10 of the Best Social Security Disability Attorneys in Georgia
Finding the right Social Security Disability attorney can be important when you're applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or appealing a disability denial.
Georgia has many attorneys who handle Social Security Disability cases, but their experience, practice focus, and approach can vary considerably.
DisabilityTips.org researched Georgia attorneys who handle Social Security Disability claims and considered factors including:
Social Security Disability practice experience
SSDI and SSI practice focus
Georgia attorney licensing
Years of legal experience
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing experience
Disability appeals experience
Federal court experience, where applicable
Professional involvement in Social Security Disability law
Relevant continuing legal education
Independent professional recognition
Below are 10 Georgia Social Security Disability attorneys worth considering.
Important: This is not an official ranking. The attorneys are presented alphabetically by last name rather than ranked from #1 to #10.
Contact information was verified when this article was reviewed. Law firms can change addresses and telephone numbers, so confirm the information directly with the firm before visiting an office.
Quick List: Social Security Disability Attorneys in Georgia
| Attorney | Location | Disability Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Allison I. Affleck | Atlanta | SSDI, SSI, VA Disability |
| Harry Brenner | Atlanta | SSDI, SSI, Hearings & Appeals |
| Kathleen M. Flynn | Decatur | SSDI, SSI & Disability Appeals |
| Jonathan C. Ginsberg | Atlanta | SSDI & SSI |
| Michael J. Hofrichter | Fayetteville | Social Security Disability |
| John V. Hogan V | Suwanee | SSDI Appeals & Federal Practice |
| Joel J. Humphries | Atlanta | SSDI & SSI |
| Russell G. Keener | Marietta | SSDI & SSI |
| Lisa Smith Siegel | Atlanta | SSDI, SSI & Federal Appeals |
| Ellene Welsh | Douglasville/Columbus | SSDI, SSI & Workers' Compensation |
1. Allison I. Affleck — Affleck & Gordon
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Firm: Affleck & Gordon
Address: 1 Glenlake Parkway NE, Suite 910, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (404) 990-3945
Practice Areas: Social Security Disability and Veterans Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 2014
Allison I. Affleck is a partner at Affleck & Gordon and focuses her practice on Social Security Disability and veterans disability cases.
Her experience with Social Security Disability law began early in her legal career. While attending Georgia State University College of Law, she participated in the school's HeLP Legal Services Clinic, where her work included matters involving children seeking Supplemental Security Income.
Affleck joined Affleck & Gordon in 2014 and became a partner in 2019.
Her practice includes representing Social Security claimants at multiple stages of the disability process.
She also participates in professional education involving Social Security Disability law. In 2026, Affleck was among the faculty for the State Bar of Georgia's Social Security Law continuing legal education program.
Why She Made Our List
Focuses on disability law
Handles SSDI and SSI claims
Disability appeals experience
Georgia State University College of Law graduate
State Bar of Georgia Social Security Law CLE faculty
Veterans disability practice
VA-accredited attorney
Georgia Bar Verification
Current professional records identify Allison Irene Affleck as a Georgia attorney admitted in 2014 and an active member in good standing at the time this article was reviewed.
2. Harry Brenner — Affleck & Gordon
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Firm: Affleck & Gordon
Address: 1 Glenlake Parkway NE, Suite 910, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (404) 990-3945
Practice Areas: Social Security Disability and Veterans Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 2012
Harry Brenner is a partner at Affleck & Gordon and has substantial experience representing people seeking disability benefits.
His Social Security practice includes cases involving:
Initial disability applications
Reconsideration
Administrative hearings
Appeals Council review
According to State Bar of Georgia continuing legal education materials, Brenner has represented clients in more than 1,500 Social Security and veterans disability hearings.
He also served as faculty for the State Bar of Georgia's 2026 Social Security Law CLE program.
Extensive hearing experience may be especially relevant for applicants whose disability cases have progressed to the Administrative Law Judge hearing stage.
Why He Made Our List
Extensive disability-hearing experience
SSDI and SSI practice
Handles disability appeals
State Bar Social Security Law CLE faculty
Partner in a disability-focused practice
VA-accredited attorney
Georgia Bar Verification
Current attorney licensing records identify Harry Brenner as admitted to practice in Georgia in 2012 and an active member in good standing at the time of review.
