Meet Social Security Disability Lawyer Derrick Jones
December 1, 2023
A spotlight on one of the attorneys who work for you at Nash Disability Law:
Disability hearing attorney Derrick Jones blazed an impressive trail on his way to arriving at our Chicago disability law firm.
A native of Louisville, Ken., Derrick graduated cum laude from the University of Louisville in 2017. Then he was a member of the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University College of Law here in Chicago.
But more impressive is Derrick’s passion for helping others.
“I find solace in leaving positive impacts on peoples’ lives,” Derrick explains. “In my opinion, it is our collective obligation to help those in our society with limited means. When we uplift others, we are uplifted as well, even if we don’t immediately feel the impact. I’m fortunate enough to sometimes get the impact immediately, as many clients express their gratitude for my and the firm’s efforts.”
As a disability lawyer at Nash Disability Law, Derrick prepares clients for their disability hearings, researches their case files to understand their impairments, crafts legal arguments to establish a legal theory of disability, and vigorously represents clients at their hearings.
Additionally, he attends to other necessary legal work that must be taken care of before and after a hearing, including corresponding with Social Security’s hearing offices, informing clients of Social Security’s decisions, and explaining the ramifications.
If a Social Security Disability case needs to be appealed after the hearing level, Derrick is still there for our clients, crafting appellate briefs.
In his free time, Derrick is as energetic as he is at work.
“I enjoy painting, spending time with my loved ones, powerlifting, watching documentaries about nature and space, and playing with my cat Myrrah,” he says with a smile.
Derrick also is active in supporting the American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Campaign. “I am passionate about improving my skills in as many aspects of my life as feasible. If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it well, but not to the point that you forget why you did it in the first place, which is to enjoy and express yourself.”
It is fitting then that when asked if there is a philosophy of life that inspires him, he cites this quote from 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli: “Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.”
Derrick goes on to say, “My aunt Alexandria said that to me once, and it really resonated with me at that time in my life. Sometimes you must make a move, even if it turns out to be the wrong one. The only true failure is stagnation, because even when you fail, you can always be better next time.”