Top best Social Security Lawyers in Phoenix | 43 available

Stephanie Lake leads one of the most successful Social Security law firms in Arizona. Her legal career began in 1988, handling corporate litigation cases for another major Arizona law office. With that successful court case foundation, she founded her own firm in 1992, focusing exclusively on Social Security law. She is one of the few disability attorneys in the Phoenix area fluent in Spanish.. Ms. Lake is a 1987 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in Russian and Eastern European Studies from the University of Michigan. She also attended Phillips Academy, Andover, MA.. Ms. Lake has lectured extensively on Social Security disability issues including Fibromyalgia, HIV, Children’s Rehabilitation Services and Sjogren’s Disease.. Ms. Lake has served in the past as the president of the Social Security Advocates of Phoenix organization. In this post, Ms. Lake helped facilitate relationships between the disabled, judges, and other organizations. She has also been a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claims Representatives (NOSSCR) and regularly attends their conferences. Ms. Lake is board certified by The National Board of Trial Advocacy in Social Security Disability by virtue of a rigorous education, testing and approval process that officially recognizes the extensive education and courtroom experience of qualifying attorneys.. Ms. Lake has handled extensive pro bono work for the Florence Legal Asylum Project, HIV AIDS Law Project and Social Security Disability Clinics. She has also been active with the Arizona Land & Water Fund. Ms. Lake, and her husband John Bemiss, have three sons.. Here is a note of appreciation about Ms. Lake that we received from a recent client:. These testimonials do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.. Stephanie Lake is also a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.

Since graduating from law school, I have focused my practice on representing and helping disabled clients obtain the benefits they deserve. My practice includes assisting individuals at all levels of the Social Security disability process, including the initial application, Administrative Law Judge hearings, and before the Appeals Council. In addition, I also represents clients in Social Security appeals before the United States Federal Courts.. I am admitted to the State Bar of Arizona and the State Bar of Michigan, along with multiple Federal District Courts.  Furthermore,  I am a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives and the Macomb County Bar Association. I am a graduate of New York Law School and Michigan State University.. My practice involves helping individuals pursue the disability benefits they deserve throughout the State of Arizona.  I represent clients in all  of Arizona's Social Security ODAR offices.  I have also handled successful cases in the States of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, New York, and Georgia.. My office has the capacity to assist clients with filing their claims, obtaining medical records and expert evidence, and hearing representation.. Filing for and obtaining Social Security benefits can be a long and daunting road.  It is my goal to provide the most effective and successful representation possible to achieve a positive outcome for my clients.. My office handles claims for:. Social Security Disability (SSDI). Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Child's SSI Benefits. Disabled Widow's/Widower's Benefits (DWB). Disabled Adult Child Benefits (DAC). Reconsideration Hearings. ALJ Hearings. Appeals Council. Federal Court Appeals

Shawn was born in Arizona, leaving her home state as a child to live in New Jersey for several years before returning to attend Arizona State University. Throughout her undergraduate studies she worked with developmentally disabled adults and children. She received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, graduating cum laude. She immediately started working with an Arizona non-profit organization assisting individuals with disabilities obtain desperately needed State and Federal benefits. This was the beginning of a two-decades’ long career advocating for those whose lives have been affected by the inability to work due to devastating illness.. Shawn received her Juris Doctor from Phoenix School of Law where she was invited to join the Law Review as an editor and contributing writer. During law school, she continued to work full-time and raise her daughter. Upon graduating, she started her own law firm and continued assisting the disabled community for the next ten years. Shawn had the opportunity to work with an estate planning law firm during this time and a new passion was sparked – providing families guidance through the often-tedious probate process.

