Do I need to Hire a lawyer?
Someone should hire a lawyer when they are in a complicated situation and when they don’t do this on a regular basis. There are so many rules and regulation that can trip people up that they are not aware of. We try to make sure the record is complete and there are no unfished papers. Once you get to a hearing, if you are by your self, you will be in for a rude awakening. You will have the vocational expert who is there for the DOT, the transferability of skills and you have no idea what they mean.
What happens if they go in without a lawyer and lose?
Your best chance of getting approved is at the hearing level. If you are denied at the hearing you can go to the appeals counsel but it is much lower than at the hearing. They have already testified and did not have a chance to cross examine. It is always better to find a lawyer before you go into a hearing.