Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.

3.9 /5.0

23 Client Reviews

Avvo

3.6

(14)

Lawyers.com

4.2

(9 )

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Star rating
5 stars 9
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 5
Practice Areas
Social Security Disability (11) Bankruptcy & Debt (1) Contracts & Agreements (1) Criminal Defense (1) Lawsuits & Disputes (1) Personal Injury (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (12) Advocacy (8) Recommendation (7) Professionalism (5) General Knowledge (4) Staff & Support (4) Character & Conduct (3) Communication Style (3) Compassion (3) Practice Area Knowledge (3) Responsiveness (2) Cost of Services (1) Free Consultations (1) Trustworthiness (1)

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Professionalism

Posted by Joann | July 12, 2018 | Hired Attorney

Disability claim

My experience with Paulette was extremely positive. I was impressed with her professional and understanding demeanor. She explained the process, handled all ensuing issues and was thoroughly prepared for the court appearance which was a fully favorable decision. I recommend her highly.

Posted by Siobhan | July 21, 2017 | Hired Attorney

A Ray of Hope

After being denied disability several times I felt as if no one believed I was even injured. I was at another doctor's appointment and I overheard a woman who had a similar story like my own. After she finished talking I expressed my current circumstance. She gave me Paulette Balin's office number.... After a brief consultation my husband and I could see the energy and confidence this vibrant lawyer had. For the first time someone assured me that my injuries were valid and she was sure that she could not only help but win the case. After only a few months I received a letter from Social Security that my disability had been approved. I must have starred at this letter for days!!! I not only rejoiced and thanked God but also this wonderful lawyer who was simply a messenger sent by Him. My husband and I are eternally grateful for her giving me my life back!!! Paulette Balin is hospitable, energetic, confident and intelligent. I recommend her highly and her staff highly if you have any issues similar to mine.

Paulette Balin

Replied last July 21, 2017

Siobhan, It was a pleasure to serve you and help you get the benefits you so deserved. Thank you so much for your kind words. -PFB

Posted by matt | October 25, 2016 | Hired Attorney

they take no pride or personalism in what they do.

This attorney should should be barred from defending people for SSI. I hired this lawyer to handle my case and lost souly due to her and her so called teams unprofessional actions and poor representation.when she lost my case she didn't even have the decency to call me and explain why or give me advi...se on any other options I could of had. The day of my hearing she new nothing about my case and in 13 months of wait time she never did one peice of research on my case personally.one week before court she decided to handle my case.she wasn't even the assigned lawyer on my case until the last minute. Everything in this law firm is operated by a glorified secretary so called case manager. This lady is not personable,respectful or caring at all about you as an individual that's depending on her and her team for much needed help.they are truly only in business for the payout in they end. They take no pride in truly helping people.i rate her and her team..zero! All the way around.do not hire this law firm.

Paulette Balin

Replied last October 25, 2016

Unfortunately, your case had an unfavorable decision after its second application and the Judge assigned to your case did not see you fit for disability as we did, which is why we decided to take on the case in the first place. We did try and manage your expectations as we had to prove a worsening condition for disability from the time you worked but unfortunately could not prove that. Our firm does fight tooth and nail for all of our clients as we handle cases from the Initial Claim all the way to Federal Court and we have a copious amount of highly favorable reviews (http://www.balinlaw.com/testimonials/). I am happy to speak with you directly on this matter if you wish to discuss this further and we will take your review and your perspective into consideration with future clients we serve.

Posted by anonymous | September 27, 2016 | Hired Attorney

Neglects the case then accuses clients of faking when their disabilities prove inconvenient for the courtroom

This attorney knew next to nothing about my SSDI case and the health issues going into it, ultimately telling me I was a bad client because I couldn't hold up my head or speak up well during the hearing--both issues I had brought up with the case worker on multiple occasions leading up to the hearing.... The case worker seemed more concerned with telling me how I should fake additional limitations, such as getting up to walk around the room for whatever reason (not possible for me at that time, so it was an absurd suggestion, and I told her as much), so maybe that's why Ms. Balin assumed what she did. At the hearing, her arguments were trite and ineffectual. I have since been able to try a medicine that wasn't available to me before, and with it I've been able to review the paperwork this attorney filed for the case--she killed it, and not in a good way, putting the stress on conditions I only tangentially have dealt with rather than the ones that have actually disabled me, so I can't even take it to the next level. And it's not even a matter of my not telling her everything--I called the case worker regularly with updates, though I couldn't always get through, and my messages weren't always returned. I know now that I should have tried to change attorneys, but I didn't know if it was possible to do so and was in no position or condition to do the research on it--I was that disabled. I'm still disabled, though better off than before for now, and I'm not getting any of the support I earned because of people like her--no, she's not the only one who has let me down, but I really needed her to be in my corner. I've just lost all that time--years of my life just gone, with nothing but medical debt to show for it. And I'm just hoping for a silver lining, that maybe my doctors will start taking my conditions a lot more seriously now that they know I don't get to have that safety net I'm supposed to have.

Paulette Balin

Replied last September 27, 2016

Dear Anonymous, I am truly sorry to hear of your experience with our firm. It is our priority to believe in our clients, take on meritorious cases which we felt yours was, and help our clients every step of the way. You mention that this is not the first time you've been let down as it seems you've been let down with other firms in your past and I want to apologize that this has been such an ongoing process for you and that nothing has been resolved in your favor. Please contact me directly so we can discuss further and look at your options moving forward (440) 257-0096 Sincerely, Paulette Balin

Posted by anonymous | April 30, 2013

GREEDY LAWYER ALERT

When I initially filed my appeal for social security, the contract was for 25 percent of whatever I received in back benefits. After 6 LONG years, the case was won. Balin received 14 grand plus change taken directly out of what I was owed. Today I get papers that they are requesting AN ADDITIONAL 10 ...grand because "the case took so long ". Had they actually obtained all my medical records and forwarded them to social security in a timely fashion, as they are supposed to do, my case would've been won YEARS AGO. DON'T HIRE THIS LAWYER.

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