Susan Michele Schaefer

Susan Schaefer is a licensed, multi-jurisdictional attorney with more than 30 years of professional experience. Her background spans civil and criminal trial practice, disability law, and a decades-long career with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Her SSA field experience includes work at Disability Determination Services and the Office of Hearings Operations, where she served as a Hearing Office Director, Supervisory Attorney, and Senior Attorney.

Ms. Schaefer also brings extensive legal and policy experience from SSA National Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, where she served as Deputy Director, Branch Chief, and Technical Expert. She developed medical and vocational policy rules and regulations and contributed to major SSA initiatives, including the Listing of Impairments Update and Vocational Rules Modernization. She frequently conducted training and delivered presentations to stakeholders within and outside the agency. SSA recognized her service with numerous awards for excellence, including citations from the SSA Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

As a partner at Cardea Law Group, Ms. Schaefer concentrates her practice on Social Security disability, VA disability, estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate administration. She is an empathetic, client-centered advocate who provides legal services tailored to each client’s goals.

A Prattville, Alabama, resident, Ms. Schaefer supports the growth and improvement of her community. She has provided pro bono representation through The Veterans Consortium and projects sponsored by the Alabama Bar Foundation and the American Bar Association.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

• Alabama Bar
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of Alabama
• Indiana Bar 
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
• U.S. Veterans Administration Accreditation

Professional Associations

• Alabama State Bar, Member

Memberships

• Mid Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (MACH), Member

Presentations

• “Evaluation of Symptoms in Disability Claims, Social Security Ruling 16-3p”, Chronic Fatgue Advisory Committee (2016 Washington, DC)
• “Drug Addiction and Alcoholism (DAA) with Co-Occurring Mental Disorders”, SSA Continuing Medical Education (October 2015 Baltimore, MD)
• “Drug Addiction and Alcoholism (DAA) and Disability”, National Association of Disability Representatives (March 2014 Washington, DC)

Michael Lopez

Michael Lopez is a partner at Cardea Law Group. Admitted to the Indiana bar in 1990, he has extensive experience as a general practice lawyer. He is relied upon by clients for his skill in strategic case development, and assists in the compilation of critical evidence in support of a favorable case resolution.

His primary practice is in administrative law, including Social Security and VA disability. He provides assistance to clients filing an initial application and secures them access to each level of appeal. 

Professional Licenses and Accreditation

• Indiana Bar
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
• Certificate, Harvard Law School. Program of Instruction for Lawyers

Contact Us

Reach out by phone or text at 334-440-6261. We would be happy to talk to you about your case.