Experienced Social Security attorneys will discuss how vocational issues may affect the outcome of a Social Security disability case. Topics will include new POMS and proposed regulations on past relevant work, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing with questioning of a vocational expert (VE), and overview of relevant case law.

In this session, participants will learn the law related to the significance of vocational evidence in the sequential evaluation process, learn about recent changes to SSA's regulations governing medical evidence, as well as new case law and other trends/developments in this area, and learn practical tips for dealing with vocational expert testimony at hearings.

We will present also present a training tape of a mock hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and a vocational expert (VE). An experienced Social Security attorney will conduct a direct examination of the client and then cross-examine the VE. Through this presentation, participants will become familiar with how an ALJ conducts a Social Security hearing with a vocational expert present, learn how to conduct a direct examination of a client at the hearing, and learn practical tips for cross-examining a vocational expert testimony at the hearing.

Lastly, experienced Social Security attorneys will discuss issues raised in the mock hearing, as well as other vocational issues, including RFC forms, the art of the hypothetical question, and evidence from non-examining review doctors (NERD). In this session, participants will learn practical tips for dealing with vocational expert testimony, including formulating the hypothetical question, address issues related to difficulties obtaining relevant vocational evidence, including residual functional capacity (RFC) forms, and recognize the type of medical and vocational evidence necessary to support claims of an inability to engage in substantial gainful activity.

To register for this training please visit us at www.learningcenter.legalservicesnyc.org

E-mail all questions to learningcenter@ls-nyc.org