Our experience with Tennessee and Southeast Social Security disability claims
With almost 35 years of experience working with injured and disabled clients throughout the Southeast – from Georgia to Texas, Tennessee to Florida – our co-founding attorney, Harry Joseph Smith, has established a proven and respected record of service. Harry has been recognized as among the top 100 lawyers in Tennessee numerous times, and he puts his knowledge and a commitment to client service to work for people throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and the Southeast.
Harry and our other co-founding partner, William J. Cockett, provide our clients with 60 years of combined experience that builds the foundation of our office. With a culture focused on providing friendly and reliable service to people, our attorneys work to help clients find smart solutions to difficult legal problems.
We are proud to be recognized throughout the Southeast as a well-respected and experienced advocate for clients seeking Social Security disability benefits. Our Social Security team led by Harry helps disability claimants understand when they should apply for Social Security benefits and when they need the support of an experienced lawyer. We work to get you the benefits you deserve.
From our Mountain City and Kingsport, Tennessee offices, we represent Social Security claimants throughout the Southeast. Our clients come from Tennessee, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast. We have a proven record of success and only charge you attorneys’ fees when we collect.
We accept claims at all stages – whether at application, first appeal, second appeal, or hearing pending. We also have significant experience in handling appeals in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. We understand that the Social Security disability process can be complicated and frustrating, and we work hard to insulate you from as many of its challenges as possible.
Our experience:
Harry Joseph Smith
Harry Joseph Smith is the lead Social Security disability partner at Smith & Cockett. Harry has been practicing disability law since 1976. He joined Smith & Cockett in 1980. He has been recognized as among the top 100 lawyers in Tennessee numerous times, and he puts his knowledge and a commitment to client service to work for disability claimants in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and throughout the Southeast.
Harry received his B.A., magna cum laude, from East Tennessee State University in 1973, and his J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law in 1976. Harry has served as the City Attorney for the town of Mountain City, Tennessee.
He is admitted to practice law in Idaho, Tennessee and in the U.S. Federal Court.
Bar Admissions:
Idaho, 1976
Tennessee, 1977
U.S. Federal Court, 1976
Education:
Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina
J.D. (Cum Laude) – 1976
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) – 1973
Representative Cases:
Hayes v. Secretary of Health, Ed. and Welfare, 656 F.2d 204 (C.A.6 (Tenn.) 1981)
Stewart v. Heckler, 730 F.2d 1065 (C.A.6 (Tenn.) 1984)
Representative Clients:
Industrial Development Board of Johnson County, Tennessee
References:
Johnson County Bank
Elizabethton Federal Savings and Loan
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Town of Mountain City, City Attorney, 1982 – 1984
Legal Services of Upper East Tennessee, 1982 – 1984
Location:
Mountain City, Tennessee office
247 West Main Street
Mountain City, Tennessee 37683
Phone: 423-392-0100
Toll-free: 877-302-8665
Fax: 423-727-2571
E-mail: E-mail me
Chad A. Napier
Chad A. Napier is an associate in our Kingsport office. His practice focuses primarily on Social Security disability law.
Chad graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1998, where he received his B.A. in Political Science. He later attended Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia where he received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2006.
Chad is admitted to practice law in Tennessee and in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee.
Bar Admissions:
Tennessee, 2001
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 2004
Education:
Appalachian School of Law, Grundy, Virginia
J.D. (Magna Cum Laude) – 2006
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
B.A. – 1998 (Major: Political Science)
Location:
Kingsport, Tennessee office:
224 Colonial Heights Road
Kingsport, Tennessee 37663
Phone: 423-392-0100
Toll-free: 877-302-8665
Fax: 423-392-0400
E-mail: E-mail me
Sarah E. Lawson
Sarah E. Lawson joined Smith and Cockett as an associate in the spring of 2006.
A native of Rogersville, Tennessee, Sara graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2001, where she received her B.A. in History, cum laude. Sarah attended Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and received her J.D. in 2005. While at Cumberland, Sarah spent summers working and studying law abroad in the United Kingdom. She was an active member of Women in Law and the Constitutional Society.
Sarah is the current Delinquent Tax Attorney for Mountain City and Johnson County, and has served as judicial referee for Johnson County.
She is admitted to practice law in Tennessee and in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee.
Sarah practices Social Security disability law in addition to estate planning, probate matters and collection matters.
Bar Admissions:
Tennessee, 2006
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 2008
Education:
Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
J.D. – 2005
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
B.A. (Cum Laude) – 2001 (Major: History)
Honors: Dean’s List
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Johnson County Bar Association, Member, 2006 – Present
Location:
Mountain City, Tennessee office
247 West Main Street
Mountain City, Tennessee 37683
Phone: 423-392-0100
Toll-free: 877-302-8665
Fax: 423-727-2571
E-mail: E-mail me
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If you think we can we can help you with your Social Security disability claim, please complete the form to the right or contact us at:
Smith and Cockett
Southeast disability attorneys
E-mail us
Mountain City office:
247 West Main Street
Mountain City, Tennessee 37683
Local: 423-727-7913
Toll-free: 877-302-8665
Kingsport office:
224 Colonial Heights Road
Kingsport, Tennessee 37663
Local: 423-392-0100
Toll-free: 877-302-8665
