10 Best Social Security Disability Lawyers in Sacramento, CA

This guide covers ten attorneys and firms that handle Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims for Sacramento-area residents. Each was compared on how much of the practice is devoted to Social Security disability, how long the lawyer has handled administrative law judge (ALJ) hearings and federal court appeals, professional memberships in Social Security claimant organizations, and how easy it is to reach an office in or near Sacramento. Firms with a dedicated disability practice are weighed more heavily than general practices that list disability as one of many areas.

When you compare options, three questions matter most. Does the attorney regularly represent claimants at the Sacramento hearing office and, if a denial stands, take cases to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California? Does the lawyer build the medical and vocational record before the hearing, and is it an attorney rather than a non-attorney representative who appears at the hearing? Does the firm handle both SSDI and SSI, since many claimants qualify for one program and not the other?

1. Gade & Parekh, LLP

• Attorney/Key Figure: Elizabeth L. Gade, Partner
• Headquarters: Sacramento, CA (serves Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, and Yuba counties and additional Northern California and Central Valley areas)
• Phone: (916) 648-8600
• Website: gpdisabilitylaw.com
• Practice Areas: Social Security disability, SSDI, SSI, disability appeals and hearings
• Firm Size: Boutique with three attorneys (Elizabeth Gade, Roopen Parekh, and Vandana Kamboj) and more than 40 years of combined experience

About the Firm: Elizabeth Gade has represented Social Security disability claimants for more than 29 years, handling cases from the initial application through appeals. She earned her J.D. at UC Davis School of Law and is admitted to the California State Bar, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of NOSSCR and of the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Disability Law Section. Before law school she worked in a community mental health program, which the firm cites as shaping her approach to mental health disability claims.

The firm handles only disability claims and states that it does not take retirement matters. It works through the full process, gathering medical records, preparing the claim, and preparing clients to testify and cross-examine witnesses at the ALJ hearing. Its site says the work is done by a team that covers Sacramento and much of the surrounding region.

2. Walker Disability Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jared Walker, Attorney at Law
• Headquarters: 75 Natoma Street, Suite C-1, Folsom, CA 95630
• Phone: 916-831-7575
• Website: walkerdisability.law
• Practice Areas: Social Security disability, SSDI, SSI, disability hearings, federal court appeals
• Firm Size: Solo practice with more than 17 years of litigation experience

About the Firm: Jared Walker was admitted to the California bar in 2010 and earned his J.D. from McGeorge School of Law. Before turning to disability law, he litigated disputes for and against Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and professionals, including jury and bench trials and arbitrations. His practice is now devoted to Social Security disability, and his profile points to a record of reversing wrongful denials in federal court.

What sets the firm apart is that litigation background applied to the vocational side of a hearing. The firm’s site describes challenging the Social Security Administration’s vocational evidence at the hearing stage, which is where many claims turn. Walker is a member of the Sacramento County Bar Association, the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, and NOSSCR. As a solo practice, cases are handled by one attorney, so there is no larger bench to rotate in if his calendar is full.

3. Law Office of Barbara M. Jacobson

• Attorney/Key Figure: Barbara M. Jacobson, Attorney
• Headquarters: 1555 River Park Dr., Suite 206, Sacramento, CA 95815
• Phone: (916) 921-5285 or (916) 752-5997
• Website: barbarajacobsonlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, juvenile law, family law, child support, custody and visitation, divorce, government pension rights
• Firm Size: Solo practice, admitted to the California bar in 1987

About the Firm: Barbara Jacobson graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 1987, ranking 10th in a class of 131, and has practiced in California since. Her background is unusual for a disability lawyer: she holds a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and did research in cardiology and neurology at Temple University School of Medicine. The firm says that medical training helps it read and frame the medical evidence Social Security relies on. She is a member of NOSSCR and the Sacramento County Bar Association.

The office handles both initial applications and appeals, and says it will take a case to federal court. Because Jacobson also practices family law and juvenile law, disability is one of several areas rather than the only one, which can matter if you want a lawyer whose whole week is spent in the Social Security system. Her office is a short drive from downtown Sacramento.

