Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure a fair assessment of a judge's decision history. While Lawrence Lee has an overall approval rate of 46% since 2018, his most recent reporting period shows a 50% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 8 points below the office average of 58% and 11 points below the state average of 61%.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Lee'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
Since 2018, Lawrence Lee has issued 1,912 decisions. After an initial approval rate of 49% in 2018, the figures fluctuated, reaching 42% in 2019, 46% in 2020, 47% in 2021, 44% in 2022, 46% in 2023, 48% in 2024, 100% in 2025, and 50% in 2026. These figures reflect the judge's historical decision patterns.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lee'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 Tacoma hearing office
The most recent office on record for Lawrence Lee is the Tacoma hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 17 judges with varying approval patterns. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%, providing a benchmark for the region.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 30% to 78% on their records. Four of these judges decided cases in the latest SSA file from July 2026.
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
Lawrence Lee has an approval rate of 46% on record since 2018. This sits within the 30% to 78% range established by the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma. An attorney can help you understand how these local patterns might influence your hearing strategy.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over time. After starting at 49% in 2018, it reached 50% in the most recent 2026 reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your specific hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases via a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records to present the strongest possible case.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Lawrence Lee's 46% rate provides context, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and the strength of your claim. An attorney can help you identify the specific evidence needed to meet the requirements of your case.
