Martindale Awards
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Client Champion Platinum is awarded to lawyers/firms with at least 10 reviews, with an average score of 4.5 or higher.
Reviews (100)
They were courteous and responsive to my needs. They were great about returning calls, and made the SSDI process painless.
2018/10/01
Caring, efficient, and knowledgeable service sums it up regarding the folks at Heard and Smith. If you have a qualifying disability, like I did, they will fight your case in an efficient manner. I received my...
2017/12/27
I was very impressed by this law firm. They not only won my case but to my surprise, I received a call from the attorney who assisted me with getting my Medicare benefits as well as a plan with Cigna. I am really...
2024/09/19
I just want to thank all the great reps and and the lawyer for really helping me with my case and being so pleasant every time i talked to someone. Everyone was kind and asked questions to make sure they got things...
2021/02/26
Heard and Smith helped my mom and aunt get their disability benefits. Amazing law firm! I definetly reccomend them!
2020/03/18
Due to the stress from my substantial loss of income, I was a very difficult person to deal with. Downright nasty a couple of times. The firm handled me with grace, professionalism, and kindness. And you succeded...
2019/06/29
I was denied 3 times I finally got a lawyer and this firm got me approved with back pay in 3 months without having to see a judge, I was floored by there efficiency.
2019/05/22
I have applied for my SSI Disability because I've been Medically from my job, which I worked for 26 years and 4 months. I am not able to work dur to 4 major back surgeries, the last 2 with bolts, screws and a rod....
2018/11/02
I was directed to them from an online form I had filled out.Contacted them and set up appeals process.Didnt do any research before I agreed. Started to see all the negative reviews later on down the road and was...
2016/04/27
I am still a client with Smith & Heard L.L.P but thus far their customer service is outstanding. The timely response with no long waiting periods is what makes a customer feel at home.The knowledge shared at the...
2015/09/25
I was very impressed with this law firm. I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone who needs a disability lawyer.
2013/09/09
I contacted Heard and Smith about filing my disability claim. Within 10 minutes I received a phone call. We immediately did an interview and they sent out all necessary paperwork for me to fill out. The firm keeps...
2013/05/30
Working with Heard & Smith for approval of my Social Security Disability claim was surprisingly easy and did not take as long as I was concerned it might take. They were always available for questions and for...
2012/10/28
They are an excellent law firm. It didn't matter who you spoke with there, everyone was very helpful and resourceful.
2012/03/26
They are wonderful people and have been seeing us through this trial tremendously very reliable.
2011/06/05
The people were so nice.They treated my like a person and not just a client. Everyone was great.
2011/06/01
Once my case was taken, it was resolved within months. The price paid for these services was known from the beginning, not a percentage. It was very reasonable.
2010/08/27
Awesome law firm. Heard and Smith are polite, sincere, honest, and very efficient in the cases they handle. I was astonished and amazed at the treatment and effectiveness in which Mr. Jones handled my case. I was...
2019/07/14
This firm aided me in receiving my Social Security Disability benefits easily and quickly. I knew exactly what fees would be applied and was very pleased with the dollar amount. They did not overcharge or burden me...
2012/07/22
I was recommended to them by a friend I met while going through workman's comp case. The company stood up to her compliments. All questions answered in a timely manner, all calls returned same. Clarification of...
2011/07/12
Very knowledgeable in state laws and very informative on differences between different types of programs like living trust and etc. Very good service with an excellent paralegal who was very helpful.
2011/01/25
I am in the process of using their services. So far they have been very responsive
2011/09/28
Customer service in general is good but some reps were slow and seemed lost or confused.
2011/08/19
The client services section have always been prompt and courteous when I have to call them with updated material. They also are very quick to return calls. You always speak with a live person (very important to...
2011/07/08
They got me approved very quickly. I have recommended them to a friend of mine that needs to get on Social Security also.
2011/04/14
They could have kept me better informed as to the process. I heard nothing from them for months at a time, making me believe they weren't doing anything.
2010/10/02
I won my case with them, and the 25% legal fee was suppose to be taken out of my Social Security Disability Check before I received it. I got my check and a year later, I get a notice that I owe them $2,000...
2013/08/12
There is an extreme lack of communication. I receive an occasional email or form letter
2013/10/17
I can't give them a poor rating, because they really didn't do much. However, when I decided to switch to a lawyer closer to home, I asked them for a letter stating they were no longer representing me. Seven days...
2013/10/15
I feel that they lack concern for their clients. I only talked to an attorney once before my hearing. They had been employed by me for 7 months.
2013/10/10
Communication by phone and e-mail. I sent initial evaluations from my healthcare providers and it appears I am to continue to provide information. I do not know if they have contacted my healthcare providers. ...
2011/01/11
At first they were pretty good at letting us know what was going on , then they slowed down for some reason.
2012/05/27
I think that I should have gotten a lawyer in my own city instead of so far away and I think they should have declined me for the same reason. I think if we were in the same city, we could connect at least once...
2011/04/22
Initially I felt they provided great service. Then as I needed help filling out forms I felt they dropped the ball responding too late to help me.