4. Sackett & Associates

• Attorney/Key Figure: Harvey Peter Sackett, Founder
• Headquarters: 548 Market Street, Suite 38822, San Francisco, CA 94104 (serves Sacramento by phone, video, and in-person consultation as needed)
• Phone: 1-800-913-3000
• Website: sackettlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Social Security disability, SSDI, SSI, continuing disability reviews, appeals, federal court review
• Firm Size: Boutique focused entirely on Social Security disability

About the Firm: Harvey Sackett has represented Social Security disability claimants exclusively since 1980. His profile lists roughly 15,000 cases, about 10,000 ALJ hearings, and around 100 appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He holds a J.D. from Western State College of Law, is admitted to every federal district court in California, the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court, and is a past co-state chairperson of NOSSCR. He has presented at NOSSCR national conferences on vocational expert cross-examination and federal appellate brief writing.

The firm’s Sacramento page lays out its fee as 25 percent of back pay, capped at $9,200 by the Social Security Administration, with no fee unless the claim is won. The trade-off is geography: the firm’s office is in San Francisco, so Sacramento claimants work mostly by phone and video rather than walking into a local office.

5. David Allen & Associates

• Attorney/Key Figure: David Allen, Founder
• Headquarters: 5230 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95819 (additional offices in Stockton, Fremont, and Oakland)
• Phone: (916) 455-4800
• Website: davidallenlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Social Security disability, long-term disability insurance claims, personal injury
• Firm Size: Mid-size, multi-office firm founded in 1980

About the Firm: David Allen founded the firm in 1980 after working for a major insurance company, where he supervised a claims unit. That insurance-side background carries into the firm’s disability work, which covers Social Security applications, appeals, and hearings as well as long-term disability insurance claims that follow the same medical record. The firm’s site notes that most approved Social Security claims are granted at ALJ hearings, and it positions its disability lawyers around that stage.

The firm’s size is its main practical advantage: a Sacramento headquarters on Folsom Boulevard, several other Northern California offices, and staff to keep large caseloads moving. The trade-off is that Social Security disability shares the firm’s attention with a heavy personal injury practice, and at a firm this size a claimant may deal with different team members at different stages.

6. Law Office of David G. Lee

• Attorney/Key Figure: David G. Lee, Attorney
• Headquarters: 1024 Iron Point Road, Suite 100, Folsom, CA 95630
• Phone: (916) 447-7401
• Website: https://www.davidleeattorney.com/
• Practice Areas: Social Security disability, Social Security appeals, SSDI, SSI
• Firm Size: Solo practice; admitted to the California bar in 1980

About the Firm: David Lee earned his J.D. from McGeorge School of Law and was admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in 1980, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1984, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1996. His profile lists more than twenty years devoted to Social Security law.

Lee is a member of NOSSCR and of the Sacramento Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives, along with the Sacramento County Bar Association, the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, and Consumer Attorneys of California. He is described as a frequent lecturer to professional and community groups on legal issues, and his practice areas are limited to Social Security disability and appeals.

7. Tom R. Johnson, Attorney at Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: Tom R. Johnson, Attorney
• Headquarters: 865 Howe Avenue, Suite 205, Sacramento, CA 95825
• Phone: (916) 922-9902
• Website: https://forinjuryadvice.com/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, personal injury
• Firm Size: Solo practice
• Social Profiles: Profiles on Justia, Lawyers.com, and Cornell’s Legal Information Institute lawyer directory

About the Firm: Tom Johnson earned his J.D. from McGeorge School of Law in 1991 and was admitted to the bar in Arizona in 1991 and in California in 1993. He served as an adjunct professor at McGeorge in 2001 and was a Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist in Arizona from 1997 to 2002. He is a member of NOSSCR and the Sacramento Consumer Attorneys, and Sacramento Magazine listed him among top workers’ compensation lawyers from 2016 to 2018.

Johnson’s Social Security work sits alongside his injury practice, which suits claimants whose disability began with a workplace injury and who may need help on both a workers’ compensation claim and a Social Security claim. He offers free consultations, works on contingency, speaks English and Spanish, and meets clients by Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or WhatsApp. Because his practice leans toward workers’ compensation, a claimant looking for a lawyer who handles only Social Security cases may prefer a dedicated disability firm.

