3/2021 UPDATE: Thanks to everybody who has been kind enough to work with me, to hire me as their attorney or who recommended me. After 42 1/2 years, I have now retired. As Douglas Adams once famously wrote, so long and thanks for the fish! Good things and happiness to all who read this.
Jan
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Jan Kodner is a lifelong Chicagoan. He is a graduate of Von Steuben High School. He graduated with honors from the University of Illinois with a degree in accounting in 1975. After studying the subject and finding it incredibly tedious, he vowed never to practice in that field and decided to try law school instead. He then graduated with honors from Chicago Kent College of Law in 1978.
Jan has practiced in the Social Security Disability field for over 30 years. He is a past chairman of the Chicago Bar Association Subcommittee on Social Security Law. He is also a sustaining member of the National Association of Social Security Claimant's Representatives (NOSSCR). He served as a board member of the SSI Coalition for a Responsible Safety Net. Jan has presented many talks and continuing legal education sessions at NOSSCR and CBA conferences. He is a member of the AARP Legal Plan. Jan received a Distinguished Service Award from the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation in 1997. He is on the referral panels of the AARP Legal Plan, Chicago Bar Association, Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, NOSSCR and The Ark.
Jan also served as producer and director of his children's middle school variety show from 2001 through 2004. He has written such classics as The Age of Asparagus, Under a C, Hebrew School Dropout, and Yellow Luncheon Meat. He vows to never again set foot into a middle school auditorium. He still writes ribald song parodies for friends and family, to their embarrassment.
His interests include bike riding, nature, pinball, nerdy fantasy fiction and his family.
1
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Chat withState: Illinois
Acquired: 1978
No misconduct found
RETIRED, Skokie, IL, 60077
18 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | Communication Style
Posted by Cedric | January 17, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Social Security Disability
SS Disability
When working with Social Security Disability you need to be fluent in their language when filling out documents or speaking to a representative. One attorney who’s updated on new laws and fluent in Social Security Disability language is Jan Kodner. I kept him updated on any new information that wou...
Posted by anonymous | March 18, 2014 | Social Security Disability
High-Quality Seasoned Firm!
Hiring the Law Offices of Jan L. Kodner & Associates, Ltd. far exceeded my expectations! From the beginning to the end of my case, I received high-quality representation from the seasoned attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries, and administrative staff at the firm. The firm works as a professional,...
Posted by Freddy | October 18, 2013 | Social Security Disability
Horrible!!! Do Not Use This firm!!!
This is not a firm you want to use! They're only interest is in your back pay, not YOU! Once they win your case they will only make sure their firm gets paid their payment from your back pay! Mean while you will still be waiting on your back pay for months and if you bother them about it. Mr Kodner w...
One of the more frustrating things that can happen in a Social Security case is the wait for Social Security to do its job. That is what happened in this case. As our client notes, his complaints related to getting his back benefits after we had won his case. The attorney obviously cannot issue a person's Social Security benefits (much as I would like to)---nor can we pay ourselves. Payment of benefits and attorney fees is handled by the SSA Payment Center. Sometimes the benefits are released very quickly. Other times, additional information is needed before they can release the money. After we win a disability case, we advise our clients that it usually will take several weeks for the SSA notification about their benefits. The Notice of Award will then advise the disabled person when the release is expected or if they need to obtain more information before Social Security can pay the past due benefits. Yes, the Payment Center paid us first in this case. We have no control over when they release our fees. In some cases, we do not get paid for many, many months after the client has received his benefits. As our client was very concerned, we made multiple contacts to the SSA on his behalf to try to accelerate release of his money. We absolutely kept him informed of these efforts. We never lied to him or treated him disrespectfully. He should have received his back benefits by now, less than two months after the Notice of Award was issued. Over the past 30 years, we have helped thousands of disabled clients obtain their SSD benefits. We take pride in providing the best service possible to our clients in their time of need. I am proud also to have been named the #1 Social Security attorney in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network, a peer review of lawyers ranking lawyers. If our service to our clients was as described in this review, we would not still be in business nor would we have this ranking.
Posted by William | July 25, 2013 | Social Security Disability
Review from William
I am very satisfied with my personal experience with Mr Kodner and all the staff at his law firm. I personally spoke with Mr Kodner at the very beginning and also worked with his associate. The associate I worked with was very knowledgeable and I felt assured that I was in good hands. Mr Kodner infor...
"I endorse this lawyer.Jan is an outstanding attorney in the field. He is recognized as an expert in the area. I have relied on him for advice and consult with him for his vast knowledge,"
"I endorse this lawyer. Know and worked together for over twenty five years Top in his area, honest and hard worker, Always a good result."
Workers compensation lawyer
Personal injury lawyer
2014
Preeminent 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Named #1 Social Security Lawyer in Illinois, Leading Lawyer Network
1997
Distinguished Service Award, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
1980 - Present
Owner, Jan L. Kodner and Associates, Ltd.--RETIRED
2002 - Present
Leading Lawyer's NetworkMember
1985 - Present
The ArkVolunteer Attorney
1984 - Present
National Organization of Social Security Claimants RepresentativesMember
1991 - 1992
Chicago Bar AssociationChairman of Social Security Subcommittee
Case allowed after remand and a new hearing.
Case approved after remand
Reversed and Social Security ordered to pay benefits
Reversed and remanded--benefits awarded on new hearing
Reversed and remanded. Ultimately awarded benefits.
1978
JD - Juris Doctor
1975
BS - Bachelor of Science
2013
2012
Social Security Disability
2012
2011
Social Security Disability
2008
The Essentials of Social Security Disability Law
Spanish
English
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