Social Security and state disability practice in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, DC

Elkind & Shea has been established to serve the needs of those who are in need of disability benefits. The practice of disability law is very complicated and requires careful attention to changing law and practices of private insurers and government agencies, especially the Social Security Administration. This narrow focus allows our attorneys to provide our clients with the highest quality representation, information and advice concerning their rights to disability benefits. Our attorneys have successfully handled thousands of disability cases and have the requisite skill and experience to assist in any disability benefits case.

Although the firm concentrates its Social Security and state disability practice in the jurisdictions of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia, its attorneys have engaged in long term disability work (private and ERISA) throughout the United States.

The firm works with clients to construct fee structures to suit their needs and abilities to pay. Depending on the case, we may be able to offer a retainer agreement on a contingent or hourly basis, or even a combination of both.

Let us discuss with you how we can protect your legal rights. Our phone and e-mail consultations are free.

Scott possesses an extensive and unusual educational background. Prior to attending law school, he received a Bachelors of Science in Biology, with honors, from Union College, Schenectady, NY, in 1987, followed by a Masters of Forensic Sciences from George Washington University in 1989. Scott began litigating personal injury matters upon his graduation from Catholic University Law School in 1992. Scott devotes the vast majority of his practice to the representation of persons wrongfully denied disability benefits.

Scott is a founding attorney of the Social Security Disability Law Section of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), and served as the Chair of the Section in 1999-2000. He continues to serve on the Executive Board of the Section. Scott also serves as the Co-Chair for the Social Security Disability Section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and has served as the Legislative Representative for the Section for several years.

Scott is a frequent lecturer on the topic of disability benefits before both large and small groups. He has also authored many articles on related topics. He is called upon by practitioners and bar associations nationwide to lend his advice concerning many topics in disability benefits law and related issues. You can view a partial list of Scott's presentations, articles and political activities by clicking here.

Scott is a pet enthusiast who enjoys the companionship of both domesticated and exotic creatures. Scott also enjoys scuba diving and playing baseball and basketball, in addition to keeping up on his reading, which includes many unusual forensic topics.

Scott, in his working environment
with his weird vertical keyboard

Dah dum, dah dum...

Scott's "Wall of Shame"

BACK TOP

Steve Shea

Steve grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and received an A.B. degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1983, where he majored in political science and minored in mathematics. He rode an airplane for the first time in August 1983, when he flew to Washington, DC, to attend the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1986. He began working on disability cases in 1984, as a law clerk in a firm in College Park, Maryland, where he worked as a law clerk, associate attorney, and partner, respectively, for over 17 years. He has experience in a broad range of civil cases, including worker's compensation, personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, estates, contracts, domestic, landlord and tenant, and, of course, social security. Steve left his former firm in April, 2002, to form Elkind & Shea, where he handles social security cases, particularly appeals, exclusively.

Steve is an avid sports fan, and is still waiting for the Red Sox to overcome the "Curse of the Bambino" and must suffer through Scott's incessant taunting concerning his beloved New York Yankees. His interests include softball, basketball, and photography, and he can often be found running from the night drop box at the United States District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland on his way to evening softball games.

Note from Scott:
Despite the two Red Sox World Series Victories, Steve remains the consummate New Englander who lives in fear of the "Curse of the Bambino," whereas Scott, the ever-optimistic New Yorker, waits impatiently for the resurgence of the Yankees and gloats about the recent Giants victory.

The stark contrast that is Steve's office.

Maybe some day Steve will put up some of these.

Our Friendly Office Mascot	A Lineup of Insurance Overpayment Collectors	Uncle Boris is Living Large
We Are All Heart	Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall, Who Is the Scariest Disability Attorney of Them All?	Our Crack Team of Legal Investigators
Leading Insurance Lawyers	Added Insurance For Those Trouble Cases	We Get Your "Thank You" Letters Every Day
Our clients feel like this all the time	Our tribute to "the conflict" (NYY v. BOSOX)	Want some candy?
A couple of insurance investigators	Scott and Steve with the ones that did not get away	So good, we memorialized the quote
Yeh, we got your files right here!	Oh, do we love reading about this stuff	Another insurer conference
I think I need a bigger office	Claim review roundtable	Never leave home without them
Opposing counsel prayer	Some of Scott's personal philosophies	Another tribute to Scott
We love fan mail	Another unusual client gift. (It's real)	And even more files

"Mr. Elkind is ranked as one of the top 25 attorneys in the country that practice in the ERISA field."

-Smith v. Continental Casualty Co., 289F. Supp.2d 706 (D.MD. 2003)