8. Peter E. Brixie, Attorney at Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: Peter E. Brixie, Attorney
• Headquarters: 410 12th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Phone: (916) 658-1880
• Website: https://peterbrixie.com/
• Practice Areas: Social Security disability
• Firm Size: Solo practice

About the Firm: Peter Brixie is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law and holds California State Bar number 124186. His only listed practice area is Social Security disability. He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and is a member of the Sacramento Organization of Social Security Representatives.

His downtown Sacramento office at 410 12th Street makes him one of the few disability-only practitioners on this list with a Sacramento street address rather than a Folsom, Roseville, or Bay Area one.

9. Milam Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jeffrey Milam, Owner and Operator
• Headquarters: 2325 El Camino Ave., Sacramento, CA 95821 (additional offices in Roseville, Grass Valley, Fresno, Stockton, and Modesto)
• Phone: 916-486-4245
• Website: milamlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, disabled child benefits, overpayment waivers, ERISA long-term disability referrals
• Firm Size: Boutique, founded in 1990, with a second attorney, Sengthiem Bosavanh

About the Firm: Jeffrey Milam earned his J.D. from William and Mary Law School in 1980 and worked as a Social Security attorney-advisor at the Fresno Office of Hearings Operations, working alongside administrative law judges, from 1983 to 1990. He has been a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) since 1991, and his profile lists Social Security service awards including the Commissioner’s Award for Excellence.

Milam Law handles only SSDI and SSI, and the firm offers Spanish, Lao, and Cambodian interpretation along with translation support for Hmong-speaking clients. Attorney Bosavanh is described as the first Lao attorney in the Central Valley to pass the California Bar exam. The firm has taken claims through federal district court, and the Sacramento and Roseville offices put it close to most Sacramento County claimants.

10. Hadley & Fraulob

• Attorney/Key Figure: Joseph Fraulob, Attorney
• Headquarters: 230 5th Street, Marysville, CA 95901 (regional offices serving Sacramento, Roseville, Lincoln, Auburn, Folsom, Stockton, Chico, and Redding)
• Phone: (800) 404-4458
• Website: wewinthetoughones.com
• Practice Areas: Social Security disability, SSDI, SSI
• Firm Size: Boutique with more than 40 years of Social Security practice in Northern California

About the Firm: Hadley & Fraulob has served Sacramento-area claimants for more than 40 years, and the firm says its attorneys have cross-examined hundreds of medical and vocational experts and regularly appear before the same judges in the region. Client reviews on its site consistently name attorney Joseph Fraulob as the lawyer who prepared and presented their hearings.

The firm’s clearest point of difference is a staffing policy: it says an attorney, not a non-attorney advocate, always represents you at the hearing, and it contrasts that with large national firms that send advocates who may meet the client only minutes beforehand. It also says it helps cover the cost of medical development when needed and offers telephone hearings and appointments. The trade-off is location: its headquarters is in Marysville, about 40 miles north of Sacramento, so in-person meetings in the city depend on its regional offices or scheduled visits.

Sacramento, CA Social Security Disability Resources

• Social Security Administration (SSA) – Provides information about SSDI and SSI eligibility, benefits, applications, appeals, and disability programs.
• California Department of Social Services (CDSS) – Offers information about public assistance programs and services that may support individuals with disabilities.
• California Disability Determination Service Division – Helps process disability claims and makes medical determinations for Social Security disability applications in California.
• Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance – Provides information about local assistance programs and services for eligible Sacramento County residents.
• Disability Rights California – Provides legal advocacy, information, and resources for Californians with disabilities.
• California Courts – Offers information about court procedures and legal resources that may be relevant to disability-related matters.
• SSA Office Locator – Helps individuals find Social Security offices and obtain information about available services and appointments.