2012/06/19
I was extremely dissatisfied with the services rendered from this firm. You never speak to John R Heard or any other lawyer for that matter to the very end/Hearing stage. It is all handled administratively or by...
2018/10/11
Heard and Smith has very poor communication skills and is not very organized in their office procedures. It took them over 2 months to forward a questionnaire from SSD to me, which was over the 10 day time allowed...
2013/08/12
Hired Heard and smith and it took 2 years to get a court date and just before my hearing I was in hospital over my heart in critical condition and my Dr wrote a letter stating I was disabled. The Attorney sent...
2022/01/16
His law firm handled our daughter's SSI case, my SS Disabiliy case & hers had to go to the 3rd attempt,then trial.I listened to our daughter's representation legally, completely void of pertinent information! I...
2011/09/02
I didn't receive any notice from my attorney as far as updating what the status of the case.
2011/02/02
I just called because I had questions about marriage and the legalities that it might have on me receiving SSI. The man that answered the phone was harsh and very unfriendly. Wouldn't even let me speak.
2019/10/18
Shared all the info I was suppose to. Then lawyer show's up with none of my information and didn't even have the name of my doctor. Then dropped me before my appeal because they messed up my information. Had to...
2019/10/11
The office never returns client phone calls until the time in which an attorney is specifically handling your case to go to court. I have had several complaints on several employees and was sent to the supervisors...
2012/09/22
WARNING RUN AWAY He showed up to the hearing he was an M he yelled at me from the beginning tell me not to tell the judge anything and He did basically nothing and I lost my case after waiting 5 years he’s crap
2024/12/02
Heard and Smith tried to do my SSDI case for chronic cancer. initially communication was good with the 1st attorney Later, they could not get my medical records. I did it for them. Then the attorney changed. Still...
2024/06/30
My representation was changed twice and they filed without submitting my medical records. On my final appeal the lawyer I had was very casual and sounded as if he was just tuning me out. I had a surgeon almost kill...
2024/01/19
If I had the option of 0 stars, I would opt for that! Very sad to see that this law firm 'specializes in elderly and disability' cases. Why don't they just state the obvious? That they steal money from the elderly...
2024/01/18
THEY ARE LIARS AND WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO SABOTAGE YOU AND YOUR CASE. DO NOT USE THIS FIRM... Reading other reviews I noticed I'm not the only one that was screwed over by them. THEY DO NOT FIGHT FOR YOU. They...
2023/06/17
WARNING: The law firm lost my case and then dropped me as a client. Despite hiring them to represent me, they failed to win my case and ultimately decided to end their services. As a result, I was left without...
2023/04/25
I am not satisfied at all. I have been a client since 2018 and I never spoke with an attorney until about a week before my hearing. He did not have my relative medical information and all the dates he did have were...
2020/04/28
Use any attorney other than heard and smith. The worst attitude and willing ness to do their job ! At the end of my case the money was wrong and h&s said well go fix it ... did nothing but say “ dont care were...
2019/08/12
Horrible service, they take you as a client and make you sign a contract then drop you before your court date , then if you post a review about there service they get arrogant and say your not worthy of there...
2018/05/22
Poor communication, waited till the last minute on everything, would not respond to complaints/questions. As the client, patient I felt completely in the dark. Did not have complete files at court, costing me in...
2015/06/09
This Firm is here solely for the money. What a let down! I was approved only due to me calling SSA and working with them. Its like I am dealing with a bunch of interns who don't know or care about anything expect...
2014/04/23
These guys sucked. They couldn't even get the medical records to the hearing on time. The judge was kind enough to hear the case again 8 months later. I guess this is heard and smiths answer to a dire needs...
2013/12/05
My wife and I were very disappointed with this law firm. We expected them to work hard on our behalf, so that we may obtain disability. We felt as if we were left in the lurch.
2012/03/15
Heard & Smith were representing me in my disability case. After receiving a denial letter from my hearing I received word from H&S saying that they would no longer represent me, they gave no explanation.
2021/03/13
John is the best Social Security Lawyer in the country. He has established a great office staff who cares about clients and works hard on their cases. John has helped many of my clients and I always get great...
2010/06/05
his office took immediate action on my sons disability appeal. Every phone call was returned in a timely manner, staff did not talk down to us and the representation at the appeal by Mr Brown was excellent. I have...
2010/11/01
Over 20 years ago, My mother suffered long without a income, but after Mr. Heard got a dear friend mother SSN benefits and she referred him to me for my mother it seem like those long years of Mother suffering...
2015/05/27
This has been a trying time for myself and my family but I thank all of your team for being ther for me. I am just so glad this is over. I will definitely recommend Heard and Smith to my friends and family.
2018/10/23
My attorney made sure I clearly understood everything he presented to me. Shortly after meeting with him the day of court, the judge asked ro have a brief meeting with him. He excused himself for the meeting, upon...
2018/10/30
It's really frustrating knowing you have a valid claim, but the lawyer sometimes doesn't put a robust case together, for whatever reason; Atty. Heard and his staff came through and won my case; 4 years back pay...
2019/08/28
From my consultation until my SSD approval, Heard & Smith has been hard working and very diligent with my case. They remained in contact with me the whole time. I never doubted that my outcome would be anything but...
2020/07/01
