working in the legal field

[Guest guest]

Mike,

Thank you for replying to my post. It is especially nice to get an attorney’s

view of working in the legal field with CMT. I appreciate your advice on the

voice recognition software, I had never considered it.

Chel

[Guest guest]

Hi Gretchen,

Your work certainly sounds interesting and rewarding. I will be getting into

Social Security Law next year when I get into my emphasis curriculum. I'm really

looking forward to it. Actually, I recently apply for benefits myself, but I'm

not counting on it. I was told that it will take 5 months from the date of the

medical records review before a decision is made. I think the fact that I plan

to work in the legal field and it is the same work that I was doing while in the

military, I will be denied, even though I'm trying to set up something to work

from home. Sometimes I think about dropping school, because I think I won't be

able to work in the field, but I am going to have to pay for it whether I get a

degree or not, might as well have something to show for it.

I considered doing work gratis and once called the Legal Aid office in my area

to volunteer, but evidently they wanted someone fulltime because when I told

them what hours I would work, they didn't call me back. I'll try something else

later. How did you get into the program that you're in? I never heard of such

a thing.

Chel

[Guest guest]

Hi Chel,

I found out about the program through an attorney-friend. You're right

about the disability - there is a " waiting period " - usually 6 months,

the people at SSDI need to recieve all your papers, medical files,

etc., during this time and then review your case.

If you CAN work, don't apply, because the SSA only provides benefits

for people who are " unable to work " and have a disability that will

last one year or more (here's where doctor's reports come in handy)

Second to that, the Social Security Administration has their OWN

definition of " disability " - which isn't the same as ours. This is part

of the reason people are denied and their case ends up going before an

ALJ.

Good luck, let me know your progress.

~ Gretchen