Meet David

H. David Hicks, Esq.

Managing Attorney

Phone: (800) 232-4878
Email:

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Practice Areas

• Social Security Disability

• Supplemental Security Income

• Child SSI Benefits

• Disabled Adult Child Benefits

• ​State Disability Insurance
   

Bar Admissions

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• Kentucky

• United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky

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Education

• University of Kentucky College of Law

• University of Kentucky

• Université de Caen Normandie

• The Piarist School

A native of Floyd County in Kentucky's Appalachian coalfields, David is a lifelong Kentuckian and proud of it. After completing a rigorous prep-school curriculum at the renowned Piarist School, David attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he earned B.A. degrees in History and French. While attending UK as an undergraduate, David worked up to four different jobs at the same time to help pay for his school expenses.​​

As graduation loomed, David was unsure of his career path. On a whim, he decided to apply to law school. He was accepted at the University of Kentucky College of Law and began his legal journey there. As a first-year law student, David was awarded the best oral argument award in his Legal Writing class. He was also a member of numerous organizations, including the Federalist Society, the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and the Recruitment Committee.

After graduating from law school, David accepted a position as law clerk to the Honorable James C. Brantley in Hopkins County, located in far western Kentucky. This experience proved invaluable to his legal career, as he would later explain, "The best way to convince a judge is to think like one." During his time there, David drafted numerous decisions, most of which were signed and issued by the presiding judge without any changes. Working for a circuit judge also exposed him to a variety of legal fields, in both the civil and criminal arenas.

Shortly after his clerkship, David accepted an associate position at a nationwide Social Security Disability law firm. He represented clients at every stage of the Social Security disability appeals process, including at hearings before Administrative Law Judges and before the Appeals Council and the federal courts. Although he gained a wealth of experience as an associate, his entrepreneurial drive led him to create a business of his own. In 2017, The Hicks Law Firm was born.

HLF has come a long way since its founding. David has implemented technological innovations like a paperless office setting, optical character recognition (OCR) for all client files, and a cloud-based client management system that enables him to serve his clients anytime, anywhere. HLF is a growing firm with a vision to serve its clients with excellence.

David has represented clients at administrative hearings in over thirty states, from Hawaii to Maine. He has been an active member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR).

In his spare time, David enjoys running, cycling, and spending time with his wife, Keisha, his daughter, Ariel, and two cats, Elvis and Pickle. He is also active in his church.

Why hire an attorney?

According to an old adage, a person who represents himself has a fool for a client. Some Social Security disability applicants choose to navigate the system without a lawyer. While it may be tempting to avoid paying a fee by going it alone, be advised: it pays to have an experienced legal team at your side. Many of our clients come to us only after applying on their own and receiving a denial. In many instances, valuable time could have been saved by hiring us before beginning the process.

 Should I hire a disability "advocate"?

Social Security allows non-attorney "advocates" to represent individuals seeking to obtain benefits. While these advocates must pass a written exam on Social Security advocacy and take continuing education courses, that is  pretty much the extent of their professional qualifications. Do you want a non-attorney representing you before a Social Security judge (an attorney)? What's more, non-attorney advocates can charge the same fee as attorneys. Why pay the same for less?