About Us
Paulette F. Balin has been practicing law for almost 30 years. She was raised in Timberlake and went to Laurel School in Shaker Heights. In 1975 she graduated magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
She received her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1978, and passed the Ohio Bar in 1978 and Florida Bar in 1980.
Paulette clerked for the Senior Presiding Administrative Judge of the 11th District Court of Appeals based in Warren which covers 5 counties in Northest Ohio (Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Portage, and Trumbull). Paulette traveled the circuit with the judges for all oral arguments in the respective county seats and she got to know the people and the terrain of all Northeast Ohio. She learned her craft by researching and writing extensively and obtained insight on the judges' perspectives. Paulette studied attorneys' best deliveries in oral argument and reviewed errors in trial transcripts, which helped hone her skills in the fine art of appellate practice.
Paulette first opened her practice in Cleveland in 1980. She has been in private practice for 28 years and has broad experience and success in handling Social Security Disability and SSI cases, as well as Long-Term Disability claims. Her legal experience covers cases addressing a large spectrum of physical and mental impairments from low back pain, depression, fibromyalgia, obesity, and migraine headaches to the more exotic diseases such as Lyme disease, hemophilia, necrotizing fascitis, and pressure induced urticaria.
She has practiced at all administrative and Federal Court levels. She has argued cases successfully in Federal Court, and in the Federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, helping to create good legal precedents for the disabled.
Paulette is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ohio and Florida Supreme Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio.
She is a member of many bar associations including the Cleveland Metropolitan, Lake County, Ohio State and Florida bar associations, and is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.
Paulette is a frequent speaker on disability law on the radio and at Multiple Sclerosis groups and conferences, especially the MSAA.
On a personal note, Paulette’s late father, Marc Balin, M.D., a physician who practiced medicine for 50 years, was shot by a robber in 1973, which caused him permanent right side paralysis and 33 years of severe limitation in ambulating. Marc Balin overcame the horrors of the Holocaust and his being shot. He served as an inspiration to Paulette and thousands whose lives were enriched by him. The physically and mentally impaired claimants who have been turned down by the Social Security Administration need a fighter like Paulette who is committed to ensuring they obtain the benefits that they deserve. This practice is dedicated to Marc Balin, M.D. and all the good in the world that he respresents.
Chad Delesk earned a BA degree in Justice Studies from Kent State University in 2001. He studied law at the University of Akron, graduating in the top of his class in 2005. Throughout law school, Chad clerked at a disability firm in Canton, doing extensive research and writing memoranda on disability related legal issues.
Chad joined this practice as Paulette’s first associate in 2005, handling hundreds of challenging disability cases. He has racked up an impressive record of favorable decisions, won both at hearings and before the Appeals Council and in Federal Court.
Chad is admitted to practice before the Ohio Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio State and Akron bar associations, and a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives.
Anthony Touschner graduated Cum Laude and first in his class from Borromeo Seminary with a BA in History and Philosophy. He received his law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1973 and has been licensed in Ohio for 34 years. Anthony opened and managed the Youngstown office (in Austintown) of the UAW Legal Services Plan from 1983 - 1985 for the autoworkers at Lordstown. From 1986 - 1990, he supervised the UAW Legal Services Plan trial work for all Ohio offices, including Youngstown. He is a former resident of Poland, Ohio.
Anthony Touschner has also served as an Attorney for the Special Litigation and Support Unit of ABLE (Advocates for Basic Legal Equality). He had been in private practice for about seven years in Akron and New Philadelphia bringing us years of great legal experience and scholarship. Anthony is admitted to practice before the Ohio and U.S. Supreme Courts, U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio State and New Philadelphia bar associations and is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.
Mira Chopra has been practicing law since 1992 and has handled Social Security matters even during law school. She attended John Carroll University, graduating in 1989, then studied law at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Temple Law School in 1992, and was licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio later that same year.
During her summers between law school years, she practiced Social Security Disability law at the Department of Health & Human Services. During Mira’s 3rd year of law school, she actively participated in the Elderly Law Clinic and represented disability claimants pursing benefits.
Since 2003, Mira has been associated with our office working as an independent practitioner and writing numerous briefs at the Federal Court level and representing clients at Administrative Hearings on a variety of issues. She has represented claimants throughout Ohio and the United States. She is admitted to practice in the Northern District of Ohio and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She was very instrumental in succeeding in a case at the Federal Appellate level, and is awaiting a second Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals favorable decision any day on the issue of fibromyalgia.
We are happy to have Mira join us as an associate.
The Law offices of Paulette F. Balin and Associates emphasizes courteous, personalized, efficient and effective service for each and every client. We have branch offices throughout Northeast Ohio, so help is never too far away.
Severe transportation problems? Our Caremobile can provide at home service.
During business hours, your call will never be answered by a machine. That said, we use the newest technology and computerized case management systems to handle your case with efficiency and accuracy. All claims are handled directly - none are farmed out to other firms.
We take pride in offering:
- Free Initial Consultations
- Personal Care and Attention by Attorneys and Staff
- Timely Responses to Your Questions or Concerns
- Contingency Fee so we get paid only if we win your case
- Consultation at any one of our Office Locations
Our mission is to serve the disabled and win them their much needed and deserved disability benefits
Call us now toll free at 1-866-49 BALIN or email us at paulette@balinlaw.com. Also you can spend a few moments and fill out a case profile form on our contact page. Our courteous and caring staff will give you personal attention.
Sustaining Member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives
Paulette F. Balin - Attorney and Counselor at Law. Social Security Disability Claims Lawyer - Northeast Ohio (Mentor, Cleveland, Ashtabula, Akron, Canton, Youngstown; also Austintown, Hubbard, New Philadelphia) and Erie, PA
Toll Free: (866) 492-2546
Local: (440)257-0096 - (216)566-1662 - (440)992-2546 - (330)354-4155