Michele Schaefer has over 30 years of professional experience. She began her career as a trial attorney before establishing a decades-long career at the Social Security Administration (SSA).She has a wealth of knowledge about disability from extensive field experience at the Disability Determination Services, and at the Office of Hearings Operations as a Hearing Office Director, Supervisory Attorney, and Senior Attorney.She also has a unique perspective due to her work experience at SSA National Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland where she served as a Deputy Director, Branch Chief, and Technical Expert. She developed medical and vocational policy rules and regulations.