

About Me
I graduated law school in 2008 and was admitted to the State Bar of California later that year. I worked for three years as an attorney for a large social security disability law firm in Los Angeles, CA. I handled all aspects of social security disability claims from the initial application through the Appeals Council. I trained other attorney and non-attorney staff and reviewed potential cases for acceptance. I developed tools to analyze the firm's success rates based on specific evaluative factors to determine which cases had the best likelihood of being awarded and to identify the best way to present cases at hearing.
I have been working as a contract attorney for 9 years, representing clients at hearings and drafting prehearing briefs, On the Record requests and Appeals Council briefs. In 2015 I was admitted to the Washington State Bar. I live in Seattle, WA with my family where I continue to perform contract work for various social security disability firms throughout the nation.
I will use my extensive experience and expertise in social security disability law to assist you with your case preparation.
Work Experience
2022 - Present
The Law Offices of Heather Bradford Runkel
2013-2022
Contract Attorney
2010-2013
Disability Group, Inc.
Help social security disability law firms and practitioners review, analyze and prepare their client's title 2 and title 16 claims for hearing. Draft prehearing briefs, On the Record requests and Appeals Council briefs.
Contracted with social security disability law firms to represent claimants at their social security disability hearings. Contracted with social security disability law firms to draft prehearing briefs, OTR's and Appeals Council briefs.
Represented claimants before ALJs all over the country; drafted case summaries, prehearing briefs, OTR's, Appeals Council briefs, and post-hearing summaries; established case acceptance criteria based on analysis of case results; and supervised non-attorney and attorney staff in case preparation and analysis.
Education
2005-2008
Juris Doctorate
Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law
2002-2004
University of Utah
2000-2002
Utah Valley State College
Bachelors of Science
Associates Degree
Bar Admissions
Washington State Bar
State Bar of California
Admitted 2015
Admitted 2008