3. Kathleen M. Flynn — Law Office of Kathleen M. Flynn, LLC
Location: Decatur, Georgia
Firm: Law Office of Kathleen M. Flynn, LLC
Address: 315 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 940, Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 479-4431
Practice Areas: Social Security Disability and Veterans Benefits
Georgia Bar Admission: 2001
Kathleen M. Flynn has a particularly interesting background for Social Security Disability claimants.
Before entering private disability practice, Flynn worked within the Social Security Administration's hearing operation as a staff attorney and decision writer for Administrative Law Judges.
That experience gave her exposure to Social Security Disability cases from inside the administrative adjudication process.
Flynn subsequently entered private practice and established her own firm.
Her practice handles Social Security matters including:
SSDI
SSI
Disabled Adult Child benefits
Child's benefits
Widow and widower benefits
Reconsideration
ALJ hearings
Appeals Council cases
Certain federal court appeals
Her practice reports assisting thousands of disabled adults and children.
Why She Made Our List
Former SSA staff attorney and decision writer
Disability-focused private practice
Handles SSDI and SSI
Disabled Adult Child experience
Administrative hearing experience
Appeals Council experience
Federal court experience
Georgia Bar Verification
Current licensing records identify Kathleen Marie Flynn as an active Georgia attorney in good standing. She was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2001.
4. Jonathan C. Ginsberg — Ginsberg Law Offices, P.C.
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Firm: Ginsberg Law Offices, P.C.
Address: 1854 Independence Square, Atlanta, GA 30338
Phone: (770) 393-4985
Practice Area: Social Security Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 1986
Jonathan C. Ginsberg has practiced law in Georgia for approximately four decades and has handled Social Security Disability matters since the early 1990s.
His current practice focuses heavily on representing individuals seeking Social Security Disability benefits.
Ginsberg is also known for creating educational material about SSDI, SSI, disability hearings, and the Social Security claims process.
He has participated in legal education involving Social Security Disability practice and operates a relatively small attorney-driven disability practice.
Why He Made Our List
Georgia attorney since 1986
Social Security Disability experience dating to the early 1990s
Disability-focused practice
SSDI and SSI experience
Extensive disability educational work
Long-term Georgia practice
Disability-hearing experience
Georgia Bar Verification
Current licensing records identify Jonathan C. Ginsberg as an active Georgia Bar member in good standing. He has been licensed in Georgia since 1986.
5. Michael J. Hofrichter — Rogers, Hofrichter & Karrh, LLC
Location: Fayetteville, Georgia
Firm: Rogers, Hofrichter & Karrh, LLC
Main Office Address: 225 South Glynn Street, Suite 1, Fayetteville, GA 30214
Phone: (770) 884-6705
Practice Area: Social Security Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 1990
Michael J. Hofrichter has practiced law in Georgia for more than three decades and handles Social Security Disability matters.
His firm represents individuals seeking SSDI and SSI benefits and serves clients throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area and other parts of Georgia.
His professional background includes decades of experience representing disability claimants.
Hofrichter has also received professional peer recognition, including selection through Super Lawyers.
Additional Firm Locations
The firm also lists offices at:
Atlanta:
2970 Clairmont Road NE, Suite 650
Atlanta, GA 30329
Cartersville:
222 E. Main Street
Cartersville, GA 30120
Why He Made Our List
More than three decades of Georgia legal experience
Social Security Disability practice
SSDI and SSI representation
Multiple Georgia office locations
Long-term disability-claim experience
Independent professional recognition
Georgia Bar Verification
Current attorney licensing records identify Michael James Hofrichter as a Georgia attorney admitted in 1990 and an active member in good standing at the time of review.
6. John V. Hogan V — Law Offices of John V. Hogan
Location: Suwanee, Georgia
Firm: Law Offices of John V. Hogan
Address: 1325 Satellite Boulevard NW, Suite 1002, Suwanee, GA 30024
Phone: (678) 546-1010
Practice Area: Social Security Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 1978
John V. Hogan V has one of the longest Social Security Disability backgrounds among the attorneys included in this guide.
Hogan began practicing Social Security law while working with Legal Aid.
