Denied for SSDI in New Orleans? The hearing is where cases are won.
Top Disability Lawyers in New Orleans, LA
Most Social Security disability claims are denied at first, and the hearing before a judge is where many are finally won. A New Orleans disability lawyer costs nothing up front and is paid only if you win. Here are nine verified firms, each confirmed against at least two independent sources.
Updated June 04, 202612 min readEditorially independent
If Social Security denied your disability claim, that first denial is normal, not the end. Most initial SSDI and SSI claims are turned down, and many of those people go on to win benefits at the hearing stage - especially with a lawyer who knows the New Orleans hearing office and how to build the medical record around Social Security's exact criteria.
The cost of trying is low. A disability lawyer almost never charges you up front. The fee is capped by federal law at 25% of your back pay, up to a set dollar limit, and is paid only if you win. Your ongoing monthly benefit is never touched. So the downside of getting help is close to nothing, and the upside is a much better chance at the hearing.
The firms below all handle Social Security disability for New Orleans-area claimants, from the first application through reconsideration, the hearing before an administrative law judge, the Appeals Council, and federal court. Several pair disability work with workers' compensation or personal injury. We verified each against at least two independent sources and excluded national lead-generation and advocacy services that are not actual law firms.
How we picked these 9: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable New Orleans-area disability practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Greenbaum Breuer & Associates
New Orleans, LASocial Security disability firm
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, disability applications, denials and appeals, ALJ hearings
Founded by Matt Greenbaum, this firm has focused on Social Security disability for over 40 years in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. Its attorneys include partners Vanessa Greenbaum and Wiebke Breuer. The office on Poydras Street sits near the local Social Security office and in the same building where disability hearings are held, and the firm handles claims from initial application through every level of appeal.
Why they made the list: A practice exclusively dedicated to Social Security disability for more than 40 years, profiled on the firm's attorney pages, Yelp, and a business directory.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
New Orleans, LASocial Security disability attorney
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, widow and survivor benefits, disabled adult child cases, federal court appeals
Rod Deus has devoted his practice exclusively to Social Security disability for over 30 years, handling every level of the process from the initial application through federal court. He has served on the board of directors of a Fifth Circuit organization of Social Security claimants' representatives. His practice also covers SSI, survivor benefits, and disabled adult child cases.
Why they made the list: Listed on Expertise.com's best disability lawyers page for New Orleans and maintains a verified Justia profile, with three-plus decades focused solely on Social Security law.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, initial applications, denials and appeals, ALJ hearing representation
Ascend Disability Lawyers represents clients seeking Social Security disability benefits from its New Orleans office on Hillary Street, helping people who plan to file as well as those whose claims were denied. The firm handles appeals and represents claimants before administrative law judges on a contingency basis, with no charge unless the client wins.
Why they made the list: Named on Expertise.com's New Orleans best disability lawyers list and carries independent Yelp and BBB business profiles.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
Metairie / New Orleans, LASocial Security disability firm
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, disability appeals, long-term disability, disability retirement
Attorney Melanie A. Leavitt, a Loyola University School of Law graduate, has dedicated her practice to SSI and SSDI matters since 1989. The full-service disability firm is based on N. Causeway Boulevard in Metairie and serves the New Orleans metro and southern Louisiana, with additional offices in Mandeville and Baton Rouge. The firm cites deep familiarity with the local Social Security and hearing offices.
Why they made the list: Named on Expertise.com's New Orleans best disability lawyers list, with attorney credentials corroborated on the firm's site.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
New Orleans, LASocial Security disability & injury firm
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, disability applications, hearings, and appeals at all levels
Attorney Benjamin Misko, a Tulane University School of Law graduate, founded the firm in 2009 and has represented many disabled individuals through the Social Security disability process. He is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives and a member of the Louisiana Association for Justice. The firm assists clients at the application, hearing, and appeal stages.
Why they made the list: Listed among Expertise.com's best New Orleans disability lawyers and carries an independent Avvo profile; NOSSCR membership confirms a genuine Social Security focus.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
New Orleans, LAWorkers' comp & Social Security disability firm
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, workers' compensation, disability applications and appeals
Mitchell & Associates is a family-owned firm with its principal office in New Orleans and a second office in Baton Rouge, founded by attorney Craig Mitchell, who practices alongside attorney Kiana Aaron Mitchell. The firm concentrates on workers' compensation and Social Security disability, helping injured and disabled clients pursue SSDI benefits, and offers a free initial consultation.
Why they made the list: Named on Expertise.com's New Orleans best disability lawyers list, with named attorneys and offices corroborated on the firm site.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
Metairie / New Orleans, LAInjury & Social Security disability firm
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, disability applications and appeals, personal injury
Led by attorney Mark W. Smith, II, this Metairie firm has served the greater New Orleans area and southeastern Louisiana since 1990 and has handled Social Security disability claims for over a decade. The firm can intervene at any stage of a disability application or appeal and accepts disability cases on contingency with no fee unless the claim is approved.
