Maria Laura Sigaud

Maria Laura Sigaud

• Morgan & Weisbrod LLP
• 11551 Forest Central Drive Suite 300 Dallas, TX 75243
• 214-373-3761
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Laura has been licensed to practice law since 2003 in the State of Texas and is licensed in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all four federal district courts of Texas.  In 2010, she became board-certified in Social Security disability law by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification – an ABA-accredited organization and is currently on the Board. She is a naturalized U.S. Citizen and is fluent in English and Spanish.

In September 2021, Laura served as a panel speaker at SSA’s National Disability Forum, discussing various issues and solutions involving the Social Security Disability Program. From 2017-2019, Laura served as President of the Fifth Circuit Organization of Social Security Disability Claimants Representatives [“FOSSCR”] and in 2018 organized and presented a continuing legal education seminar featuring guest speakers from the Social Security Advisory Board, SSA’s Office of General Counsel, SSA’s Regional Chief, NOSSCR, a panel of Social Security disability hearing vocational experts, and others.  She has been a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (“NOSSCR”) since 2003 and has presented as a speaker on many occasions at NOSSCR conferences.  In 2013, Laura began policy advocacy through NOSSCR – meeting with multiple U.S. Congressman and Senators in Washington D.C. to advocate for the Social Security Disability program.

A graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Laura majored in English literature. She received her J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas and served as Vice President of the Hispanic Law Students Association.  She studied in Buenos Aires, Argentina for one semester through the Southwestern Law School Los Angeles Study Abroad Program. During law school, Laura clerked for a civil litigation firm handling cases in multiple areas of the law such as labor/employment, personal injury, and toxic torts.

Professional Honors & Activities:

• 2018-present – Board Member & Advisory Committee Member – Social Security Disability Specialty Program Commission
  National Board of Trial Advocacy
  National Board of Social Security Disability Advocacy – A Division of the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
• Chosen as a Super Lawyers “Rising Stars”, 2012-2013
• 2017-2019  – President, Fifth Circuit Organization of Social Security Disability Claimants Representatives (“FOSSCR”)
• Fifth Circuit Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives – Member since 2008
• Dallas Area Social Security Claimants’ Attorneys (DASSCA)
  2019-2021, Treasurer
• Dallas Area Social Security Claimants’ Attorneys (DASSCA)
  2011 President
• Dallas Area Social Security Claimants’ Attorneys (DASSCA)
  2010 Vice President
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (“NOSSCR”)
  Sustaining Member since 2003
• Austin Community College Classified Employees Association, 1997 – 1999
  Parliamentarian, Secretary
• Texas State Bar Standing Committee on Disability Issues, 2009 – 2014
  Appointed Member
• Hispanic Law Students Association (Vice President 2001-2002)

Presentations & Speeches:

• November 22, 2021: Faculty – American Bar Association “The Importance of Expert Testimony: What to Expect During SSA Hearings.”
• September 15, 2021:  Panel Speaker – SSA National Disability Forum – https://www.ssa.gov/ndf/
• 2018 – Organizer and Speaker – FOSSCR 25^th Anniversary Continuing Legal Education Conference – Dallas, Texas
• 2015 Washington D.C. National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives – co-presenter with Mike Kelly “Disrupting the Path to Denial.”
• 2016 Fifth Circuit Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives – co-presenter with Mike Kelly “Disrupting the Path to Denial.”
• Opinion Published on Expert Witnesses Appearing by Telephone at Hearings, NOSSCR Newsletter, October 2013.
• Seminar Presentations in Social Security Disability Law: Four Examples of Vocational Expert Cross-Examination., Social Security Disability Law Forum, New York, NY June 8, 2007

Languages:

• Spanish
  English

Years Of Experience:

• Over 19 Years

Education:

• South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 2002 J.D.
• Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX, 1996 B.A.

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2003
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 2004
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 2004
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2008
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 2009
• United States Supreme Court, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2015