Mr. Shapiro earned his B.S. degree from Brandeis University and his J.D. degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

Chase T Villeret is an attorney with Villeret Law Firm, LLC, where he practices in workers' compensation litigation, longshore and harbor workers' compensation, Social Security disability, and personal injury law. He is also a skilled advocate who has successfully litigated multiple judge trials and handled complex appeals. Mr. Villeret is admitted to practice in Louisiana. He earned his B.S. degree in biological sciences from Louisiana State University, his M.PH. degree from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Public Health in New Orleans with a concentration in environmental and occupational health, and his J.D. degree from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center.