He later worked inside the Social Security Administration.
From 1982 to 1984, Hogan served as an Attorney Advisor in SSA's Office of Hearings and Appeals, first in Florida and later in Atlanta.
Since 1984, he has practiced privately in metropolitan Atlanta and Northeast Georgia representing disability claimants.
His professional background also includes involvement with the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR).
He has served multiple terms on NOSSCR's board representing the 11th Circuit and has participated in Social Security law programs sponsored by the State Bar of Georgia.
Why He Made Our List
Decades of Social Security Disability experience
Former SSA Attorney Advisor
Administrative hearing experience
Disability appeals experience
Federal court experience
Former NOSSCR board member
State Bar Social Security Law CLE presenter
Georgia Bar Verification
Current licensing records identify John V. Hogan V as a Georgia attorney admitted in 1978 and an active member in good standing at the time of review.
7. Joel J. Humphries — Law Office of Joel J. Humphries, P.C.
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Firm: Law Office of Joel J. Humphries, P.C.
Address: 235 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30303-1400
Phone: (404) 795-6145
Toll-Free: 1-833-SSDI-LAW
Practice Area: Social Security Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 2011
Joel J. Humphries operates a law practice focused on Social Security Disability.
His firm handles cases involving:
SSDI
SSI
Initial disability applications
Initial denials
Reconsideration
Disability appeals
Administrative hearings
Social Security Disability represents a central focus of the practice rather than being one service among numerous unrelated areas of law.
For claimants who prefer an attorney whose day-to-day work concentrates heavily on SSA disability claims, this type of practice may be worth considering.
Why He Made Our List
Social Security Disability-focused practice
SSDI and SSI representation
Handles initial applications
Handles denied claims and appeals
Administrative hearing representation
Georgia-based practice
Georgia Bar Verification
Current attorney licensing records identify Joel Jerome Humphries as admitted in Georgia in 2011 and an active member in good standing at the time of review.
8. Russell G. Keener — Keener Law Firm
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Firm: Keener Law Firm
Address: 640 Village Trace NE, Building 16, Marietta, GA 30067
Phone: (770) 955-3000
Toll-Free: (800) 900-2400
Practice Area: Social Security Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 1991
Russell G. Keener has more than three decades of legal experience and maintains a substantial Social Security Disability practice.
His firm assists individuals seeking SSDI and SSI benefits involving a wide range of physical and mental impairments.
His professional background also includes membership in the National Association of Disability Representatives.
Social Security Disability represents a significant portion of his legal practice.
Why He Made Our List
More than three decades of Georgia legal experience
Significant Social Security Disability practice
SSDI and SSI representation
Disability application experience
Disability appeals experience
National Association of Disability Representatives member
Georgia Bar Verification
Current attorney licensing records identify Russell Greer Keener as admitted in Georgia in 1991 and an active member in good standing at the time of review.
9. Lisa Smith Siegel — Lisa Smith Siegel, Attorney at Law
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Firm: Lisa Smith Siegel, Attorney at Law
Address: 5555 Glenridge Connector, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30342
Phone: (404) 647-7958
Practice Area: Social Security Disability
Georgia Bar Admission: 1989
Lisa Smith Siegel has practiced law in Georgia for more than three decades and focuses heavily on disability law.
Her practice includes:
Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income
Disability appeals
Federal disability appeals
Siegel earned both her undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Georgia.
Her professional activities have included teaching and presenting information about Social Security Disability to attorneys and healthcare professionals.
Professional recognition reported by her practice includes an AV peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell and recognition by Super Lawyers and Georgia Trend's Legal Elite.
Why She Made Our List
Georgia attorney since 1989
Disability-focused practice
SSDI and SSI representation
Administrative appeals
Federal disability appeals
NOSSCR involvement
Disability-law educational work
Independent professional recognition
Georgia Bar Verification
Current professional and attorney licensing records identify Lisa Smith Siegel as admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1989 and currently practicing Social Security Disability law in Georgia.
