Michael L. Stinson and Associates

Vocational Consulting in Texas

Michael L. Stinson, M.A., C.R.C., N.C.C., has over 35 years of experience as Vocational Rehabilitation Professional and President of this premier private consulting practice in Texas and California.

The firm offers top level experience and skills in Vocational Evaluation, Expert Witness Testimony, Vocational and Academic Testing, Employability & Earning Capacity Assessment, Wage and Labor Market Research, Rehabilitation Counseling & Case Management, Independent Living Evaluation, Career Counseling, Job Analysis, and Individualized Rehabilitation Plan Development.

Professional Association: American Board of Vocational Experts

Now serving:

Texas: Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth areas.

Copyright © Michael L. Stinson and Associates 2020. All Rights Reserved

Qualifications

Michael L. Stinson has a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Administration from University of San Francisco and completed Graduate Studies in Clinical Psychology at California Coast University. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a Social Security Administration Vocational Expert, an Independent Vocational Evaluator (IVE), and a Registered Provider of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Texas Dept. of Insurance/Workers Compensation).

Mr. Stinson has been awarded multiple federal contracts, including 14 years as Contractor with Department of Veterans Affairs. He is an active current Contractor with Social Security Administration, Office of Hearing Operations, to provide testimony as Vocational Expert.

Mr. Stinson is qualified as Forensic Vocational Expert and has testified in courtroom venues such as Federal, State, County, Family Law, Workers Comp Appeals Board, and SSA Appeals Hearings. Michael's number of court appearances as a Forensic Vocational Expert exceeds 12,000. He utilizes the most current standardized and peer-reviewed methodologies.

Mr. Stinson has developed thousands of vocational rehabilitation plans to guide injured workers and disabled American Veterans back to the workforce. He has trained over 80 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and developed training programs at state and national levels. He has been a guest presenter at professional seminars and conference workshops on subjects including vocational expert testimony, rehabilitation counseling, wage and labor market research, vocational testing, career counseling and job placement.

Services

Since 1982, Michael L. Stinson and his staff have responded to the needs of referral sources including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Defense and Plaintiff Attorneys (Personal Injury, LTD, Medical Malpractice and Employment Law)
  • Family Law Attorneys (Spousal Support Determination)
  • Social Security Administration/Office of Hearing Operations
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Private and State Workers Compensation Insurance Carriers/Claims Administrators
  • LTD Insurance Carriers
  • Private and Public Sector Employers

Service Categories

  • Vocational Evaluations
  • Employability and Earning Capacity Assessment
  • Forensic Vocational Expert Witness Testimony
  • Wage and Labor Market Research
  • Vocational/Academic/Career Testing
  • Job Descriptions and Job Analysis Reports
  • Rehabilitation Counseling and Case Management
  • Career Counseling
  • Independent Living Evaluation
  • Individualized Rehabilitation Plan Development
  • Job Placement
  • Disability Management Consulting

Fees

Our Fee Schedule is updated annually and is consistent with Texas and national rates charged by professional colleagues with comparable qualifications and experience.

Please contact Michael L. Stinson directly at (512) 761-4488 or at msaaustin2@gmail.com to discuss the 2020-2021 fee schedule for the specific service being requested. Generally, hourly rates will apply although some flat rates may be available.

The following billing protocols apply to forensic expert witness cases:

  • A retainer fee is required prior to starting work on the case. Details will be provided in the Retainer Agreement completed and signed by Mr. Stinson and referring party. Once the retainer fee has been exhausted as services are provided, a monthly invoice will be itemized and sent to referring party for payment in full.
  • Charges for preparation time and appearance at depositions or trials will also be billed at hourly rate, with payment due in advance.
  • Missed appointments or cancellations within 3 working days of a scheduled office visit, deposition or trial appearance will be billed to the referring party at 50% of the time reserved by Mr. Stinson or staff member.
  • In a case where the referring party lists Mr. Stinson for expert witness disclosure purposes, then no services are provided due to settlement, a listing fee of $200.00 will be charged.

Referrals

If you have a potential referral, but need more information from us about fees, reporting, availability for court calendar dates, or turn-around time, please call Michael L. Stinson at the Austin, Texas office (512) 761-4488). You may also email to msaaustin2@gmail.com

If you wish to make a referral and disclose Mr. Stinson as an expert witness in your case, complete the Referral Request form. The completed form should be submitted by fax or email. Mr. Stinson will review the referral request and respond within 24 hours.

If the referral is accepted, Mr. Stinson will send you our Retainer Agreement. The agreement will provide necessary details about services to be provided, retainer fee amount, hourly rates charged, reporting, records to be reviewed, invoicing, and target date for completion. You should carefully review the agreement to determine if all terms are acceptable. If ready to proceed with referral of case, fax or email the signed document to Mr. Stinson. The retainer check and records to review should then be sent to the following mailing address: Michael L. Stinson & Associates, 9010 Frostwood Trail, Austin, TX 78729.

The referred client will be seen for vocational interview and testing at one of our office locations within reasonable commute distance most convenient to them. If special circumstances prohibit the client from travel, we may arrange for the interview and testing to be conducted in their home or other location in their city.

Click here to download our Referral Request form.