Federal Social Security Disability Appeals
MAP Disability focuses exclusively on Social Security disability appeals in federal district court. We represent claimants challenging unfavorable Social Security decisions and work with referring attorneys across the federal-court process.
A focused federal court practice
Social Security cases in federal court require a different kind of practice than representation before the agency. MAP Disability focuses on this stage of the process.
We review the administrative record, identify legal and factual errors in the agency's decision, prepare federal court briefing, respond to the Commissioner's arguments, and pursue remand when the agency's decision cannot be sustained.
By concentrating our practice on Social Security appeals in federal district court, we are able to bring focused experience and careful attention to each case.
For referring attorneys
MAP Disability works with attorneys, firms, and nonprofit agencies that represent Social Security claimants at the administrative level but prefer to refer out federal court litigation services. We aim to make that transition straightforward for both the referring attorney and the client, while providing experienced representation through the federal appeal.
Our attorneys
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Margaret Lehrkind
Lehrkind Law Office, P. C.
Margaret has 13 years of experience in Social Security Disability law, including representing claimants at every stage of appeal and working within the Social Security Administration. Before returning to claimant advocacy, she served as an Attorney Advisor in an SSA hearing office and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in SSA’s Office of General Counsel, litigating Social Security cases throughout the Ninth Circuit. Her background provides a unique understanding of claimant advocacy, SSA decision-making, and federal court litigation. She now represents Social Security claimants in federal courts in California, Oregon, and Washington.
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Andrea Banks
Law Office of Andrea Banks, LLC
Andrea has practiced disability law for her entire legal career. She handled her first Social Security disability case as a law clerk at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. After graduating from law school, Andrea worked at Bay Area Legal Aid for 10 years as an attorney and supervising attorney handling Social Security disability cases from initial application to federal district court. Andrea spent the past 5 years at the Social Security Administration’s Office of the General Counsel handling federal district court appeals in California, Hawaii, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada.
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Paul Sachelari
Law Office of Paul Sachelari, P.C.
Paul has been practicing law for over twenty years, specializing in Social Security law as part of Social Security’s Office of the General Counsel. During that time, he has gained deep knowledge of Social Security’s disability program. Paul has handled well over a thousand Social Security cases at U.S. District Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to disability issues, Paul has extensive experience in bankruptcy matters, as well as Section 218 Social Security contracts with state and local government. In his off-time, Paul enjoys relaxing with his family, and repairing and restoring vintage motorcycles and Vespa scooters.
Contact MAP Disability
If you would like to discuss a potential federal court appeal or refer a matter to MAP Disability, please contact us below.