Representing veterans and their families is all we have done since 1998, and we do it well.
One Lawyer.
Two Paralegals.
And a Handful of Assistants.
Many of the organizations that help veterans and their families are just that: organizations. Whether it’s a law firm, nonprofit, or volunteer group, it can often feel like the people handling your case are playing a game of musical chairs… one day you’re talking to one lawyer and the next day an entirely different person says they are handling your case.
We are not a big law firm. In fact, we’re not a law firm at all. Instead, we are one lawyer who has been representing veterans for more than 20 years, joined by two paralegals who have been in the field for more than 15 years. When you select us to handle your case, you can rest assured that you have an experienced team who is dedicated to representing veterans and their families. It’s all we do, and we do it well.
You’re Not Someone’s Training Wheels
When we teach children to ride a bike, we often bolt so-called “training wheels” onto the bike to make sure they don’t tip over and hurt themselves. Eventually, after the child has learned to balance the bike, we take the training wheels off and send them out on two wheels. In the field of veterans law, there are some organizations that use volunteer attorneys who haven’t practiced veterans law before, and there are some big law firms that hire globs of recent law school graduates who have never practiced law in their lives. If you chose one of these firms or organizations as your representative, it is possible that you’re getting an attorney whose only previous exposure to veterans law is a slideshow at a training event. Along similar lines, there are many attorneys who take on veterans cases who also work in another field of law, such as Social Security or personal injury. Attorneys who divide their time in this way necessarily divide their attention between different fields of law… as the old saying goes, “jack of all trades, master of none.”
Unlike some of our peers who practice veterans law in addition to other things, this is all we do. We have spent the past 20 years representing veterans and their families. Giving veterans law our undivided attention has allowed us to gain unique insights into the field, develop relationships with stakeholders inside VA, and gather a wealth of experience. When you select us as your representatives, you’re not getting an attorney who is just dipping their toe into veterans law… you won’t be our training wheels. And you’re not getting getting a giant, faceless law firm… you’re getting one attorney, two paralegals, and a handful of support staff.
Hi, I’m Sean…
You probably ended up here because the Department of Veterans Affairs denied your claim and you’re looking for someone to help you fight back. Just as you wouldn’t trust your kids with a babysitter you know nothing about, you shouldn’t trust a lawyer with your VA claim when you don’t know a thing about them. So let me tell you a bit about myself.
I grew-up in Southern California. My father was a doctor in the Air Force and then worked in private practice, while my mother took care of my brother, sister, and me. After high school, I got my BA from University of California San Diego in 1990, and my law degree from the University of Southern California in 1993.
A few years after finishing law school, a friend told me about the opportunity to represent veterans in what was then the relatively new field of veterans law. I took on my first case in 1997, took a few more the next year, and realized that this was what I wanted to do with my career. Instead of joining a law firm, I started working out of my studio apartment as a solo practitioner. After a few years, I hired my first intern, then my first fulltime employees. I even got rid of the apartment and got a real office.
In 2008 I married my wife and we relocated from DC to South Florida so she could complete her studies to become a psychologist. After she finished her degree, we decided we wanted to stay in Florida so we bought a house and adopted a cat. A few years later, our two kids came along and, after much negotiation, the cat agreed to give-up her bedroom so our son could use it.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading sci-fi books, going for bike rides, and spending absurd amounts of money to take my children to Disney World.
Education
B.A. - University of California, San Diego
J.D. - University of Southern California
Admitted to Practice Law
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
New York State Supreme Court
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Dept. of Veterans Affairs Accreditation
Danny McLaughlin
Paralegal
Hi, I’m Danny… I’m originally from Maryland, just across the border from Washington, DC. I love what Maryland does best: crab cakes and football.
I often joke I’ve never had another job because it seems like I’ve been here forever… I started working with Sean in the summer of 2006, between my freshman and sophomore years of college. My tasks were mainly opening the mail and organizing files at his small office in Washington, DC. When I graduated, I came to work for Sean and have been doing so for many years. In that time, I’ve gained a wealth of experience in the field of veterans law, and been admitted as a non-attorney practitioner in the Veterans Court. I work closely with Sean assisting our clients in achieving the maximum benefits available to them.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my growing family (one daughter with one on the way!), going to MLS soccer games, and spending time outdoors.
Jeff Gerber
Paralegal
Hi, I’m Jeff… I was born and raised in Minnesota, but I don’t talk like I’m in the movie “Fargo” (unless I’ve had too many beers).
I started out in this field as Sean’s intern, back in the days when the office was just a studio apartment. After I graduated from college, I started working with Sean full time and have been doing so ever since. Over the years I have become a VA-Accredited Claims Agent, and I am also admitted to practice in the Veterans Court as a non-attorney practitioner.
When I’m not working, I enjoy travelling, hiking, fishing, and eating anything with frosting… or just frosting by itself.