Social Security rules for evaluating disability and your work history are very technical and complicated. Social Security does not require a person to be represented by an attorney. However, the government’s own figures show that benefits are awarded far more frequently to claimants with attorneys than those who chose to handle their claims without the assistance of an attorney. Furthermore, the hearing before an administrative law judge is considered a legal proceeding.
Every case is different. The role of an attorney depends on the particular facts of each case. Attorneys in Social Security Disability cases do much more than sit in a hearing and ask a few questions. Much pre-hearing preparation, analysis and evidence gathering go into adequate representation for each case.