Dianna Cannon
Dianna Cannon loves practicing disability law. She has done so for the past 30 years. During that time, she has won thousands of SSDI and SSI cases. Also, she has won claims for miners filing for benefits under the Black Lung Act. The Veteran’s Administration has also certified her to represent veterans before the Veteran’s Administration.
She is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives. Ms. Cannon is a member of the Board of Trustees for the S. J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. She is also an adjunct professor for the law school, where she teaches Disability Law.
Recently, her colleagues voted for her as Utah’s Legal Elite in Utah Business Magazine. In 2019, Thomson Reuters published Dianna Cannon’s book, Social Security Disability Claims, Volumes 1 & 2. Her book is an attorneys guide to Social Security Disability law. Every year, she updates the book with the new changes in the law.
DIANNA CANNON FOCUSES ON DISABILITY LAW
Ms. Cannon’s interest in Social Security law began during law school. At that time, few firms were helping people file for SSD and SSI benefits. However, many people needed help because they had been denied unfairly. Ms. Cannon knew this was an important area of the law, because disability cuts across all social categories.
For example, it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor or what your skin color is, you can have a medical condition that keeps you from working. Likewise, illness can impact your life no matter your gender, age, or education level. She knew law firms should help those with disabilities who cannot work. Applicants need help. Why? Because it is difficult to obtain Social Security Disability benefits through the SSA. The process is complex and takes a long time.
Therefore, in order to fight government agencies like the SSA, you need a lawyer. This means clients who can’t work due to disability need to hire an attorney. Additionally, they need to do it without coming up with a lot of money.
Cannon Disability Law was born to help those seeking SSD and Supplemental Security Income benefits. Since then, her firm has won over $100 million in back due and ongoing SSDI benefits for her clients.
CANNON DISABILITY LAW
Over 20,000 clients have won SSDI and SSI benefits with Cannon Disability Law. Cannon Disability Law’s main office is in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their office is on South Temple. Dianna Cannon is rated as one of the top three disability attorneys in Utah. Learn more here about Utah SSD benefits. Also, read here if you need to file for disability benefits in Utah.
However, they also represent clients in Nevada and have a location there. Ms. Cannon’s firm is one of the best SSD law firms in Utah and Nevada. Nevada Disability Information can also be found on this website.
Additionally, Ms. Cannon’s firm is listed as one of the best Social Security Disability firms in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cannon Disability represents clients throughout the western United States. For example, we have clients in California, Idaho, and Colorado. California SSDI information can be found here. Likewise, if you need to file for SSDI and SSI benefit in Idaho, then read here. Colorado benefit information is here.
DIANNA CANNON AND 30 YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Dianna Cannon has won thousands of SSD and SSI cases at the hearing level. Additionally, she has won remands in hundreds of cases at the Appeals Council.
She also has decades of experience litigating cases in Federal Court. While winning benefits is the ultimate goal, “helping people understand Social Security’s system is the most important thing we do.”
Ms. Cannon states, “Thirty years of helping people win Social Security cases makes us experts at what we do. This means we understand medical issues and the law. We also know how to build a good case. Likewise, we are good at finding crucial evidence. We work hard to collect all of the medical evidence in each case. Also, our clients know we are behind them 100%, during what is the difficult process of winning benefits.”
As a past president of the Women Lawyers of Utah, Ms. Cannon also encourages women and young lawyers to open their own law firms. Small, local firms can provide excellent legal services to those who need it. Because Cannon Disability Law serves clients throughout the West, Ms. Cannon is a member of the bar in Utah, Nevada, California and Washington state.
Find out more about Utah SSDI information here. Learn more about Nevada SSDI information and filing for benefits in California on this site. Additionally, we can find information on how to file for Colorado benefits here.
DIANNA CANNON’S LEGAL EXPERIENCE WINS BENEFITS
As an expert in Social Security law, Dianna Cannon has good advice for her clients. She states, “If you are looking for an SSDI attorney, make sure you hire an expert. Your future depends on hiring the right attorney. If your mental or physical illness keeps you from working, then you need a monthly SSD payment in order to live. You don’t want to hire the wrong attorney. Especially when your future income is at stake.”
Additionally, it is important to hire a law firm with good customer service. This can be hard to find. Attorneys are always busy. Therefore, it is important that they have a smart and kind staff to help them.
