Are you confident with your knowledge of social security regulations? Are you confident in your ability to handle every challenge and legal risk before and during the hearing process? Order these materials and acquire better pre-trial hearing planning and preparation, improved performance at administrative law judge hearings and increased ability to tackle special issues with greater skill and confidence. Order today!

1. The Five Step Sequential Evaluation Process Used in Determining Disability for Social Security Claims
2. The Early Appeals and Deciding Which Cases to Take
3. Developing the Case
4. Ethical Issues
5. The Hearing
6. Post-Hearing Appeals

1. THE FIVE STEP SEQUENTIAL EVALUATION PROCESS USED IN DETERMINING DISABILITY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIMS
   9:00 - 10:30, Marc S. Whitehead
   1. Disability and the Sequential Evaluation
   2. Flow Chart of the Five Step Sequential Evaluation
   3. Claimant's Burden to Prove Disability
   4. Evidence Considered in Determining Disability
   5. Duration of impairments
      1. Is the Claimant Performing Substantial Gainful Activity?
      2. Is the Claimant's Impairment "Severe"?
      3. Does the Claimant's Impairment(s) "Meet or Equal" an Impairment in the "Listing" of Impairments?
      4. Is the Claimant Capable of Performing Past Relevant Work?
      5. Does the Claimant's Impairment Prevent the Performance of Any Other Substantial Gainful Activity?
2. THE EARLY APPEALS AND DECIDING WHICH CASES TO TAKE
   10:45 - 11:15, Jim Chisholm
   1. Initial Application
   2. Request for Review - Reconsideration
   3. Request for Administrative Law Judge Hearing
   4. Screening Factors (e.g., Age, Skilled Work History, SSI Only, Impairments, etc.)
   5. Problems to Avoid (e.g., Drugs or Alcohol, MQFE, Fleeing Felons, Lack of Treatment, WC Offsets, etc.)
   6. Accepting Cases at Any Level
   7. Get Notice of Representation Filed ASAP
3. DEVELOPING THE CASE
   11:15 - 12:15, John M. Driskill
   1. Obtaining, Reviewing and Supplementing the Claim File
   2. Obtaining the Evidence Needed to Prove Your Case
      1. Get Consultative Examinations That Help
      2. Medical Source Statements - One Size Does Not Fit All
   3. Severe Impairments, Listings and Residual Functional Capacity
   4. The Medical-Vocational Guidelines, "The Grids"
4. ETHICAL ISSUES
   1:15 - 2:15, Jim Chisholm
   1. Take Steps to Ensure Client Confidentiality
   2. Do You Have to Disclose Adverse Evidence to the Social Security Administration?
   3. Attorney Fee Agreements
   4. Declining Representation
   5. Getting You and Your Client Paid
5. THE HEARING
   2:15 - 2:45 and 3:00 - 3:30, John M. Driskill
   1. Opening Brief or Opening Statement
   2. Preparing of the Client to Testify
   3. Lay Witness
   4. The Government's Medical Expert
   5. The Government's Vocational Expert
   6. Post-Hearing Development and Closing Letters
   7. Errors to Avoid at Hearings
6. POST-HEARING APPEALS
   3:30 - 4:30, Victor N. Makris
   1. Res Judicata, Administrative Finality and Reopening
   2. Appeals Council
      1. The Decision to Appeal
      2. It's Not Too Late for Additional Evidence
      3. The AC Brief
   3. Federal Court Review
   4. Substantive Issues and Standards of Review
   5. Substantive Issues
   6. Equal Access to Justice Act Fees

JIM CHISHOLM is a sole practitioner at Jim Chisholm Attorney at Law, where his practice focuses on Social Security disability. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Houston Bar Association, Social Security Section. Mr. Chisholm earned his B.A degree from Wichita State University, his M.A. degree from the University of Texas and his J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

JOHN M. DRISKILL is a partner in the law firm of Morgan & Weisbrod, L.L.P., where his practice focuses in the area of Social Security disability. He is the past chairman of the Social Security Section of the Houston Bar Association. Mr. Driskill has spoken on Social Security disability law topics to professional groups including the Texas Elder Law Conference and the Houston Bar Association. He is board certified in Social Security disability law. In addition to his membership in the Houston Bar Association, Mr. Driskill also is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives and the 5th Circuit Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Missouri, his M.B.A. degree from Baylor University and his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law.

VICTOR N. MAKRIS is the founder of the Makris Law Firm, P.C., which began in 1978. Mr. Makris practices in the areas of personal injury, Social Security disability, business law and litigation, business entity structuring, family law, and wills and probate. He is board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Makris is a member of the Houston Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity and the Order of the Barons, Legal Honor Society. He is an avid hiker, concert classical guitarist, fluent in Spanish and Greek and is a frequent lecturer on legal topics at many venues. Mr. Makris earned his B.A. degree, with honors, and his J.D. degree from the University of Houston.

MARC S. WHITEHEAD is the founding partner of Marc Whitehead & Associates, a firm that focuses on social security disability law, long term disability insurance claims, veteran's disability claims and plaintiff's personal injury litigation. Mr. Whitehead is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives and a past chair of the Social Security Section of the Houston Bar Association. He is double board certified in social security disability law by the National Board of Social Security Disability Advocacy and in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Whitehead is a former adjunct professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center where he taught civil trial advocacy. In addition, he was an instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy where he taught in the Consumer Advocacy/Legal Aid Program. Mr. Whitehead currently is the president of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the board of directors of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and a member of American Association of Justice. He also is a member of the Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, the Texas Aggie Bar Association, the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Association. Mr. Whitehead earned his B.B.A. degree from Texas A&M University and his J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

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