About Thomas
Thomas Lemley earned his law degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia, completing his J.D. in 1988 after beginning his studies in 1985. He moved from law school into practice in Missouri. The education he received in Columbia set the foundation for a career spent mainly inside the administrative and appellate sides of the legal system.
He is licensed to practice law in Missouri and maintains professional memberships that point to the practical work he does. His affiliations include the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, the Missouri Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Those memberships place him among attorneys who regularly handle matters before federal and state administrative agencies.
Colleagues describe him as steady in the hearing room and straightforward with clients. He is known for explaining complex benefit rules in plain language so people understand what they are entitled to and what the process will require. That approach can reduce uncertainty for clients facing long waits or difficult medical paperwork.
His involvement with the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives indicates regular engagement in Social Security disability issues, including claims and appeals. Membership in local bar groups keeps him connected to developments in Missouri law and to the community of lawyers who practice in St. Louis and the surrounding region. He participates in meetings and educational sessions that cover both procedural changes and substantive law affecting benefits claimants.
Day to day he prepares claims, reviews medical and vocational records, and represents individuals at hearings before administrative law judges. He also assists clients in understanding appeal rights and next steps after an initial decision. He handles the paperwork and procedural deadlines that often determine whether a claim moves forward. His practice balances client counseling with the procedural work required in administrative courts.
Outside the courtroom he keeps up with continuing legal education and the practical skills required to pursue benefits on behalf of others. He remains active in the professional organizations that reflect his practice interests. He currently practices in Missouri, representing clients in Social Security disability matters.
