“[Lawyers] have a very specific set of skills and the ability to do things that not everyone can do, including advocating for people who can’t afford attorneys. Pro bono should be a necessary part of most people’s practices . . . it’s a great opportunity to manage a case years before you would do it for another client at the firm, and it allows you to really take the lead and initiative to see something through from start to finish.” – Joey Polonsky, Associate, Choate Hall & Stewart
Choate Hall & Stewart attorneys Shaina Wamsley and Joey Polonsky met Robert* in the summer of 2015 while volunteering with the Clearinghouse’s Massachusetts Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Robert needed legal help after the Social Security Administration (SSA) denied his application for disability benefits. He was homeless and had suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries in recent years, which left him struggling significantly in his daily life.
Shaina and Joey represented Robert in appealing the SSA’s decision. Over the course of a year, they collected and analyzed Robert’s medical records and drafted a persuasive memo advocating for him in advance of a June 2016 hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
Shaina and Joey zealously represented Robert’s interests at the hearing, and in July 2016, Robert received a fully favorable decision from the ALJ, reversing the SSA’s denial of benefits. Robert will now receive monthly disability benefits as well as over two years of back pay. These benefits will provide critical support for Robert’s day-to-day needs and will have a significant impact on his ability to secure stable housing.
*Client’s name has been changed to protect privacy.
