CUSTOMER STORIES
Client Snapshot
Firm Name
Disability Advocates LLC
Location
Shelbyville, Kentucky
Case Load
~120 active cases with a goal of reaching 200 by 2026
Firm Size
Solo Accredited Disability Representative / EDPNA with two case managers
“Life is better with Chronicle. I highly recommend it. In fact, my colleague told me she would literally quit if I stopped using it.”
Leanne Hernandez, President
The Challenge
When Leanne Hernandez launched Disability Advocates LLC in Shelbyville, Kentucky, she brought with her over two decades of experience in the Social Security disability field, including a pivotal early role as a single decision-maker disability adjudicator. From the outset, her firm was guided by one core principle: high-quality client service over high-volume processing.
But even with a lean caseload of 75 to 100 clients, she quickly found herself overwhelmed. The pain point wasn’t the clients themselves; it was the ERE system. Multiple daily logins, time-sensitive passcodes, and redundant input fields turned routine case management into a chaotic juggling act.
“Before we got smart and started using Chronicle, a typical day would involve logging into ERE multiple times and obtaining passcodes...It was very cumbersome, especially if I was in a hearing and my colleague needed to access a case electronically..”
Because her staff worked remotely, Leanne often had to forward those passcodes in real time, sometimes in the middle of hearings.
“If my staff needed access, they would have to text me. If I was cross-examining the vocational expert, I still had to watch out for the passcode notification.”
Each passcode was short-lived, and any distraction could mean starting the process over. As her caseload approached triple digits, the inefficiency ballooned. Leanne found herself locked in a cycle of reactivity, constantly bouncing between urgent tasks.
“You could easily forget what you were doing. It was much more disjointed.”
The Tipping Point
For Leanne, the tipping point wasn’t a single crisis, but rather the accumulation of friction. The firm’s caseload crept past 100, and the ERE’s outdated workflows simply couldn’t keep up.
“It wasn’t as bad at 50 or 75 cases. But once we hit 100–125, it became more and more cumbersome. So with growth comes an opportunity to utilize technology to be more efficient.”
She needed a system that could scale with her firm; one that would make it easier to stay on top of deadlines, delegate work, and keep clients informed.
Why Chronicle: From Pain to Progress
Leanne discovered Chronicle at a NADR conference, where she met the Chronicle team and connected with longtime colleagues already using the platform.
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“I was familiar with another product...but I had concerns about how they handled personal information. Then people I respect professionally started saying, ‘You’re crazy not to be using Chronicle.’”
Initially skeptical, Leanne was won over not by flashy features but by Chronicle’s commitment to security, innovation, and practical value.
“Other programs are stagnant. Chronicle is evolving. It’s adding features that make it easier for small firms like mine to grow.”
Perhaps most importantly, Chronicle was intuitive.
“I didn’t grow up with technology...but I was able to learn Chronicle quickly, and so was my colleague. It’s that intuitive.”
Transformation & Results
20-25
Chronicle eliminated hours of daily friction. Gone were the passcodes, the redundant logins, and the risk of being locked out of ERE.
Leanne and her team could now access case files instantly and spot critical updates without digging.
“No more passcodes. No more typing in Social Security numbers twenty times a day. Everything is faster, everything is easier.”
The homepage dashboard gave her immediate visibility into newly assigned cases, closed files, and pending uploads in real time.
“I can see at a glance what’s going on with my cases. I don’t have to guess if I have access or dig through folders.”
Leanne estimates that Chronicle has saved her team 20 to 25 hours a week.
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“Even at our size, we were spending 10 to 15 hours a week just logging into ERE. That time now goes toward building the business and serving clients.”
That time savings has enabled smarter delegation. Her remote staff no longer rely on USPS mail or manual status checks.
“My colleague lives two hours away. But she doesn’t need to wait for paper mail anymore. She can monitor everything through Chronicle in real time.”
Chronicle also helped them catch critical updates they might have missed entirely, such as case closures that never arrived by mail.
Leanne doesn’t mince words: Chronicle has changed how she works and how she feels about work.
The platform has reduced stress, increased confidence, and supported the firm’s growth goals.
“Everything is faster. Everything’s easier. Chronicle has been instrumental in our ability to grow, expand and become more efficient in our business operations. I would highly encourage anyone with a disability practice to consider utilizing this important and helpful platform.”
The Takeaway
Chronicle didn’t just automate a few tasks for Disability Advocates LLC, it reshaped the firm’s operational capacity and emotional resilience.
Leanne sums it up plainly:
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“We're so thankful we started using Chronicle. I really should not have waited as long as I did. It's been nothing but a positive experience.”
Her advice to any solo SSD representative or attorney still checking ERE manually?
“There is a better way. Why not do things more efficiently when the tool is right there?”
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