At Cannon Disability, we work hard to give all of our clients attention. We do our best to keep clients up to date on their case. Contact Cannon Disability for a free review of your case today.
Ms. Cannon explains, “You need to connect with your attorney, but your attorney is not your best friend. She is there to give you advice. If you listen, your chances of success in your case are high. The clients who follow our advice usually win their SSD and SSI benefits. However, we can’t force people to do what we ask. When our clients take our advice, they usually have a good experience winning SSDI benefits.”
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOU HIRE A TOP DISABILITY ATTORNEY
Most people ask their friends for a referral when they are looking to hire an attorney. While that is not a bad idea, there are a variety of things to keep in mind when you are looking for a lawyer to help you.
For example, first you should find an attorney that you get along with. Likewise, make sure that support team at the law office returns your calls and is kind. You will be dealing with the attorney and support staff for many years, so it is always best to enjoy their company.
Second, you should look for a lawyer who has experience in Social Security law. For example, Dianna Cannon states, “An important thing to ask about, when hiring an attorney, is whether they have experience doing hearings. Also, do they have experience at the Appeals Council and in Federal Court. If they do, then they have the experience to win your case. Not every lawyer has years of legal experience in the Social Security arena.”
WHAT A SOCIAL SECURITY LAW FIRM IS LOOKING FOR IN A CLIENT
One of the things that most people don’t understand is that we are also looking at the client’s case and whether or not we can help them. Many people call us every day with questions about getting a Social Security card or about retirement. Some people call who are in their 70’s or 80’s asking us how they can get more money from the SSA.
We can’t help these people, because this is not our practice of law. The amount of money you receive from the SSA in SSDI benefits is based on your own work history. It is not a number that can be changed by a law suit against the SSA. Additionally, you need to plan decades in advance for your retirement. The amount of your future retirement depends entirely on how much money you earn during your life. If you are already retired and are not willing to go back to work, then there is nothing anyone can do to get you more money.
When a person wants us to represent them, we need to know if they are getting treatment from a doctor. If they are not, then we know we won’t be able to get any medical evidence to support their case. Without good medical evidence, no attorney can win benefits. Many people call and want our help, but then they refuse to go to the doctor. If you don’t go to the doctor, then you have no evidence and we can’t win your case.
FREE MEDICAL RESOURCES FOR OUR CLIENTS
The main reason most people don’t go to the doctor is they believe they cannot afford it. However, if you want to win benefits, you will need to get a doctor to support you and also visit the doctor. There are free doctors and therapists where you live. Our website has free and low cost medical resource lists in Utah and other states. No lawyer, no matter how good they are, can win your case if you do not have medical evidence. Therefore, we ask our clients to use this website to call the free and low cost clinics and doctors and get treatment.
For example, we also have a list for free and low cost mental health services for Nevada. Additionally, we have a list of free mental resources in Idaho and free physical health services in Idaho. Our law firm also lists free health services in Colorado and free health resources in California. As such, there is really no excuse for one of our clients to not be seeing a doctor for their illness. Additionally, many clients have the option of Medicaid benefits and this will also pay for visits to the doctor. Our law firm is looking to help people who are willing to go to the doctor and seek treatment for their physical and mental conditions.
HIRE THE TEAM YOU CAN WORK WITH
Experience is crucial in court. Likewise, your attorney should know the facts the judge is looking for to grant the case. Because of our years of experience and hard work, we win most of our cases. Ms. Cannon states, “Not many firms have such a high win rate over thirty years. Also, our success rate speaks for itself.”
Additionally, she explains, “we work with our clients as a team. No attorney can win a case alone. The client must help us obtain medical evidence. Also, they must be willing to prepare for their hearing. Clients who visit their doctor and work with us are usually happy with the outcome of their case. Because they win.”
Finally, Ms. Cannon believes experience is important in Social Security cases because there are so many conditions and diseases that can cause severe illness. Over the years, she has seen common and rare medical conditions that meet SSA’s rules.
For example, Ms. Cannon has helped clients with rare forms of cancer, unusual heart conditions, and terminal illness. However, it is more common for Ms. Cannon to represent clients with obesity, back impairments, and anxiety or depression. The common conditions prevent people from working, just as the rare conditions do.
