I would like to provide a positive testimonial for Michael Sexton and his staff. I have recently been given an In the Line of Duty Medical Disability from the Florida Retirement System. I am truly impressed with the professional, prompt and courteous treatment provided for me. I would highly recommend Avard Law for disability or Retirement issues. Thank You! Sincerely, Cynthia Yates read more

I was very disappointed We had one attorney he is very miserable does not know how to deal with people that are disabled he takes advantage of vulnerable people works with you on his time dismisses you on his time no sir we dismiss you!!! doug! read more

Awful law firm , zero communication for a year and after they lost my social security case they haven't even reached out to me about it and that was over a month ago. Do waste your time. read more

Worst team Don't waste your time and money they do not fight for you with proof and evidence You do the running around while they make you sit out and wait they're just awful!!!!! when comes court time their speechless!!! Mr Mahoney thanks for nothing!!! Almost two and a half years waiting to hear from you thank God we did not go under while waiting cuz I'm sure reading all your reviews a lot of people suffered and went under You guys don't know how to win for people who deserves to represented you gave us a mission that was impossible to complete with all evidence of my daughter's schizophrenia with autism spectrum anxiety and bipolar almost committed suicide You want me to let them sign paperwork which is impossible that was your job shame on you all! read more

Well I should have listed to the reviews. They got in touch right away to get started then after the first week I've sent several emails with info they said to send them along with some questions and haven't gotten a response back. I may have to check with someone else and withdraw from this office. read more

If you value your time, money, and sanity, avoid Avard Law Firm and Carol Avard like the plague. My experience with them from February 13, 2024, to June 5, 2024, was nothing short of a nightmare. In just four months, they managed to completely derail my SSDI case, setting it back to the point where I'm now forced to appeal to the Appeals Council just to get a hearing--a step that wouldn't even be necessary if they had done their job right. When they took my case, it was already in a precarious state. I had already gone through the reconsideration process on my own, which took a year, only to be denied. Despite this, Avard Law Firm proceeded to re-file the same appeal I had already done, wasting even more time. The worst part? They filed the wrong paperwork! When I called Social Security myself, I was told explicitly that Avard had filed the wrong documents. When I confronted the firm about this, they flat-out lied to my face, claiming they had filed the correct paperwork, just not the "one Social Security was looking for." What does that even mean? If it's not what they were looking for, it's wrong! This wasn't a simple mistake; it was gross negligence. They clearly didn't care enough to even review my case properly before filing. After I called them out, they finally filed the correct paperwork, but by then, the damage was done. They botched it so badly that my request for a hearing was filed late. Now, thanks to their incompetence, I don't even get the hearing I deserve unless I go through the Appeals Council--a highly unusual and completely unnecessary step, had they just done their jobs correctly. I've been battling this case since July 2020, and this has been the worst experience by far. To think that in just four months, Avard Law Firm didn't just fail to move my case forward--they actually ruined it. Their handling of my case was so reckless that it's hard to believe they are still in business. Thankfully, I'm now under new representation, and I can only hope they can undo some of the damage Avard Law Firm has caused. Save yourself the agony and choose a different law firm. Avard Law Firm is a disaster waiting to happen read more

After their "firm" completely ruined my case, over the course of four months to the point where I had to fire them after no movement and actually regression in my case, the newest update (11-11-24) is I called the "firm" and they won't drop their fee that takes over 25% of my backpay, even though they again ruined my case COMPLETELY. So now I have to appeal to the judge (as if this process isn't stressful enough and it's already gonna take months to get a hearing ) to get them to drop the fee. Such a slap in the face. You ruined my case to the point where I had to fix it and is now refusing to drop your fee, even though this "firm" regressed my case...Yeah stay far away from them. read more

Never ever hire this firm. After two years of them as my so called attorney. They did nothing for my social security case. I gave them all my information and doctors information. They did not submit it to social security. I finally had a hearing after 2 years and 6 months of telling them to drop the case because I had to go back to work to somewhat survive. I told them to drop it. My attorney there told me I was a flat out liar. I called them multiple times to drop it. He told me they record all phone call which it apparently a lie or dismiss them. He was the biggest AH I've ever dealt with in my life. I continue to be sick and work because of them I have to. I could go on with it but want to call it another day being sick and disabled. I give minus a million stars read more

A very bad law firm they left my son paralyzed and after 6 years they didn't want to help him they request to please get off this case then took order of protection against a paralyzed boy and his parents very bad people read more

