Getting Paid for Doing Good: Practice Pointers to Avoid Reduction in Fees – Track II (Presented by National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives)

Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Founder | Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc. CPC

Larry is a 30-year veteran of making presentations before NOSSCR and other organizations and 25 years addressing various fee issues.

• Education & Credentials

He earned his J.D. from Whittier Law School and has been licensed in California since 1985.

• Recognition & Leadership

He is a past president of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), where he also served as Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President, and is a past chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Social Security Section.

• Professional Involvement

He is a sustaining member of NOSSCR.

• Experience

He successfully argued Crawford v. Astrue, 586 F.3d 1142 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc) convincing an eleven-judge panel that the lodestar did not apply after the panel violated Gisbrecht.

Sarah H. Bohr, Partner | Bohr & Harrington, LLC

Sarah H. Bohr is an appellate attorney who has specialized in Social Security law for over 40 years and for the past 20 years, has had an appellate practice writing Social Security federal court briefs for lawyers.

• Education & Credentials

She earned her J.D. from the Antioch School of Law in 1977 and a B.A. from the College of Wooster in 1974, and was admitted in the District of Columbia and Florida in 1978.

• Recognition & Leadership

She is a past president of the NOSSCR and a current representative on the Board from the 11th Circuit and a member of its Executive Committee. She is the author of five Social Security publications and her new updated 2026 Editions addressing the Appeals Council, Rulings, Overview of Disability Law, and attorneys

• Professional Involvement

Sarah is a frequent speaker at national and regional Social Security conferences.

• Experience

She learned Social Security law while working at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. for 21 years. Sarah is most proud of her successful argument before the Supreme Court 25 years ago, in Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103 (2000).

SESSION 1 – Getting Paid for Doing Good: Practice Pointers to Avoid Reduction in Fees | 11:00am – 12:00pm

Two experienced Social Security litigators will address stumbling blocks to recovering all fees sought. Topics covered include 406(a) fees and when the expedited fee process does not apply, along with tips for successful 406(a) fee petitions. The session will also cover EAJA fees, including common objections to EAJA fees such as failure to recover on all issues, briefing time, clerical time, and seeking extensions of time. Turning to 406(b) fees, the speakers will discuss obtaining 406(b) fees without a contingent fee contract and avoiding windfall findings in 406(b) fee litigation, before closing with effective strategies for negotiating fees with SSA.