2023 Fall Virtual Conference

2023 Virtual Conference, November 8-9, 2023
The 2023 Virtual Conference features experts from across the Social Security and Disability legal landscape. Speakers provide insightful presentations on navigating the claims process, maximizing representatives’ chances of winning cases, running a firm/practice more effectively, finding prospective new clients, and more.
When
11/8/2023 11:00 AM - 11/9/2023 7:00 PM
Eastern Standard Time
Where
UNITED STATES
Registration is closed.

Program

Wednesday, 08 November 2023

Description
Breaking Barriers with Legal Tech and SOPS

Enhancing Disability Representation

Maria Bermudez explores ways to streamline operations and manage representatives' caseloads by implementing case management technology and standard operating procedures. Maria's recommendations can help improve efficiency, empower to staff to make decisions without attorney involvement and provide a greater level of service for vulnerable clients.

CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
11:30 AM
Break
Time
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
12:30 PM
Oh No! Social Security Overpaid my Client: Now What?

Learn what reasons might trigger an overpayment for your client and what to do when your client receives the overpayment notice.

CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
1:00 PM
Rules of Conduct and Standards of Responsibility

Social Security’s rules of conduct were updated in 2018, and they differ from the standard ethics rules for attorneys. This session will review all sections of the rules, providing background, context, and real-world examples. It will discuss what representatives must do as well as what they must not do when representing claimant’s before Social Security, at all stages of the administrative process.

CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
2:00 PM
Break
Time
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
3:00 PM
A Mock Hearing with Commentary
Many of us have done at least one SSI hearing. What works? What doesn’t? How do others handle their hearings? And what about those who haven’t done a hearing?  The presentation includes excerpts from a real hearing, giving you the flavor of the different roles played by each participant – the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the vocational expert (VE), the claimant’s attorney, and the claimant. The mock hearing includes commentary from the different actors and will allow discussion. CLE Credits Requested: 2 hours
Time
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
3:30 PM
Break
Time
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
5:30 PM
Appeals Council Briefing 101
This session discusses effective arguments to make before the Appeals Council based on Anthony Craiker's experience writing hundreds of AC briefs. Specifically, he will discuss how to attack the ALJ's evaluation of issues such as: the persuasiveness of medical opinions or prior administrative medical findings; the claimant's symptoms (per SSR 16-3p); the need for an assistive device; and severe/nonsevere impairments.  CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
6:00 PM

Thursday, 09 November 2023

Description
VA Benefits Introduction
This session tackles the basics of VA benefits, including Compensation, Pension, and Health Care and how these benefits intersect with Social Security benefits. CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
11:30 AM
Break
Time
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
12:30 PM
Crossing Vocational Witnesses
George Piemonte discusses real-world examples of missed VW cross opportunities with samples of suggested cross questions for that scenario. CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
1:00 PM
What Happens When I Die?
NOSSCR's Jennifer Cronenberg provides recommendations for helping families navigate the Title II Social Security disability process after a loved one passes away. CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
2:00 PM
Break
Time
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
3:00 PM
Effective and Ethical Marketing for Lawyers
Effective and Ethical Marketing for Law Practices equips legal professionals with the skills to promote their practice while maintaining ethical standards. This course emphasizes public speaking as a powerful marketing tool, teaching participants to identify their target audience, deliver valuable information, and network effectively.  It covers presentation skills, storytelling techniques, and ethical considerations in legal marketing. Participants gain the ability to engage potential clients, establish credibility, and adhere to ethical guidelines. This course empowers legal professionals to grow their practice ethically and successfully. Suitable for legal professionals seeking to enhance their marketing skills. CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
3:30 PM
Impressing the Judge Before, During, and Post Hearing!
This session will overview all the crucial ways an advocate can impress the Administrative Law Judge long before a hearing starts. This includes tips on avoiding duplicate medical submissions, pre-hearing memorandums, acknowledging weaknesses in your case with candor, and post hearing techniques which may leave a favorable impression on the Judge. The goal is to enhance the odds of winning. CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
4:30 PM
Break
Time
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
5:30 PM
Update from SSA OHO
SSA’s Office of Hearing Operations will provide updates and preview coming changes to the disability hearings process. CLE Credits Requested: 1 hour
Time
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
6:00 PM