If I could give less than 1 star, I would. I have never been treated so poorly by a 'professional'. I was yelled at, cut off and Carol Avard hung up on me during a telephone appointment. She is a disrespectful, nasty woman. She would not allow me to correct her when she was wrong regarding my medical history/work history. She lost her temper with me and said I was a liability in court because 'you might act like this in front of the judge'. She is the liability. But I guess that's how we treat Veterans these days. Stay away from this place if you're a veteran. They cost me a year of appeal time and possibly my SSDI claim. read more

Please do yourself a favor and do not choose these attorneys. Anyone else would probably be better. First of all the communication is terrible. You will only talk to an attorney in the beginning at consult and before hearing. Don't bother calling to talk to an attorney with questions because they won't let you talk to one. They withhold medical information and do not rebuttal the vocational expert at your first hearing so they can throw the case and drag it out longer so they get more of your retro pay. My case went on for 3 years and 4 months. The judge was so upset with the attorney and his unethical behavior that I only got 7 months of retro pay and I finally, just now after having to file bankruptcy and acquiring an enormous pile of medical bills, will start receiving monthly disability payments. read more

Do not use this firm. I had a 10am appt on Thursday Oct 17, 2019 with attorney Craig Polhemus about my SSA remand case and related malpractice lawsuits. However at 10am, Mr Polhemus was not available, so this firm had me talk to a legal assistant named Denys Beecher who was not prepared for the call. He hadn't read the successful Appeal brief that I wrote, which the Appeals Council found compelling enough for them to remand my case. He also hadn't read the letter I wrote to Carol Avard that included two discs -- one disc had my SSA record and the other one had the audio recording of the ALJ hearing for which I was successful in getting this judge removed from my case. Furthermore, I asked Carol Avard to represent me in lucrative malpractice lawsuits, and this legal assistant knew nothing about malpractice. This firm is very sloppy and unprofessional Again, I do not recommend. read more

I would choose less than 1 Star if it were an option. I'm not sure how they stay in business. There is no procedure in place to have a phone call returned. The office states your case manager has 24 hours. I'm still waiting and it's been 4 weeks. I went in for an initial consultation and spoke with an attorney. I followed up the following week with necessary paperwork. After 2 months I called for any update. After the case manager called back several days later I hadn't heard from anyone in 4 months. So I called 4 weeks ago, expressed my dissatisfaction, and am still waiting for that follow up call. I have a fairly straightforward case. I just choose the wrong attorneys. Please don't make the same mistake I did. Financially you will be ruined before someone returns your call. So sad. read more

When ever I've needed serious legal advice Carol Avard and her team have been there for me and my family. I'm very grateful for their advice and professionalism. read more

I used Avard Law recently for a personal injury case and they were great the whole way through. The case was specifically for my wife who was injured due to negligence on behalf of a property manager, and Avard took the time to hear the whole story, gather the needed statements and documentation, medical records, etc. They were very straightforward about everything, told us what to expect and what we could face in trying to win the case and managed the mediation well enough to help us avoid actually going to trial. I would definitely recommend their attorneys to anyone needing legal help after and injury of really any type. read more

Where to start this is the most unprofessional Social Security lawyer I've ever experienced they make their clients feel like they are bothering them if you called to ask a question they do not contact you for six months to a year between each phone call they only call you if they need something they never called to check up or see how things are going if you have any questions they make it seem like you're bothering them they give short one word answers my application fell through the cracks that was their words but I called Social Security and they informed me that my application was about to expire and nobody answered them back and I found them that I had a lawyer and they said well your lawyers not keeping up with your paperwork we requested a paper and if we don't receive it back within a few more days we're going to have to close your keys so I had to call the lawyer and get them out to get the ball rolling again which I should not have to do if I would have let that go my application would have expired and I would had to start the process over again please do yourself a favor and avoid this attorney they are very rude and the case manager or whoever Sheila is a very rude lady she think she knows law and she does not she makes up things to make herself sound right and she is completely wrong rude and ignorant do yourself a favor and avoid them read more

I will not sugar coat this review. I chose Avard Law firm to represent me in Social Security Disability case. As with any law firm it is on the client to provide any documents that are necessary for your case. If you don't know what is needed then ask. I did my research and followed the blue book guide that the government dictates rules and requirements. It's open to the public. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION as I stress this point. This is your case so you must be proactive. I and Kim Cook handled my file and we were very proactive. Kim took all of my calls and answered questions with directions. Michael Sexton is the attorney that represented me. When I was giving my appeal hearing I listen closely at the hearing to the Administrate Law Judge Charles Arnold as he complimented Mr. Sexton on his findings and exhibits. At points Mr. Sexton did push issues and Judge Arnold did make note. Judge Arnold did challenge Mr. Sexton and which had the answer immediately in the exhibits. Now I wait for the next process. Thank you to the entire staff for the time and effort each of you put forth. read more