State Law Licenses
- Admitted in California, U.S. District Court for District of California, 2009
- Admitted in Nevada, U.S. District Court for District of Nevada, 2008
- Admitted in Washington State, U.S. District Court for District of Washington, 2004, inactive status
- Admitted in Utah, U.S. District Court for District of Utah and U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1992
Education
- University of Utah Law School, J.D., 1992
- University of Utah Honors B.A., English and B.A., Art History, 1989
Activities and Memberships
- Member of the Board of Trustees at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, 2012-2022
- Sustaining Member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, 1992-2022
- Accredited by the Veteran’s Administration to Represent Veterans Seeking Service-Connected Disability Benefits – 2010-2022
- Member, Utah Trial Lawyers Association, 2000-2022
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Disability Law, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 2006-2022
- Member, ACLU of Utah Legal Panel and Member of the Board, 1999-2007
- Utah’s Legal Elite, Utah Business Magazine, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022
- Contributing Editor, Utah Trial Journal, Utah Trial Lawyers Association, 2003
Publications
- Social Security Disability Claims, Volumes 1 & 2, by Dianna Cannon, published by Thomson Reuters, 2019, 2020, & 2021 Edition
- Dianna Cannon: Changing People’s Lives, Attorney at Law Magazine, Volume 6 No. 2F (2018).
- Contributing Writer, Understanding Social Security Disability Benefits – An Essential Part of Protecting Your Future, Attorney at Law Magazine – 2016
- “Risk Takers: 30 Women to Watch,” Utah Business Magazine, 2003
- Maximizing Disability Benefits in the Case of Worker’s Compensation Offset, Utah Trial Journal, 2000
Presentations 2022-2011
- Panelist, Book Review, Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah, Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell by Paul A. Lombardo, for National Disabilities Awareness month. October 27, 2021
- “S.J. Quinney Law School, 2L/3L Orientation Program, Group Panel Discussion, Administrative Law,” 2021
- “An In-Depth Look at the Social Security Process and How to Assist Claimants with Mental Disability,” Disability Law Center Mental Health Advisory Board, 2019
- “Understanding Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Benefits,” National Conference of Adrenal Insufficiency United, 2019
- Featured in Women in Law 2018 Salt Lake City – Attorney at Law Magazine, Volume 6 No. 2F
- “Reopening: How to Get More Benefits for Your Client,” Presentation at the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives, 2017
- “How to Win Your Social Security Disability Case” – 10th Circuit Winter Meeting – 2014
- “Encouraging Conversations about Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” – 5th Annual YWCA Women’s Leadership Summit – 2013
PRESENTATIONS 2010-1997
- “Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Issues for Children with Cystic Fibrosis,” The Cystic Fibrosis Parent Outreach Clinic, Primary Children’s Hospital, 2009
- “Documenting Disability Training for Medical Providers, The SSA Disability Determination Process,” Association for Utah Community Health, University of Utah Student Programs in Family Medicine, 2007
- “What Family Law Lawyers Need to Know About Social Security Disability and the Utah Retirement System,” Utah State Bar Family Law Section, 2005
- “Social Security Issues Related to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals,” The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2002
- “Statutory Blindness and Reopening Your Social Security Claim in Federal Court,” Social Security Conference for the Blind or Visually Impaired, Blind Center, 2002
- “Handling a Social Security Disability Case,” National Business Institute Seminar, 2000
- “An Introduction to Social Security Law,” Multiple Sclerosis Society Annual Meeting, 1998
- “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Social Security Disability Case,” CFS Society, 1997
HIRE DIANNA CANNON AND THE CANNON DISABILITY LEGAL TEAM
For the past 30 years, Dianna Cannon has built a legal practice that focuses on winning SSDI and SSI benefits for people who need them. She has also taken on some difficult Black Lung Disability benefit claims and she won benefits for miners with black lung disease.
Additionally, she represents disabled Veterans in their claims for service-connected Veteran’s Disability benefits. Although these types of cases are not the heart of her practice, she enjoys learning about other areas of law. Especially in the benefits arena.
While awards and degrees are important, they don’t tell you everything. When seeking benefits, you also want to hire an attorney who you get along with.
Also, you should hire an attorney who has an excellent staff. Why? Because no attorney works alone. The law firm staff is crucial to your success in winning SSD and SSI benefits.
The Cannon Disability legal team has many years of legal experience in Social Security cases. In fact, we have over 30 years of legal experience. As a result, we use our legal skills to support our clients.
You need an SSD attorney who works for you and also works with you. Contact us today. See if the legal team at Cannon Disability is a good fit for you.
