Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Foster.
Jennifer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I had a patient get into distress and called her doctor about it. Heart rate > 200. Respirations >40. She was dying.
Doctor said for me to tell her to calm down. I asked him to repeat it. He did. (At the time I was not a lawyer, just an RN with an associate degree.)
I wrote it as an order. (Hospital attorneys will tell you to never write this kind of thing down.) I faxed it to the pharmacy, so they’d have a copy of it. (I knew he would come in the morning and put that page down the shredder.)
Obviously, I won’t leave my patient in distress and called another doctor. He told me to call the first guy. I told him what the first guy said. He was incredulous but gave me orders to implement to save her life.
I stayed with her my entire shift. (She was only 42 years old.) Before I left that morning, she thanked me for saving her life. Ordinarily, I’m humble about that as it is just part of my job. But this time, I told her, “Yes, I did. And if you’d had an inexperienced nurse, you wouldn’t be here. But if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going after him.” She laughed. I didn’t.
Three weeks later, she died. I went to her funeral, and thought, I’ve made a death bed promise. Now what?
Even as a non-lawyer, you know killing is illegal. I couldn’t kill him. So, I had a brilliant idea. In a Legally Blonde, Elle Woods manner, I thought, I’ll just go to law school. How hard can it be? My intent was to just follow him. He’s chronically negligent.
So:
I got a bachelors degree.
Took the LSAT.
Sold my house and moved across the state.
Attended law school for four years (I went to a night school so that my child (then 3) wouldn’t have to go to daycare.
Took the Bar exam.
About my third year in, my friends from the hospital notified me that this doctor’s entire world imploded.
I felt like God did a much better job than I ever could have. God stopped the harm before it could be done. My approach meant that he had already harmed someone.
So, I pivoted to Social Security disability. It’s a great marriage between medicine and the law. I’ve owned my own practice since 2008. Every win, I remember my patient and thank her by name. I’ve helped thousands of people get the benefits they deserve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s a pipeline business. The Social Security disability process can take up to 3 years or longer. Since my fees are contingent, I don’t get paid until I win. Initially, I was growing at a rapid pace, but nothing was coming in. I relied on my income as a nurse to float the bills, until the pipeline was full.
There have been regulation changes that have made this process much more difficult.
Also, just the nature of the job can be heartbreaking. My folks have worked their entire lives and now truly can’t work. Watching their financial struggle on top of their health problems is crushing at times.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I focus solely on Social Security disability. I’m strict about the clients I take on, because I truly only want the ones who are really disabled on these benefits. I’ve been called everything from the Iron Gate, Angel of Death, and the Dr. House of the disability world by judges that I go in front of.
Most folks come to me because I’m a Registered Nurse who just so happens to also be an attorney. Folks trust nurses but don’t always trust attorneys. They appreciate that I have medical knowledge coupled with extensive knowledge of Social Security disability law. I’m honored and humbled that they trust me and work very hard to not let them down.
I can take their case at any level. I don’t need them to be denied, before I can jump in to help. I genuinely care about my clients and love that they find me approachable. I offer a free monthly Social Security Disability 101 seminar at the Cedar Bluff Library branch. It’s so very important to me that our community has the information they need in order to navigate this process.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I have a “joy detector.” I’m able to find joy in almost any situation. I am a person of faith and can see God’s hand on my life, my family, and my career.
My children are so very precious to me and keep me young. I have four children plus a bonus daughter (daughter-in-law). 26, 21, 15, and 10.
I also love hiking, cooking, and traveling. I’m a gym rat and love pushing my body and my mind to their limits. I love competing in endurance events (Tough Mudder, Mammoth March, Spartan.)
Pricing:
- My fees are contingent (I only get paid when I win.)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.disability.esq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tndisabilitylaw
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-foster-lawyer-nurse-advocateforthedisabled
