Program Details
2026-05-19 14:00:00
Over 1,000+ webinars
Course Overview
2026-05-19 14:00:00
1h CLE Credits
Intermediate
1
2:00 pm - 2:10 pm ESTThis segment examines the Appeals Council’s jurisdictional scope, statutory and regulatory deadlines, current workload data, and the mechanics of filing a Request for Review, equipping practitioners to launch appeals confidently within procedural requirements.
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Social Security Law Section
Deborah SpectorRyan Tank 2:10 pm - 2:20 pm ESTPractitioners will explore strategies for preserving issues to maintain federal court viability, properly requesting extensions, and navigating the Appeals Council process upon return from federal court remand to secure rehearing opportunities.
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Social Security Law Section
Deborah SpectorRyan Tank 2:20 pm - 2:40 pm ESTThis portion covers persuasive briefing techniques, including issue selection, structuring policy-based arguments grounded in agency rulings, and crafting Statements of Exceptions designed to maximize the likelihood of Appeals Council remand or favorable action.
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Social Security Law Section
Deborah SpectorRyan Tank 2:40 pm - 2:45 pm ESTAttendees will learn the standards governing submission of new and material evidence at the Appeals Council level, including timing requirements, materiality thresholds, and tactical considerations for presenting post-hearing evidence to support review.
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Social Security Law Section
Deborah SpectorRyan Tank 2:45 pm - 3:00 pm ESTThis closing segment addresses common procedural obstacles, including lost or non-electronic filings, processing delays, and effective follow-up techniques after remand, providing practitioners with practical solutions for resolving administrative breakdowns and protecting client interests.
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Social Security Law Section
Deborah SpectorRyan TankDeborah Spector is the lead attorney and managing partner at Spector and Lenz, where she has dedicated more than 40 years to representing Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claimants. Her career began in legal services — representing individuals who could not otherwise access legal representation — and has continued in private practice, where she has focused exclusively on disability adjudications and federal court appeals on behalf of individuals navigating one of the most technically demanding areas of administrative law. Deborah is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Fourth Circuits, and multiple federal district courts. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Ryan Tank is an attorney at Spector and Lenz whose practice is focused exclusively on Social Security disability and federal court litigation. He represents adults and children appealing Social Security disability denials before the Appeals Council and in federal district courts, guiding clients through complex administrative and appeals processes with precision and deep institutional knowledge. Prior to joining Spector and Lenz, Ryan served as an Attorney Advisor for the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearings Operations — the office within which disability hearings are conducted before Administrative Law Judges — where he gained firsthand insight into the decision-making process that now informs his advocacy on behalf of claimants. Earlier in his career, he practiced at a general practice law firm in downstate Illinois, building a broad legal foundation before transitioning to his exclusive disability focus. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and his B.S. from Bradley University.
Deborah Spector is the lead attorney and managing partner at Spector and Lenz, where she has dedicated more than 40 years to representing Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claimants. Her career began in legal services — representing individuals who could not otherwise access legal representation — and has continued in private practice, where she has focused exclusively on disability adjudications and federal court appeals on behalf of individuals navigating one of the most technically demanding areas of administrative law. Deborah is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Fourth Circuits, and multiple federal district courts. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Ryan Tank is an attorney at Spector and Lenz whose practice is focused exclusively on Social Security disability and federal court litigation. He represents adults and children appealing Social Security disability denials before the Appeals Council and in federal district courts, guiding clients through complex administrative and appeals processes with precision and deep institutional knowledge. Prior to joining Spector and Lenz, Ryan served as an Attorney Advisor for the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearings Operations — the office within which disability hearings are conducted before Administrative Law Judges — where he gained firsthand insight into the decision-making process that now informs his advocacy on behalf of claimants. Earlier in his career, he practiced at a general practice law firm in downstate Illinois, building a broad legal foundation before transitioning to his exclusive disability focus. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and his B.S. from Bradley University.
Requirements
The Alabama State Bar MCLE Commission requires attorneys to complete 12 credits, including 1 ethics, by December 31 of each year. All credits must be reported by February 15 of the following year. A maximum of 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, may be carried over for 1 year only.
Formats
