MISSION: Our mission is to respectfully and compassionately assist individuals with disabilities in achieving a sense of dignity through financial stability and healthcare access. I run a small law firm focused on Social Security Disability and SSI, Veterans' Benefits (although I am not accepting new VA cases currently), and related administrative law matters. I bring a wealth of experience and a deep compassion for others to my work, helping those who need or seek assistance in navigating the complexities of administrative law. We provide direct personal interaction with our law firm and we are personally committed to doing everything within our power to help you restore your dignity and secure the benefits you deserve.
- Lewis & Clark Law School
- J.D. | Law
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- City of Portland Attorney’s Office, Legal Clerk, June – December 2003. Natural Resources Law Institute, Research Assistant, June 2002 – May 2003. Indian Summer, Legal Intern, June 2002 – August 2002.
- Honors: First Year Appellate Advocacy Moot Court: Best Brief. Client Counseling Moot Court Competition Regional 2003 team member. Moot Court Honor Board, 2003 - 2004.
- Activities: Student member of the Federal Bar Association. Student member of the Multnomah Bar Association. Journal of Small and Emerging Business Law, Editorial Board, Internet Editor, 2003 - 2004, Research Editor, 2002 – 2003; American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Non-Profit Law and Aviation & Space Law Committees, Student Vice-Chair, 2003 – 2004; Treasurer/Member - Native American Law Student Association and Student Advocates for Environmental Responsibility, 2003 - 2004; Faculty Meetings, Student Bar Representative, 2002 - 2003.
- Portland State University
- MPA | Public Administration
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- Linfield College
- B.S. (1998) | Social & Behavioral Sciences
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- Work & school, school & work
- Honors: Graduation - lol
- Activities: Attended school fulltime while working fulltime
- University of California - Berkeley
- Certificate in Business Administration (1996) | Business Administration
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- Attorney at Law, founding member
- Cascadia Disability Law f/k/a Brown + Wayson LLC
- - Current
- Small firm law practice specializing in Social Security Disability and SSI, Veterans' Benefits, and related administrative law matters. We are putting our wealth of experience and sincere compassion for others to work for those who need or would like assistance navigating an administrative law labyrinth. We offer one-on-one interaction with your attorney and our personal commitment to doing everything in our power to assist you to restore your dignity and secure the benefits you deserve. While the journey may be challenging, successful outcomes for our clients are particularly rewarding. Our work is both time-sensitive due to varying deadlines and time-pressured due to the nature of our practice. Services include: analyzing, researching and drafting Hearing Memoranda, Social Security Appeals Council Briefs and United States District Court Plaintiff’s Opening and Reply Briefs within the requisite timeframes. As an attorney, I have represented claimants at more than 50 federal administrative law hearings and assisted in the preparation for more than 400 other hearings. In addition, I have drafted numerous Social Security Appeals Council briefs and United States District Court opening and reply briefs. Through this representation I have garnered extensive experience preparing for and appearing at hearings to secure positive outcomes for my clients. I am well-versed in client counseling, claim analysis, case preparation, and hearing and appeal representation.
- Administrative Rule Writer
- State of Oregon, Department of Human Services, Childre, Adults & Families, Hearings and Rules Unit
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- Administrative rule drafting, editing, filing and interpreting for the Oregon Department of Human Services, Children, Adults & Families Division, Child Welfare and Self Sufficiency programs. The rulemaking work is necessary both to implement new legislation and to ensure new agency program initiatives are consistent with controlling state legislation and federal law. These decisions may have significant implications for the Department’s budget and can affect the health and safety of Oregonians served by the programs operated by the Children, Adults and Families Division of the Department. Support hearing representatives in contested case hearings. The contested case hearings support requires knowledge and application of the relevant hearings provisions of the Oregon Administrative Procedures Act, Oregon administrative rules, and federal regulations. Review, revise, and re-issue Administrative Law Judge issued proposed final orders regarding claimant requested contested case hearings. This involves reviewing and analyzing proposed and final orders issued by administrative law judges and determining, in some cases, whether the agency should rewrite the order.
- Attorney at Law
- Disability Law Offices
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- All aspects of a vigorous and voluminous Social Security Disability law practice, from initial consultations through federal court appeals.
- Social Security's 5-Step Sequential Analysis for Disability Determinations
- Legal Guides
- Unemployment and Social Security Disability Benefits Simultaneously
- Legal Guides
- What Are Your Chances When You Apply for Social Security Disability
- Legal Guides
- Social Security Disability Law, ACCESO LEGAL - SiriusXM Radio
- The ABCs of Social Security Disability Law, Continuing Education course
- Ethical Considerations in Social Security Disability Representation, Circuit 9 Conference
- Accredited Attorney
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Accredited Attorney
- Social Security Administration
- Peer Review Rated
- Martindale-Hubbell
- National Association of Disability Representatives
- Member
- - Current
- American Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Oregon State Bar  # 041147
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: Member - Military and Veterans Law Practice Section, 2014 - present Member - House of Delegates, 2014 - present
- National Organization of Veterans Advocates
- Member
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- Federal Bar Association
- Member
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- Oregon
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Free Consultation
There is no charge for the initial consultation. -
Contingent Fees
Our Social Security Disability practice is contingent fee based, with fee caps set by Congress. For most cases the fee cap is 25% of any past benefits awarded to you or $9000, whichever is LESS. Veterans' Disability cases are a 20% contingent fee. -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Small firm law practice specializing in Social Security Disability and SSI , Veterans' Benefits, and related administrative law matters. Putting my wealth of experience and sincere compassion for others to work for those who need or would like assistance navigating an administrative law labyrinth. I offer one-on-one interaction with your attorney and a personal commitment to doing everything in our power to assist you to restore your dignity and secure the benefits you deserve.
- Social Security Disability
- Social Security Disbaility Law
- Veterans Disability Law
- English: Spoken, Written