Every Question Counts: Building the Hearing Record with Purpose – NOSSCR 2026 Fall National Conference – Track I (Presented by National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives)

Meghan Gallo, Senior Partner | GCC Law Firm

Megan Gallo is a NOSSCR Board Member for the 8th Circuit.

• Education & Credentials

She earned her undergraduate business degree from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2010, earning Dean’s List recognition. She is licensed to practice before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Recognition & Leadership

She is recognized nationally in Social Security disability law, particularly on Step Five vocational testimony, serves on NOSSCR’s Policy and Governance Committees, and has mentored NOSSCR attorneys for several years.

• Professional Involvement

She has also been one of the leading presenters and practitioners addressing statistical deficiencies in vocational evidence.

• Experience

She is an experienced administrative and federal court attorney from Arkansas.

Alexandra Donihoo, Attorney | GCC Law Firm

Alexandra (Alex) Donihoo is an attorney with the firm, representing clients across Texas, Arkansas, and beyond. An East Texas native from Nacogdoches, Alex focuses primarily on Social Security Disability cases, guiding individuals through the administrative process with skill and compassion.

• Education & Credentials

Alex earned her undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and received her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

• Recognition & Leadership

In 2025, she was honored with the James H. McKenzie Award for Professional Responsibility and Ethics, a recognition of her commitment to integrity, client advocacy, and professional excellence.

• Experience

Alex also has experience in wage and hour law, and she is passionate about helping others and ensuring their voices are heard. Alex’s dedication to disability law is both professional and personal. Her brother has a rare birth condition that has led to numerous health difficulties, giving her a deep understanding of the challenges families face when health issues affect their lives. This personal perspective, combined with her legal background, drives her to fight for those navigating the disability system.

SESSION 1 – Every Question Counts: Building the Hearing Record with Purpose | 11:00am – 12:00pm

This session explores how claimant testimony can become a strategic advocacy tool rather than a routine checklist. Attendees will learn techniques for designing hearing questions that strengthen the administrative record, reinforce regulatory standards, support credibility findings, and preserve issues for federal appeal. The presentation focuses on tailoring examinations to individual claimants while naturally incorporating regulatory language and legal concepts into testimony. Participants will learn methods for building transcripts that closely connect testimony to medical evidence and the substantial evidence standard while refining and modernizing hearing strategy.