Brown, Michael A.

For more than 15 years, Jim Brown has been representing disabled people in Social Security appeals.  He has experience with clients who have both physical and mental disabilities.  He has handled cases across the country, and has represented people at every level of the Social Security appeals process, including United States District Court.  He has represented hundreds of people at hearings before Social Security Administrative Law Judges, and his oral advocacy skills and rapport with judges have resulted in favorable decisions across the nation.  His strong writing skills have resulted in many successful Appeals Council appeals.  In Federal Court, he has been successful in obtaining fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, in cases where the Social Security Administration has taken an unjustifiable position in a case.

Jim enjoys the challenges and rewards of representing people before the Social Security Administration.  His success in representing clients comes from not only his knowledge of the voluminous social security rules and regulations, but also his willingness to treat every client with respect, and his individual attention to his clients' needs and concerns.  Because of his strong work ethic, and concern for clients, he has earned the respect of both clients and Administrative Law Judges.

Jim has done many trainings and presentations in Social Security benefits over the years, and he is more than happy to do additional talks upon request.  He is currently the public benefits editor for http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/, and many of his trainings and presentations can be viewed online at http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/, and www.illinoislegaladvocate.org.

Jim has worked for several years as an attorney for Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates, a friendly and collegial law firm that concentrates in Social Security/SSI Disability cases.  Jim's diverse and interesting legal career began in 1990 as a legal aid attorney for Will County Legal Assistance in Joliet, Illinois.  He spent five years in Joliet representing low-income people in a wide range of legal matters--defending people who were being evicted from their homes, helping victims of domestic violence to obtain orders of protection, and helping people obtain needed government benefits such as food stamps, SSI, and unemployment compensation.  Jim's legal aid career included a 2 year stint as an attorney for Utah Legal Services in Salt Lake City, where he focused in SSI and public benefits cases.  His legal aid career culminated in a 5 year stint as the Director of Legal Services for CARPLS (an innovative legal aid program specializing in advice, referrals, and brief services) in Chicago.

Jim's dedication to helping disabled and low-income people is not a surprise given his family background.  In the Brown family, public service is very important.  Jim's dad was a Chicago Policeman for more than 30 years, and still works as a substitute teacher for Oak Lawn High School.  His sister Pat is an attorney for the Cook County Public Guardian.  His sister Kathy is a school librarian.  His brother Dan worked as a Cook County State's Attorney.  Even his grandfathers were involved in public service - one a Chicago Fireman, and the other a meat inspector for the City of Chicago.