Why they made the list: Carries an independent Martindale organization profile, including an AV Preeminent rating, and an Avvo profile.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
New Orleans, LASocial Security disability & family firm
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, initial claims, denials and appeals before SSA judges
Attorney James A. Graham, a Loyola Law School graduate, leads this New Orleans firm located on Loyola Avenue. The firm files SSDI and SSI claims, handles denials, and argues clients' cases before Social Security administrative judges, and can arrange phone or video conferences for clients unable to travel. Graham is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association.
Why they made the list: Maintains dedicated SSDI and SSI practice pages and is corroborated by an independent Yelp business listing for the New Orleans office.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
New Orleans, LAInjury firm with disability practice
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, disability applications and appeals, personal injury
Dudley DeBosier is a Louisiana injury firm with offices in New Orleans on Poydras Street, plus Baton Rouge and Shreveport, that maintains a dedicated Social Security disability practice. Its New Orleans disability lawyers guide clients through each step of the SSDI process, and the firm cites decades of experience with the Social Security system.
Why they made the list: Carries an independent Super Lawyers law-firm profile and a Martindale organization listing for its New Orleans office, alongside its dedicated disability practice page.
Fee structure
Contingency (federally capped, no fee unless you win)
Tell us about your condition and where your claim stands. We will connect you with a New Orleans disability lawyer who handles cases like yours. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in New Orleans
Ask how many hearings they have worked. The hearing before an administrative law judge is where most cases are won. You want someone who appears at the New Orleans hearing office regularly.
Confirm they handle your stage. Some outfits only take cases with a hearing already scheduled. If you are at the application or reconsideration stage, make sure the firm will start where you are.
Make sure the fee is the standard federal contingency. No legitimate Social Security firm asks for money up front. The fee is 25% of back pay up to the cap, and comes out only if you win.
Look for medical-record muscle. Winning is mostly about evidence. The best firms know how to get the right records and opinions from your doctors and connect them to Social Security's rules.
Check that someone will take your call. These cases take many months. You want a firm that keeps you posted, not one where you are a file number.
What disability help typically costs in New Orleans
Social Security disability fees are set by the federal government, so they work the same way at every legitimate firm:
Up-front cost. $0 at every legitimate firm. Representation is contingency-based.
Attorney fee if you win. 25% of your past-due benefits (back pay), capped by federal law, and approved by Social Security.
If you lose. You owe no attorney fee.
Case costs. Small out-of-pocket costs for medical records may apply, usually modest. Ask the firm to put this in writing.
Your monthly benefit. Untouched. The fee comes only from back pay, never from your ongoing monthly check.
Because the fee is fixed by law, you are not choosing a disability lawyer on price. You are choosing on experience, communication, and how hard they work your medical record.
How long it takes
Social Security disability is a waiting game, and hearing backlogs are real. Here is a realistic timeline for a New Orleans claim:
Initial application decision. Roughly 3-6 months. Most are denied.
Reconsideration. Another 3-6 months. Most are denied again - this stage is largely a step before the hearing.
Hearing before a judge. The long wait: often 9-15 months from request to hearing date, depending on the backlog. This is where representation matters most.
Decision after the hearing. Usually a few weeks to a couple of months after the hearing. Approval rates are much higher here, especially with a lawyer.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a disability lawyer in New Orleans
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many disability matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your New Orleans consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most disability matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Disability attorney in New Orleans
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about disability lawyers in New Orleans
What conditions qualify for Social Security disability?
There is no automatic list. Social Security looks at whether your condition - physical, mental, or a combination - keeps you from sustaining full-time work, not at the diagnosis alone. Serious physical conditions, severe mental health conditions, and combinations of impairments can all qualify with the right evidence.
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?
SSDI is based on your work history and the Social Security taxes you have paid. SSI is need-based for people with very limited income and resources. Some people qualify for both. A lawyer can tell you which applies to you.
How much does a New Orleans disability lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. The fee is 25% of your back pay up to a federal cap, paid only if you win, and approved by Social Security. Your ongoing monthly benefit is never reduced.
Can I receive both VA disability and Social Security disability?
Yes. They are separate programs with different rules, and receiving VA disability does not disqualify you from SSDI. Some firms handle both.
What is back pay?
If you win, you may be owed past-due benefits dating back to your established onset date, minus any waiting period. Your attorney's fee comes only from this back pay.
Should I keep seeing my doctors while my claim is pending?
Yes. Consistent medical treatment is some of the most persuasive evidence in a disability case. Gaps in treatment are a common reason claims are denied, so keep your appointments.
Do I have to go to a hearing?
Often yes, because most claims are denied before the hearing stage. The hearing is a conversation with a judge about your condition and daily limits, not a trial. Your lawyer prepares you in advance.
How long do I have to appeal a denial?
Generally 60 days from the date on your denial notice. Missing that deadline can force you to start over, so call a lawyer as soon as you are denied.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
Helpful next steps
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