On February 12, the Community Law Clinic helped a 23-year-old visually impaired and disabled client gain approval for Social Security disability benefits, after he and his mother had been trying to get the benefits for over a decade.  Rebecca Vogel (JD ’15), supervised by Clinical Supervising Attorney Lisa Douglass, represented the client in his Social Security hearing in front of an administrative law judge.  The judge ruled from the bench, finding that the client was entitled to immediate and ongoing benefits, in addition to nearly two years of back-pay for the time that had passed since the client’s latest “initial” application was submitted.  The judge complimented Rebecca’s “very well-written” brief on the record, saying he agreed with every part of her argument. The client and his mother, who also attended the hearing, were thrilled at the victory.  The client will finally receive the support he needs to pay for his share of the family’s food and shelter, take care of his medical needs, and participate in programs that will get him out of the house and help him reach his potential.

The Social Security disability application process is difficult to navigate for even very capable lawyers, and it is a nightmare for applicants–many with significant disabilities–to handle on their own.  Each quarter, students at the Community Law Clinic represent clients in hearings, like this one, where the students’ work can make an enormous difference in their clients’ lives and futures.  For the students themselves, says Vogel, “it is some of the most meaningful and rewarding work you can ever do.”