J. Robert Surface holds a distinction that few disability attorneys in South Carolina can claim: before representing claimants, he worked inside the federal Social Security Administration system, adjudicating the same type of disability cases he now handles on behalf of clients. That institutional background, combined with over four decades of legal practice, defines the Surface Law Firm’s approach to Social Security disability, veterans disability, and appeals work.
Overview
The Surface Law Firm is a South Carolina-based legal practice focused on Social Security disability, veterans disability, and appellate representation. Attorney J. Robert Surface maintains offices in Greenville at 408 North Church Street and in Honea Path at 513 East Greer Street. The firm is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (864) 235-0886.
J. Robert Surface grew up in Charleston County, South Carolina. He graduated from St. John’s School in 1966, Rivers High School in 1969, and the College of Charleston as class valedictorian in 1973. He earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1978 and completed graduate work at Clemson University.
After law school, Surface served briefly as an Assistant City Attorney for the newly formed City of North Charleston, handling criminal prosecutions and providing legal opinions on annexation questions. He then joined the federal government as an attorney with the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), which is the body that hears Social Security disability appeals at the administrative law judge level.
That experience inside the system sets him apart from attorneys who have only ever appeared before ODAR as advocates. Surface knows how the agency evaluates claims from the inside. In 2009, he was certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs to handle claims before VA Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the Court of Veterans Appeals in Washington, DC.
The website is surfacelawfirm.com
Practice Areas
Social Security Disability (SSDI)
The firm represents individuals whose applications for Social Security disability insurance benefits have been denied, and assists with claims at every stage of the appeals process. The Social Security disability appeals process has four levels: reconsideration, hearing before an administrative law judge, review by the Appeals Council, and federal court review. Surface’s experience as a former ODAR attorney gives him specific knowledge of how administrative law judges evaluate medical evidence and assess credibility at the hearing level.
SSI Child Disability
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides benefits for children with qualifying disabilities. The standard for child disability differs from the adult standard, and these cases often require detailed documentation of functional limitations across multiple domains. The firm assists families navigating SSI claims for children with disabilities.
Veterans Disability
J. Robert Surface was certified in 2009 to represent veterans before VA Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the Court of Veterans Appeals. He has represented veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Forces, and Marines seeking VA disability ratings and benefits. Veterans disability law involves establishing service connection, rating levels for individual conditions, and navigating the VA’s administrative review process.
Appeals
The firm handles appeals across its practice areas. Surface is admitted to practice before the Court of Veterans Appeals in Washington, DC, in addition to state and federal courts in South Carolina.
Attorney Profile
J. Robert Surface is the sole attorney at the firm. He brings over 40 years of legal experience to disability and appellate representation, with a background that includes federal employment inside the Social Security Administration’s disability adjudication system. His credentials include a law degree from the University of South Carolina (1978), valedictorian status at the College of Charleston (1973), bar admission in South Carolina, and certification by the Department of Veterans Affairs to handle veterans claims.
Surface is admitted to practice before VA Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the United States Court of Veterans Appeals. He is also admitted before federal courts in South Carolina.
Location and Service Area
Greenville Office: 408 North Church Street, Greenville, SC
Honea Path Office: 513 East Greer Street, Honea Path, SC 29654
Phone: (864) 235-0886 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
Website: surfacelawfirm.com
The firm serves clients throughout South Carolina. Given the nature of Social Security disability and veterans disability practice, representation often extends through federal administrative proceedings that do not require physical presence in a specific court.
Client Focus
The Surface Law Firm’s client base consists of people who have been denied Social Security disability benefits and need experienced appellate representation, families with disabled children seeking SSI benefits, and veterans pursuing VA disability ratings and compensation. These are clients whose cases often require sustained advocacy through multiple levels of administrative review, sometimes over years.
The firm offers free initial case reviews and maintains availability around the clock. In Social Security cases, fees are contingency-based, meaning the attorney collects a percentage of past-due benefits only if the case is won, with no payment required if the case is unsuccessful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes J. Robert Surface from other Social Security disability attorneys?
Surface is one of the few attorneys who has worked inside the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), the federal body that hears Social Security disability appeals. This means he approaches cases with direct knowledge of how the system operates from the government’s perspective.
What is the fee arrangement for Social Security disability cases?
Social Security disability cases are typically handled on a contingency basis, meaning the attorney receives a portion of past-due benefits if the case is successful. There is no upfront fee.
Does the firm handle veterans disability claims?
Yes. J. Robert Surface was certified in 2009 to represent veterans before VA Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the Court of Veterans Appeals in Washington, DC.
How many levels of appeal exist in the Social Security disability process?
There are four levels: reconsideration, hearing before an administrative law judge, review by the Appeals Council, and federal court review. The firm can represent clients at any of these levels.
How can I reach the firm?
The firm is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (864) 235-0886. The website is surfacelawfirm.com
Closing
Social Security disability and veterans disability claims require patience and persistence across a multi-stage administrative process that can take years to resolve. J. Robert Surface brings to that process a background that few practitioners can match, having worked inside the federal disability adjudication system before entering private practice as a claimant’s advocate. The firm serves South Carolina clients from offices in Greenville and Honea Path. Contact the Surface Law Firm at (864) 235-0886 or through surfacelawfirm.com