Starskynight,
I got denied once, and after that denial I used a firm that was on TV, social security advocates, they advertized themselves as. I heard nothing for about 8 months, I finally got fed up with calling this firm and just speaking with customer service reps and never actually speaking to the lawyer ever. So I got a referral to see a lawyer who I knew had a proven track record, word of mouth that he was good. I met personally with him, we told him we were about 4 months out and we'd be losing our home, he told me he'd get me in front of a judge before that happened. and sure enough he did do that for us. I was denied in the first place with a ridiculous reason from SS. I say to get that lawyer hired before you get to the stage where you'll need to provide all your medical records for the hearing with the judge. it took months and months for my T office to get the lawyer's office all the paperwork they needed. so slow... so my advice is to get the ball rolling as fast as you can with gathering all the documents a judge will want to see.