Referring Attorney Opportunities
We welcome referrals from lawyers and representatives in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin who want experienced Social Security disability and federal court counsel for their clients.
Our goal is simple: protect your client, add value, and make you look good. When you refer a case, you and your client always work with an actual lawyer.
How We Partner With Other Lawyers
We regularly work with:
- Lawyers who do not handle Social Security disability cases but want to protect a client’s disability rights
- Disability firms looking for a dedicated attorney who handles federal court appeals of Social Security cases
- Legal aid and nonprofit organizations seeking a reliable private‑bar partner when cases move beyond their scope
We treat every referral as a valued professional relationship. We keep you updated at agreed‑upon points and are transparent about fees, strategy, and case status.
Our Social Security and Federal Court Focus
Our practice is focused on Social Security disability law, including:
- Initial SSDI and SSI applications and reconsiderations
- Hearings before Administrative Law Judges
- Appeals Council review
- Federal district court and circuit court appeals in meritorious cases
We are comfortable stepping in at any stage—from helping your client get an application on the right track to taking a fully litigated administrative record into federal court. If we believe a case does not have legal merit for further review, we will say so clearly and explain why.
How Referrals Typically Work
We offer flexible arrangements depending on your role and your level of desired involvement. Common patterns include:
Straight referral
You send the client to us, and we take the lead and handle all of the disability work.
Federal court only
You handle the administrative process; we handle the district court appeal. We review the record, evaluate issues, and discuss whether an appeal is appropriate.
If we accept a referral to pursue a civil action in federal court, some referring attorneys prefer to handle any reapplication or remand proceedings before Social Security themselves. Other attorneys prefer that we handle those matters. We work with both types of arrangements. We are here to help in whichever way you and your client prefer.
What You Can Expect From Us
When you refer a case to Spector & Lenz, you can expect:
- Careful screening. We evaluate medical evidence, procedural posture, and legal issues before agreeing to move forward.
- Clear communication. We let you know promptly whether we can accept the referral and under what arrangement.
- Respect for your client relationship. We respect that you may be the client’s primary lawyer on other matters. Transparency about fees and costs. We discuss fee structures up front with you and your client.
We aim to be the kind of referral partner you feel confident trusting with every client.
The Types of Cases We Are Best Suited For
We are a good fit for:
- Disability claims involving physical or mental impairments
- Cases where federal court or Appeals Council review is being considered after an unfavorable or partially favorable decision
- Clients connected to your firm through injury, workers’ compensation, employment, or family law matters who may need dedicated disability counsel
We carefully review:
- Administrative records and decisions to identify appealable issues
- Timelines and deadlines to ensure a potential appeal is still viable
- Whether a remand or a fully favorable outcome is realistically within reach
If we do not see a path forward, we will explain why and outline any remaining options.
How to Start a Referral Conversation
To start the process, if your client is agreeable to sharing their case details with us, you can:
- Contact us to discuss the case background and current status
- Electronically share key documents such as:
- The most recent ALJ and Appeals Council decisions
- The client’s ERE file and hearing audio recording, if available
- Prior federal court orders, if the case has been there before
- A pre-hearing memo or Appeals Council brief, if you have one
- A workers’ compensation settlement agreement, if available
- Any and all IMEs generated in other litigation
We will:
- Confirm any looming deadlines
- Let you know what additional material, if any, we need for a full evaluation
- Discuss possible referral terms tailored to your role
We understand your reputation is on the line when referring a client, and we take that seriously.
Common FAQs
We are transparent about fee arrangements that apply to each case and ensure all arrangements comply with ethical rules and Social Security regulations.
Usually, the attorney handling federal court proceedings receives any Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) and section 406(b) fees, while the attorney or representative handling matters before Social Security receives any section 406(a) fees.
No. We exclusively handle Social Security disability. We respect your existing attorney-client relationship and will gladly send the client back to you for their other legal needs.
Disclaimer
This page is intended for attorneys and legal professionals. It provides general information about referral relationships and does not create an attorney‑client relationship with any specific individual. Referral arrangements are subject to applicable professional responsibility rules. We cannot promise specific results in any case, and we only proceed with appeals when we believe there is legal merit to do so.