Program Details
2026-04-21 16:30:00
Over 1,000+ webinars
Course Overview
2026-04-21 16:30:00
1.25h CLE Credits
Intermediate
1.25
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm ESTFederal district court is often the final opportunity to challenge an unfavorable disability decision. Attorneys will learn to identify appealable errors, navigate filing requirements, litigate before federal judges, and recover attorney fees after successful remands.
Eligible for up to 1 CLE Credit Hour
This session was originally submitted for CLE as a live, in-person presentation and a live webcast for the 2026 Spring National Conference and may be eligible for self-study credit. Each state handles self-study credit differently; for questions, please consult your State Bar Association.
Recorded Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Laura Beth Waller
Marisa Burkett
Melissa PalmerLaura Beth Waller is an attorney specializing in Social Security disability appeals in federal court. Following her tenure as Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer for the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), she returned to appellate advocacy, where she manages a dedicated federal court caseload and serves as a strategic resource for disability firms nationwide. She also partners with other firms to provide brief writing and litigation analysis for cases challenging agency decisions at the federal level. A registered federal lobbyist and the Legislative Chair for the NCAJ Disability Advocacy Section, Laura Beth is licensed to practice in North Carolina, Georgia, and Washington.
Marisa Burkett is a Social Security disability attorney and head of the Social Security Disability practice at Capital Injury Law, with offices in Tacoma and Olympia, Washington. A 2013 graduate of Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, Marisa has practiced exclusively in Social Security disability law since graduating and is licensed in both New York and Washington State. She has experience writing appellate briefs for disability claims nationwide and has represented individuals at all levels of the appeals process, both before the Social Security Administration and in federal district courts.
Melissa is an Equity Partner at Olinsky Law Group, where she joined in February 2017 and became a partner in January 2022. Licensed in New York and California and admitted to practice in various district and circuit courts across the country, Melissa built her practice on Social Security federal court appeals before expanding her role to lead the firm’s Approved Claims Department. In this capacity, she oversees all feerelated matters, from the filing of fee petitions to fee collections at both the agency and federal court levels, making her the firm’s authority on post-award compensation issues.
Laura Beth Waller is an attorney specializing in Social Security disability appeals in federal court. Following her tenure as Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer for the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), she returned to appellate advocacy, where she manages a dedicated federal court caseload and serves as a strategic resource for disability firms nationwide. She also partners with other firms to provide brief writing and litigation analysis for cases challenging agency decisions at the federal level. A registered federal lobbyist and the Legislative Chair for the NCAJ Disability Advocacy Section, Laura Beth is licensed to practice in North Carolina, Georgia, and Washington.
Marisa Burkett is a Social Security disability attorney and head of the Social Security Disability practice at Capital Injury Law, with offices in Tacoma and Olympia, Washington. A 2013 graduate of Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, Marisa has practiced exclusively in Social Security disability law since graduating and is licensed in both New York and Washington State. She has experience writing appellate briefs for disability claims nationwide and has represented individuals at all levels of the appeals process, both before the Social Security Administration and in federal district courts.
Melissa is an Equity Partner at Olinsky Law Group, where she joined in February 2017 and became a partner in January 2022. Licensed in New York and California and admitted to practice in various district and circuit courts across the country, Melissa built her practice on Social Security federal court appeals before expanding her role to lead the firm’s Approved Claims Department. In this capacity, she oversees all feerelated matters, from the filing of fee petitions to fee collections at both the agency and federal court levels, making her the firm’s authority on post-award compensation issues.
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.
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