My picture: When I'm not working you will find me in the desert, even in the summer (I just start earlier). Lawyer is what I do, it's not who I am, and if you are looking for a lawyer who has had and has a real life, contact me. I have done hard work my whole life, first helping my dad with house projects and doing a lot of jobs since I was 15 years old, washing dishes and bartending, cutting grass and shoveling snow (I grew up in a small New York town), digging ditches and laying tile, and delivering and sorting mail 2 1/2 years with the USPS. I was even a soccer referee for 9 years so I know what it's like to have players, coaches, and parents from BOTH teams disagree with me. I know what it's like to work hard, I get it. I always learn something new every day. I can't respond to complaints from former clients I don't know after almost 41 years I have found that the best way for you to decide if I'm the right lawyer for you is for us to meet and talk. I work by myself, so no staff to get between us, and you will hear from me by phone or text or e-mail when I represent you. I will do everything I can to get you what the workers' compensation laws say you should get. I can't get you anything more, and a lawyer who says he or she can is not telling the truth - I like to be in court and unlike some lawyers who don't like to be or just aren't that good in a hearing, I will not settle your case just to get it over with and I will take your case as far as we can go with it. I will always tell you my truth about your claim. So, if you like what you know about me from here, call and let's talk about you. The first couple of calls are free, I'm the boss and don't need to ask anyone else about fees, and my job is to make your life better. Thanks

Michael is a motivated advocate who believes that everyone should have access to an affordable attorney. For this reason, Michael launched Slugocki Law PLC in 2021. With 10 years of litigation experience has represented hundreds of individuals in need of high-quality legal representation.. Slugocki Law PLC defends the civil liberties of those accused of criminal offenses. Michael has represented hundreds of individuals in over 65 courtrooms across the state of Arizona. Michael prides himself on offering compassionate, individualized client support at affordable rates.. Michael was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, and attended the University of Arizona for his undergraduate degree. He moved back to his birth city of Chicago for law school where he graduated from DePaul University College of Law. In Chicago, he clerked with the Chicago Transit Authority, the second-largest public transportation system in the United States. After passing the par Michael spent several years practicing workers compensation and Social Security Disability Law. Michael has represented over a thousand individuals across 14 states and 80 cities. He has worked with individuals from all types of backgrounds and learned effective legal representation requires compassion and communication.. When Michael is not practicing law, you can find him hiking and exploring our beautiful state of Arizona. Michael has been an avid outdoorsman since he was a child while earning his way to an Eagle Scout Rank. He is also an active participant in local civic and community affairs.

Michael Halliday is the trusted choice in the Valley of the Sun for his extensive knowledge of estate planning, hometown family approach to problem solving, and his reputation for doing things the right way.

Matt is the Founding Attorney of Nunn Disability Law and has personally tried more than 900 Disability claims over 4 years before the Social Security Administration throughout the United States. Prior to creating Nunn Disability Law in September of 2024, Matt served as the Managing Trial Attorney for the Social Security Disability division at one of Arizona’s largest law firms which, during Matt’s tenure as Managing Attorney, received its 1st Top 100 National Disability Law Firm award in 2022 and its 1st Top 250 National Disability Law Firm award in 2023.

Kathryn Dicus, author of "A Treating Physician's Guide to Social Security Disability Benefits" (available on Amazon), started representing Social Security Disability applicants immediately after graduating from Villanova Law School. As an attorney at a cost management company for long-term disability insurance carriers, this position offered a unique opportunity to learn about disability representationand the nuances of long-term disability. After making the decision to move to Phoenix, Arizona, Kathryn worked as a staff attorney for the Arizona Governor’s Regulatory Review Council and as the public records and open meeting law attorney for the Arizona Ombudsman Citizens’ Aide. While working in state government, Kathryn continued to represent disability clients on a part-time basis. As time went on, the disability representation proved to be a more fulfilling career. In 2016, Kathryn transitioned to full-time disability representation.. Since 2016, Dicus Disability, L.L.C. has represented hundreds of clients successfully in front of the Social Security Administration and in federal district court. In 2017, Kathryn presented at the annual conference for the National Organization for Social Security Claimants’ Representatives to attorneys on appellate litigation. In 2019, Kathryn was very proud to be part of passing state legislation making medical records free for applicants appealing a Social Security disability denial. Not only did this statute help disabled individuals have quicker access to records, it also saved significant attorney time. Kathryn was featured in the Arizona Attorney Magazine discussing this legislation and encouraging attorneys in other practice areas to discuss disability benefits with their injured and chronically ill clients.

