If you're reading this because you're overwhelmed by the SSDI process, I was in your exact position…read more-- confused, denied twice, and honestly exhausted. Hiring Dr. Amir Niazmand at California Disability Advocates was the turning point that changed everything for me. From day one, he immediately identified why my original SSDI application failed and what had gone wrong during the earlier stages. His ability to break down the issues clearly -- and without judgment -- gave me more clarity in a single conversation than I had gotten in months of dealing with SSA on my own. What stood out most was his communication and organization. He handled every single SSA message promptly, guided me through each step, and prepared me thoroughly: * A month before the hearing (strategy and evidence review) * A week before (fine-tuning my testimony and expectations) * The day before (last-minute confidence check-in) He never rushed me and answered every question with patience and expertise. Just a couple of days before my ALJ hearing, I received the result from a new MRI assessment that supported my disability. Dr. Amir submitted it immediately, and the judge actually reviewed it before our hearing -- something that could easily have been missed without an advocate who stays on top of everything. I was also surprised by how quickly things moved. I hired him in June and received a court date in November -- much sooner than I expected. And when the day arrived, my ALJ hearing lasted less than 20 minutes, even though these hearings typically run 45 minutes to an hour. The judge had no further questions beyond what Dr. Amir had prepared me for, which speaks to how strong and organized my case presentation was. I walked in nervous and a bit overwhelmed, but I walked out feeling understood and represented. For anyone wondering about the cost: yes, SSDI representatives typically receive 25% of your backpay, capped by federal law (currently around $7,200). This is a standard, one-time fee that is only deducted after you win your case -- meaning if you're not approved, they don't get paid. In my experience, the level of preparation, communication, and the successful outcome I received made this more than worth it! If you're struggling with the SSDI process, don't wait months or years trying to decode the system alone. Dr. Amir Niazmand's expertise, preparation, and communication made an overwhelming process manageable -- and ultimately successful! I received word yesterday that I was fully approved. I can't recommend him highly enough.

Maggie at California Disability Advocates is amazing. She knows the disability process inside and…read moreout and truly cares about her clients. Highly recommend!

Great experience lawyer to handle social security disability cases quality and value are worth it…read more I recommend her to anybody my name is Ricardo Pinon.

Great attorney. Im sure she was a straight A student. Thank you very much. The only…read moreimprovement I would suggest would be more clarity through the payment process as the SSA's idea of 30 to 60 days if from one desk to the next. Other than that I cant complain. I would recomend her.

Good communication! They are working hard for me to get my long-term disability. I am hoping to get…read moreit soon - it's not their fault it's just the government. The team seems to have a great knowledge of the system.

I messaged Mr. Cliff Berkley around 8:30 p.m. on a Thursday night and received a response from…read moreCliff himself within moments. I asked if we could speak on the phone, and within under five minutes, I was speaking to Cliff himself; not paralegal, not a receptionist or intake coordinator, not an AI Chatbot; just Cliff Berkeley himself. And in one of the most soothing voices I have ever heard Cliff professionally and honestly gave me very sound and helpful advice, clear direction and what to expect ahead with with my SSDI appeal. I had already retained representation, and he knew that. But instead, he took the time to speak to me anyway, to listen to my story, my own battle through Disability, just two years ago, and all the ups and downs that we are going through with my husband's SSDI denial appeal. I cannot speak more highly of cliffs, knowledge, embassy, and grace, all rolled into one heartfelt package. The entire phone call. I sat there and thought, "man I wish I had found you first before the group that we have currently retained law services with." There are a lot of blocks to my husband's case some of which may seem slightly insurmountable. But Cliff encouraged us not to give up. Utilizing both honesty and optimism, he laid out a description of the difficulties of our case, but also included some ideas that may be able to overcome the hurdles. We spoke for ever 30 mins. At the I messaged Mr. Cliff Berkley around 8:30pm on a Thurs night and got a response from Cliff himself within moments. I asked if we could speak on the phone and in under five minutes I was speaking to Cliff himself. sit on the phone for 30 minutes, trying to sell me on his own law firm.) His best advice is to stick it out with the current representation I have or not that I may call him anytime simply to pick his brain, even if I'm not retaining him for services. Cliff describes that he wears two hats, a Disability hat and a human being hat. What's incredible is his ability to wear both hats at the same time. Thank you, Mr. Cliff Berkley. Although you are not the law firm that I initially signed up with, I highly recommend you to anyone and everyone who reads this post. Extremely knowledgeable, understandable, and truly empathic; these are the qualities that perfectly describe Cliff Berkeley. If he is the first person in your search for help with your SSDI case, lucky you; your search is over.

I want to share my experience with the Law office of Josep I. Graham…read more While it has been a lenghy process, I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to Gina Jimenez, Legal Assistant at the firm. Gina is an exceptional professional, knowledgeabe and always prepared to anwer my questions. I have personally told the attorney that Gina is a true asset to the office, it's been a roller coaster, but her experties and genuine care for clients is what keeps me confident in this firm. Thank You Gina

Joseph Graham is a great lawyer, he made me feel comfortable right away, even though the meeting…read morewas via zoom due to COVID I felt like I knew him from a long time ago. I would highly recommended him and his entire staff is very professional. Thank you good job Joseph .