10. Ellene Welsh — Law Office of Ellene Welsh
Locations: Douglasville and Columbus, Georgia
Firm: Law Office of Ellene Welsh
Practice Areas: Social Security Disability, SSI and Workers' Compensation
Georgia Bar Admission: 1988
Douglasville Office
Address: 6488 Spring Street, Suite 203, Douglasville, GA 30134
Phone: (770) 489-3456
Columbus Office
Address: 945 Broadway, Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 984-8963
Ellene Welsh has represented disabled individuals and injured workers since 1988.
Her practice focuses primarily on:
Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income
Workers' Compensation
Welsh serves clients in Douglasville, Columbus, West Georgia, and surrounding areas.
She has received an AV Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has received professional recognition in Social Security Disability law.
One important consideration for families is that her firm currently states that it does not handle Social Security Disability cases for children.
Why She Made Our List
Practicing since 1988
Decades of SSDI and SSI experience
Georgia-focused disability practice
Douglasville and Columbus locations
AV Preeminent peer rating
Professional recognition in disability law
Georgia Bar Verification
Current attorney licensing records identify Ellene Welsh as admitted to practice in Georgia in 1988 and an active member in good standing at the time of review.
How We Selected These Georgia Disability Attorneys
There is no official government ranking of the “best” Social Security Disability attorneys in Georgia.
DisabilityTips.org does not claim that one attorney on this list is universally better than another.
Instead, we considered publicly available information involving:
Current Georgia attorney licensing
Years of legal experience
Concentration in Social Security Disability law
SSDI and SSI experience
ALJ hearing experience
Appeals Council experience
Federal court experience, where applicable
Previous SSA employment or experience
Social Security Disability legal education
Professional disability-law organizations
Independent professional recognition
The attorneys are listed alphabetically rather than ranked.
Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee that an attorney will accept or win a particular disability case.
How to Verify a Georgia Disability Attorney Before Hiring Them
Before hiring any attorney, independently check their license.
The State Bar of Georgia Member Directory allows the public to search for Georgia attorneys.
Look for:
Attorney's full legal name
Current membership status
Georgia Bar admission date
Current contact information
Public disciplinary information, when applicable
This is worth doing even when you find an attorney through DisabilityTips.org, another website, an advertisement, or a personal recommendation.
Questions to Ask a Social Security Disability Attorney
Before hiring a disability attorney, consider asking:
How much of your practice involves Social Security Disability?
How many SSDI and SSI cases do you handle?
Will you personally handle my case?
Will you personally represent me at my ALJ hearing?
Do you help with initial applications?
Do you handle reconsideration appeals?
Do you handle Appeals Council cases?
Do you handle federal court appeals?
Who will be my primary contact?
How often will I receive updates?
How do you obtain medical records?
Will you identify missing medical evidence?
How are attorney fees calculated?
Are there separate case expenses?
What happens to the attorney fee if I lose?
A consultation is also an opportunity to determine whether you're comfortable communicating with the attorney and their staff.
Should You Choose a Local Georgia Disability Attorney?
Social Security Disability is a federal program, so representation isn't necessarily limited to an attorney located in your city.
However, a Georgia-based disability attorney may have familiarity with:
Georgia medical providers
Georgia Disability Determination Services
Local Social Security offices
Regional hearing practices
Local medical-record procedures
Issues commonly encountered by Georgia disability claimants
Many disability attorneys now conduct consultations and case preparation remotely.
That means the attorney closest to your home isn't automatically the best fit for your case.
Consider experience, communication, availability, disability-law focus, and whether the firm handles your current stage of appeal.
Do You Need an Attorney to Apply for SSDI?
No.
Social Security does not require you to hire an attorney to apply for SSDI or SSI.
Many people successfully submit their initial applications themselves.
Some people seek representation when:
Their initial application is denied
Their reconsideration appeal is denied
They request an ALJ hearing
Their medical evidence is complicated
They have a Date Last Insured problem
They have previous disability applications
They receive an unfavorable ALJ decision
Whether representation makes sense depends on your circumstances.
How Much Does a Social Security Disability Attorney Cost?
Social Security regulates fees charged by representatives for work before SSA.
Many disability attorneys use an SSA-approved fee agreement under which the attorney receives a portion of the claimant's past-due benefits if the claim results in an award.
There are limits and rules governing these arrangements.
Attorney fees and case expenses can also be different.
For example, a representation agreement may separately address costs associated with obtaining medical records.
