Are you up to date on the latest SSA rulings that may affect your ongoing cases? Do you have the knowledge to give your clients all available benefits if they return to work while the claim is being processed? This cutting-edge legal guide will clear up some of the more confusing and treacherous aspects of the practice and help you handle more cases successfully. Order today!

1. Legislative and Case Law Update
2. Gathering Information and Filing the Claim
3. Preparing for the Hearing
4. Effective Use of Vocational Evaluations
5. At the Hearing
6. Illustrated Ethical Dilemmas in Social Security Disability Practice
7. Advanced Challenges and Opportunities

LEGISLATIVE AND CASE LAW UPDATE
8:30 - 9:15, Clayton Davis

• Current and Upcoming Listings of Impairments
• New SSA Rulings
• Current Case Law
• Health Care Reform - What's to Come?

GATHERING INFORMATION AND FILING THE CLAIM
9:15 - 10:30, Gregory J. McKay

• Spotting Red Flags in Case Selection and Initial Client Interview
• Creating an Exhaustive List of All the Documents You Will Need for the:
• Initial Claim
• Reconsideration
• Hearing
• Who is to Collect the Necessary Documentation: You or the Client?
• Lay Testimony
• Navigating Electronic Filing: Procedure, Forms, Instructions and Useful Links for Every Step of the Claims Process
• Educating Your Client on the Effect of Workers' Compensation Benefits on Social Security Disability Benefits
• Practical Tips for Obtaining Medical Records and Other Crucial Documents

PREPARING FOR THE HEARING
10:45 - 11:45, William Z. Cullen

• Developing a Winning Theory
• Documenting the History of the Ailment - Forms/Letters From the Medical Professionals for Physical vs. Mental Disability Claims
• Drafting the Brief and What Form/Documents Must be Submitted With It
• Other Arguments
• Preparing the Client to Testify
• The Master Checklist of the "Must-Have" Documents for the Hearing
• Know Your ALJ - What is She/He Looking for Vocationally?

EFFECTIVE USE OF VOCATIONAL EVALUATIONS
12:45 - 1:45, William Z. Cullen

• Why Evaluation of the Work History and Earnings Record are Important
• Do You Need a Vocational Expert? How to Select One?
• Effective Use of Dictionary of Occupational Titles - Case Studies
• Vocational Implications of Pain and Mental Health Issues
• Building Scenarios to Showcase Vocational Expert's Opinion
• What Makes a Skill "Highly Transferable?"

AT THE HEARING
1:45 - 2:30, Gregory J. McKay

• Hearing Procedure and Etiquette: What Not to Do
• Maximizing Client Testimony Following the Five-Step Sequential Evaluation Process
• How to Present Hypotheticals and Cross-Examine Medical Experts and VEs
• Effective Use of Exhibits - Use References to the Records!
• Addressing Harmful Evidence
• Always Build a Record for Appeal! - What You Must Remember in the Heat of Battle

ILLUSTRATED ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PRACTICE
2:45 - 3:45, Lois Rene Beasley-Carlisle

• Attorneys' Fees Considerations in Advising Clients Who Want to Apply for Both Retirement and Disability
• Applying Rules of Discovery Equally to Both Sides - What if You Find Information That Can Ruin Your Client's Case?
• How do You Handle a Mentally Impaired Client Who Doesn't Have a Guardian?
• Confidentiality

ADVANCED CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
3:45 - 4:40, Clayton Davis

• Trial Work Period and Unsuccessful Work Attempt - Much Overlooked Opportunities for Higher Benefits
• Claimant's Lack of Sufficient Quarters
• What Can You do With a Client Who Doesn't Have an Insured Status?
• Reopening Old Applications and the "Res Judicata" Concept - When Doesn't it Apply?
• Cessation of Benefits - Is the Claimant Still Disabled?
• Appeals Council and Federal Court Proceedings Pain Standards and Legal Briefs
• Useful Resources

LOIS RENE BEASLEY-CARLISLE is a partner in the Birmingham firm of Carlisle & Carlisle, P.C., where her main areas of practice are bankruptcy, workers' compensation, personal injury, Social Security, wills and deeds, and general practice. She has an associate degree in paramedic sciences and has been licensed as a registered nurse for more than two decades. Ms. Beasley-Carlisle is a past adjunct professor at the University of Alabama, and she has spoken to various professional groups on her areas of practice. She earned her B.S.N. degree from the University of Alabama, her M.P.H. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law of Samford University. Ms. Beasley-Carlisle is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar and The Florida Bar. She also is the former president of the Tarrant Chamber of Commerce and an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau.

WILLIAM Z. CULLEN is a sole practitioner in Birmingham, where his areas of practice include workers' compensation, Social Security and disability. Mr. Cullen earned his B.A. degree from the University of Connecticut and his J.D. degree from New England School of Law. He is a member of the Birmingham and American (member, Labor Law Section) bar associations, the Alabama State Bar (member, Workers' Compensation Section) and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives.

CLAYTON DAVIS is a member of the law firm of Davis & Neal, and has practiced in the areas of Social Security, elder law, wills and estates, probate and estate planning for more than 25 years. Mr. Davis is a frequent author and lecturer in his areas of expertise. He earned both his B.S. and J.D. degrees from the University of Alabama and is a member of the Alabama State Bar and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives.

GREGORY J. McKAY is an attorney with the Birmingham firm of Burke, Harvey & Frankowski LLC. He graduated from Auburn University and attended Cumberland School of Law where he finished and began his practice in Birmingham in 1982. For the last 20 years, he has concentrated in the areas of long term and Social Security disability. Mr. McKay is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claims Representatives and speaks at seminars concerning Social Security and ERISA issues.

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