Avoid this place. I…read morewent to this group for disability advocacy and was met with arrogance, rudeness, and shocking insensitivity. They misread my disability case, treated the fact that I am trans as the problem, and actually told me I needed to "detransition" and discontinue hormones. That is an appalling thing to say to anyone, let alone someone seeking help with disability. Instead of careful advocacy, they gave me bias, lazy reading of my records, and cruel dismissiveness. Sensitive information was taken out of context and turned against me. Rather than helping, they judged me, degraded me, and acted like I was not worth the effort. Telling a disabled adult to "just go find a job" is not advocacy. It is contempt. I left feeling humiliated, dismissed, and worse off than when I came in. No one seeking thoughtful help, especially anyone who is trans or has a complex disability case, should trust this group with something this important.

Feeling very fortunate to have received a very lovely phone consultation with Newsha this morning…read more She very kindly outlined my options, taking the time to explain things in simple terms so I wasn't confused by complex information. Based on that call alone. I absolutely recommend this practice wholeheartedly. Thank you, Newsha, so much.

I wanted to personally thank Andrea Guzman, the legal assistant in Jake Dascanio's office for…read morehelping me with my case. She has been amazing and answered my questions, provided me with information, and helped to calm my fears about my case. I really feel so much better after having talked to Andrea. She explains the direction in which my case with Workers Comp is going in a way I can understand and this is why I hired an attorney to help me get through this difficult process. Thank you Andrea. You are an asset to me and to your team there at Dascanio Law. Ron H.

I am beyond grateful to the Law Offices Of Dennis A. Dascanio, especially to Attorney Rosa. She…read morewent above and beyond in my workers' comp case she is always responsive, knowledgeable, and truly made me feel like a valued client. I also want to thank Andrea, who was incredibly patient and thorough, ensuring all my questions were answered and all issues resolved. I highly recommend them for anyone needing dedicated and caring legal support.

Truly life-changing results! Gitterman Gitterman and Feld represented me in two cases. One against…read morea multi billion dollar company that provided 17,000 pages of documents to fortify their case, and we still won! Being disabled is no fun, however GG&F got me enough money to purchase Disability equipment, such as a new Wheelchair van and caregivers. Couldn't recommend them more highly!

My experience with Tanya, Anton and Russell was very poor. They provided little to no communication…read moreas to the status of my case, withheld important information about my case and were impossible to reach, never returning calls or emails in a timely manner. When I complained that it had been over three weeks waiting for a return email the case manager informed me that they actually had 30 days to respond. When I did speak with Tanya or Anton they knew nothing about my case. I would highly recommend calling a different firm for help with a workers comp case.

Kim is a gem and Mr. Jim is a state of the art adviser on WC!…read more best

Jim Rademacher is a highly knowledgeable workers' compensation attorney representing both…read moreapplicants and defense firms. I couldn't recommend him or his associates more highly.

Wendy Pfau is a fantastic lawyer who fought for me for years to get the outcome I needed. Leandra…read moreand Isela are equally wonderful; also working tirelessly on my behalf. I tried another attorney and they didn't give me the comfort level Potter Padilla & Pfau provided. If you are looking for skill, high level character, and humans who have the gift of humanity, call them! You can trust them! I wish I found them first and sooner to navigate + negotiate. Thank you everyone for your help!

I'm finally writing this review 2 1/2 years after the Social Security Administration decided Fully…read moreFavorable in my favor in September 2021. I highly recommend Rebecca Padilla. She is professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate. I am grateful to her for her immense help in navigating the SSDI maze. When it took much longer for some of my benefits to be paid than it should have, Ms. Padilla immediately contacted my federal representative's office. The benefits were paid within a week. Rebecca Padilla worked diligently with me from my first meeting with her in 2019 (I think). I had already been denied SSDI benefits twice when applying directly to SSA. While it took a couple of years for my claim to be approved, Ms. Padilla warned me at the beginning that it wouldn't be an immediate decision. The COVID pandemic lengthened that period, but she was still able to work with me via phone during this difficult time. When a dear friend needed the same kind of help, I immediately referred her to Ms. Padilla, who was also able to help her.

Working with Phillip and Tina was an exceptional experience from start to finish. They combined…read moredeep expertise with genuine compassion, making a complicated and stressful process feel manageable and clear. Every step was explained in plain language, every deadline was met, and every question I had was answered with patience and professionalism. What stood out most was their dedication. This was a very long process, and they took the time to truly understand my brother's situation, gather the right evidence, and build a strong, well‑organized case. Their preparation and their steady advocacy throughout the entire journey made all the difference. They never rushed us, never overlooked details, and always made sure our family felt supported and informed. Because of their commitment and care, we were able to get through a difficult process with confidence and hope. Mary & John

My mom and I thank Philip and Tina so very much. Philip helped us understand every step of the…read moreway. Philip, guided me with every step that was needed to take.