Before hiring an attorney:
Read the representation and fee agreements carefully and ask questions about anything you don't understand.
Can a Disability Attorney Guarantee That You'll Win?
No.
No attorney can guarantee that Social Security will approve a disability claim.
Be cautious if anyone promises:
Guaranteed SSDI approval
Guaranteed SSI approval
A guaranteed percentage chance of winning
A guaranteed decision date
A guaranteed amount of back pay
An experienced disability attorney can develop evidence, prepare legal arguments, represent you at hearings, question experts, and pursue available appeals.
But Social Security ultimately decides whether you meet the applicable disability requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best Social Security Disability attorney in Georgia?
There isn't an official “best” Social Security Disability attorney. The appropriate attorney depends on your medical conditions, location, stage of appeal, case complexity, and preferred representation style.
The attorneys in this guide are listed alphabetically rather than ranked.
Should I hire an attorney before applying for SSDI?
You aren't required to. Some disability attorneys assist with initial applications, while others concentrate on denied claims and appeals.
When should I contact a disability attorney?
You can contact an attorney at any stage. Many claimants seek representation after receiving an initial denial, reconsideration denial, or notice of an ALJ hearing.
Can a Georgia disability attorney represent me at an ALJ hearing?
Yes. Social Security Disability attorneys commonly represent claimants before Administrative Law Judges.
Ask the firm who will actually appear with you at the hearing.
Can an attorney appeal an ALJ denial?
Potentially.
Some Social Security Disability attorneys handle Appeals Council review and federal court appeals, while others don't.
Ask before hiring the firm if this is important to you.
How do I verify a Georgia attorney's license?
Search the attorney's full name through the official State Bar of Georgia Member Directory.
Should I choose an attorney based on online reviews?
Reviews can provide useful information about other clients' experiences, but they shouldn't be your only consideration.
Also consider the attorney's licensing, Social Security Disability experience, communication, hearing experience, practice focus, and whether the attorney personally handles your type of case.
Key Takeaways
Georgia has numerous attorneys with extensive experience representing SSDI and SSI claimants.
Before choosing one:
Verify the attorney's Georgia Bar status.
Look for meaningful Social Security Disability experience.
Ask how much of the practice involves SSDI and SSI.
Determine who will actually handle your case.
Ask who will represent you at an ALJ hearing.
Find out whether the firm handles your current appeal level.
Ask about Appeals Council representation.
Ask whether the attorney handles federal court appeals.
Understand the fee agreement before signing.
Don't choose an attorney solely because of an advertisement.
Don't rely solely on star ratings or an online “best lawyer” list.
The attorney who works well for one disability claimant may not be the right fit for another.
Use this guide as a starting point for researching and interviewing Georgia Social Security Disability attorneys.
Continue Learning on DisabilityTips.org
Read these guides next:
How to Choose a Social Security Disability Attorney
How Much Does an SSDI Attorney Cost?
Do You Need a Lawyer to Apply for SSDI?
What Happens at an ALJ Disability Hearing?
What Should You Do After an SSDI Denial?
What Is the Social Security Appeals Council?
What Is a Disability Attorney Allowed to Charge?
How Long Does a Social Security Disability Decision Take?
50 Social Security Disability Terms You Should Know
Editorial Disclosure
DisabilityTips.org independently selected the attorneys included in this article based on publicly available information concerning Social Security Disability practice, professional experience, credentials, licensing, and related professional activities.
The attorneys are not ranked from best to worst.
Inclusion in this article does not constitute an endorsement, attorney referral, guarantee of legal services, or prediction of the outcome of a Social Security Disability claim.
Unless expressly disclosed otherwise, placement on this list is not paid placement.
Attorney licensing, office locations, telephone numbers, practice areas, and professional affiliations can change. Readers should independently verify current information with the attorney and the State Bar of Georgia before hiring legal counsel.
Disclaimer
DisabilityTips.org provides general educational and informational content only. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice, an attorney referral, an attorney-client relationship, or a guarantee regarding an attorney or Social Security Disability claim.
Attorney credentials, licensing status, office information, fees, and practice areas can change. Verify current information directly with the attorney and appropriate licensing authority before making a hiring decision.
Last reviewed: October 3, 2026
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