Understanding Sacramento, CA Social Security Disability Court Procedures

• Application: Applicants can apply for SSDI or SSI through the Social Security Administration (SSA) and provide information about their medical condition, work history, and limitations.
• Initial Decision: The SSA reviews the claim and sends a written decision approving or denying benefits.
• Reconsideration: If the claim is denied, the applicant can request reconsideration and submit additional evidence when appropriate.
• Administrative Hearing: If reconsideration is unsuccessful, the applicant may request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), which may be conducted by video, telephone, or in person.
• ALJ Decision: The judge reviews the evidence and testimony before issuing a written decision.
• Appeals Council: An unfavorable decision may be challenged by requesting Appeals Council review.
• Federal Court: After completing the administrative appeals process, eligible claimants may file a civil action in federal district court, including the appropriate federal court serving Sacramento.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Social Security disability attorney cost in California?

Social Security disability lawyers work on contingency, so you pay nothing up front. Federal law caps the fee at 25 percent of your past-due benefits, with a dollar maximum the Social Security Administration sets and updates periodically, currently $9,200. The agency approves the fee arrangement and pays the lawyer directly from your back pay, and your ongoing monthly benefit is not reduced. Case costs such as medical records fees are typically billed separately, so ask about them at the first consultation. Sackett & Associates and Milam Law both state these terms on their websites, and Walker Disability Law and Hadley & Fraulob describe the same contingency structure.

What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?

SSDI is an insurance program funded by payroll taxes, so eligibility depends on your work history and how recently you worked. SSI is need-based and has strict income and asset limits, but it does not require a work history and can cover disabled children and adults who never worked. In California, SSI recipients generally qualify for Medi-Cal, while SSDI recipients become eligible for Medicare after a waiting period of up to 24 months. Some people qualify for both at once. Milam Law and Walker Disability Law each handle both programs, and Barbara Jacobson’s firm and Sackett & Associates do as well.

What happens if my Social Security disability claim is denied?

A denial is common on the first try, and you have 60 days to appeal at each stage. The steps are reconsideration, a hearing before an administrative law judge, review by the Appeals Council, and then a civil action in federal district court. For Sacramento-area claimants, that federal court is the Eastern District of California. Many claims are approved at the ALJ hearing stage, which is why lawyers with hearing and federal court experience, such as Jared Walker, Harvey Sackett, David G. Lee, and Elizabeth Gade of Gade & Parekh, matter most after a denial. It is also worth asking who will appear at your hearing, since Hadley & Fraulob, for example, says an attorney always does.

Where is the Sacramento Social Security hearing office, and how long is the wait?

Sackett & Associates lists the Sacramento Office of Hearings Operations at 1610 Arden Way, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95815, serving Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo counties. The firm estimates hearing waits in the Sacramento region at 8 to 18 months after a hearing request is filed. Because the wait is long, a lawyer who files the hearing request right after a reconsideration denial and keeps deadlines calendared protects your place in line and your back pay.

Can I get California State Disability Insurance (SDI) and SSDI at the same time?

Yes. California SDI is a short-term program run by the Employment Development Department, while SSDI is a federal long-term program run by the Social Security Administration, and the two agencies decide claims separately. SDI can help bridge the five-month waiting period before SSDI benefits begin, and your SDI medical records can support your SSDI claim. Approval in one program does not guarantee approval in the other, so a lawyer familiar with both can coordinate the filings.

Should I hire a solo attorney, a boutique firm, or a larger multi-office firm?

A solo attorney such as Jared Walker, Barbara Jacobson, or Peter Brixie gives you one lawyer handling your file from start to finish. A boutique focused only on disability, like Milam Law, Gade & Parekh, Hadley & Fraulob, or Sackett & Associates, adds staff who handle medical records and deadlines while keeping the practice narrow. A larger firm like David Allen & Associates offers more offices and staff but spreads attention across disability and personal injury cases. If your disability started with a workplace injury, an attorney who also handles workers’ compensation, such as Tom R. Johnson, can coordinate both claims.

Disclaimer: Featuring local legal resources in Sacramento, CA is intended solely to help individuals navigate available options for Social Security Disability claims and appeals. This list is unranked, independent, and unsponsored. Past case results, success rates, or professional designations mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Please contact the respective law offices directly to confirm current consultation availability, fee structures, and scope of practice.