Approval rates
The 41% approval rate for Patricia M. French covers all 562 decisions on record since 2016. This can be measured against the 41% to 73% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached disability claims.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge French. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge French's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval rate for Patricia M. French shifted during the recorded window of December 2016 through September 2018. In 2017, the approval rate was 48% across 195 decisions, while in 2018, the rate was 39% across 545 decisions.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge French's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Lawrence MA hearing office
Patricia M. French's most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA hearing office, with decisions there through September 2018. With 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the bench handles a variety of complex disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lawrence MA
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 41% to 73% on their since-2016 records. Understanding the range of outcomes at this office provides helpful context for your hearing.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Patricia M. French has a 41% approval rate on record since 2016. This places the judge at the lower end of the 41% to 73% approval-rate range observed among the 7 judges whose most recent office on record is the Lawrence MA hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Patricia M. French shifted from 48% in 2017 to 39% in 2018. These figures are based on 562 total decisions on record between December 2016 and September 2018. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Because you cannot control your assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for a hearing before any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and hears your testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the nature of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Patricia M. French has a 41% approval rate on record, the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in a judge's decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing.