Jeremy D. Pekas graduated cum laude from Eastern Illinois University in 2003, where he studied journalism and Spanish. He graduated magna cum laude from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2007, finishing in the top 2% of his graduating class.. During law school, Jeremy completed an internship with the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Jacksonville, Florida. It was there that he became interested in Social Security law and decided to practice in this area of law. His time at the hearings office provided him with invaluable experience and a unique perspective on the hearing process.. Jeremy has represented thousands of clients at the various levels of the Social Security Disability process, and is constantly mindful of the responsibility entrusted to him by his clients. A product of the Midwest, he is a firm believer in hard work and puts in long hours on behalf of his clients.. Jeremy is admitted to practice law in Arizona. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals. He practices exclusively Social Security Disability law. Jeremy has been with the firm since 2007 and became a partner in 2012. He is fluent in Spanish and has lived and studied in Mexico.

Eric Slepian is a Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law, certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has been practicing Social Security Disabilty law for over 24 years. Eric Slepian is a graduate of Union University at Albany Law School. He is a member in good standing of the Arizona State Bar, New York State Bar and Connecticut State Bar. He is admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and the Eastern and Southern District Courts of New York.. Eric Slepian has lectured on Social Security issues to various organizations including multiple sclerosis; fibromyalgia; cancer and chronic pain support groups; as well as the Arizona Mental Health Association. He has represented Social Security claimants from the initial application through all appeal levels, including appeals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Dennis was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1950 and graduated from Wabash College (B.A. 1972, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and law school at Washington University in St. Louis. (J.D. 1975).. He relocated permanently to Arizona after law school and immediately began practicing workers’ compensation law.  He was certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a specialist in workers’ compensation in 1980 and has represented thousands of injured workers before the Industrial Commission of Arizona since then.. Dennis is a contributing author of the Arizona Workers’ Compensation Handbook, Chapter 12, “Exclusivity and Third-Party Liability” (1992) and was the chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Commission to the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. (1987 - 1994).  He was named by the Director of the Industrial Commission to the Director’s Advisory Commission on Evidence-Based Medicine (2012 - 2015).  He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America since 1995.. In his spare time, Dennis enjoys hiking, adventure travel (rafting and bike trips with his family) and playing basketball with his many brothers.

Cindy Castillo is a board certified criminal law specialist by the State Bar of Arizona. She has litigated criminal matters ranging from misdemeanors to felonies including first degree murder, manslaughter and complex designated cases, throughout Arizona.  She has represented clients in juvenile court, misdemeanor and superior courts, federal court, forfeiture proceedings, administrative board hearings, MVD hearings, Rule 11 competency hearings, Simpson hearings and appellate courts.  She has successfully represented numerous professionals governed by licensing authorities that include board members of publicly traded entities, doctors, dentists, psychologists, chiropractors, nurses, realtors, appraisers, airline pilots, commercial truck drivers, actors as well as professional athletes in criminal matters.   She has handled well over 1000 criminal cases, of which over 100 were tried to a jury.  Of those cases, she has had numerous trial victories including driving under the influence (DUI); extreme DUI; DUI Drugs, minor driving under the influence; reckless driving; assaults; aggravated assaults; resisting arrest, shoplifting; trespass; false reporting to law enforcement; possession, sale, and transportation of dangerous drugs, marijuana, and narcotics; drive by shooting; assisting a criminal syndicate; misconduct involving weaons; and vehicular manslaughter.  She has successfully negotiated hundreds of lesser included offenses on behalf of her clients and obtained mitigated sentences through the use of mitigation experts, mitigation videos, and psychological and medical experts.  She has also argued motions and obtained dismissals on behalf of her clients for a wide range of constitutional violations that include the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments.  Finally, she has had a wide range of appellate success including dismissals of lower court rulings and a remand for a new hearing in a Special Action with the Court of Appeals.

As a former benefits authorizer with the Social Security Administration, I believe that I bring an unique perspective in representing clients.  I have gained a perspective working for Social Security that other disability attorneys which has helped from completing the paperwork, speaking with Administration personel to handling a hearing.  Further, I have been an attorney since 1999 and as a sole practitioner, I have persoanlly handled all of my cases from meeting with my clients to representing them at a hearing.  Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to speak to me about a Socia Security Disability matter.

After obtaining a degree in Political Science from Arizona State University in 2011, Nick completed law school at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State. He also recently took and passed the Arizona Bar Examination. Nick currently works as an attorney for Snow, Carpio, & Weekley doing Worker's Compensation. He is active both in his community and in his church. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese having lived in over 4 different countries. In his free time he enjoys going to the gym, surfing, kayacking, writing, reading, ASU football, and hanging out with his wife and daughter.