Wasted $600 on a disability lawyer who did nothing for 8 months

I hired this lawyer in San Diego back in March to help with my SSDI claim, and they basically just told me to wait and did zero actual work. After 8 months of nothing but form letters, I found out they hadn't even submitted my medical records to the judge. Has anyone else had better luck going through a nonprofit instead of paying out of pocket like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

grantthomas7d ago

Man that's brutal, paying $600 just for someone to sit on their hands. @ninab95's tip about Disability Rights California sounds like the move though, seems like those nonprofit folks actually have a reason to work for you instead of just cashing checks. Maybe it's just me but private lawyers treating disability cases like a side hustle until the backpay appears is way too common. At least with a free attorney through a nonprofit you're not out any cash upfront, just some time and paperwork headaches.

ninab957d ago

Check with Disability Rights California - they helped me get a free attorney after I wasted money on a private one who did nothing for six months. The nonprofit lawyer I got through them actually handled everything, followed up on deadlines, and even got an old medical report I didn't know existed. You might also try your county's bar association referral service, they sometimes have lawyers who work on a sliding fee based on your backpay win instead of upfront cash.