A rewarding way to practice law

Eric Shore was planning to practice personal injury law, but while waiting to be admitted to the bar he decided to pursue Social Security cases, and discovered how rewarding that field is.

“We actually get to work with and help people as opposed to corporations or businesses,” he said about his Social Security disability practice that is based in Cedarhurst. “We’re helping people at their most vulnerable time and when we win our client’s case, the feeling you get when you help someone who is about to be or who was homeless or couldn’t take care of their medical condition, it makes you feel really good.”

Shore opened up his Spruce Street location this past November and has other offices in Cherry Hill and Newark, New Jersey as well as Philadelphia. His office takes cases for people seeking Social Security disability benefits and who cannot work due to an injury at work, illness or can’t find a job. Social security disability money helps people support themselves while they are out of work.

Social Security Administration spokeswoman Jane Zanca said an applicant for a claim can appoint a skilled individual to represent them during the process and that the representative cannot charge or collect a fee for services until they receive written approval from Social Security, even if the claim is denied.

“The fee agreement is a written statement signed by the claimant and appointed representative specifying the fee the representative expects to charge and collect, and the claimant expects to pay, for services the representative provides in pursuing the claimant’s Social Security benefits,” Zanca said. “For Social Security to approve a fee agreement, the representative must submit it before the date of the first favorable determination or decision the office makes on a claim after the representative’s appointment.”