Adrian J. DeGori promoted to senior counsel at Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C.

In the fifth grade, Adrian J. DeGori knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.

It was an open and shut case — there was no deliberation.

“I told everyone I was going to be a lawyer,” DeGori said, inside the offices of Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. in Downtown Pittsburgh. “We were having a career day and everyone wrote down what they wanted to be and then presented it in class. I just knew then because I had always admired attorneys. I looked up to attorneys and felt that they were really impressive. I never had a backup plan because it was just what I wanted to do.”

No backup plan was needed for this Edgeworth native and Quaker Valley High School graduate, who now lives in Leetsdale. After earning her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Penn State University, she went to law school at Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law in Ada, Ohio, where students can apply for the summer starter program. It allows for two summer classes in law school.

“It gives you a head start in law school,” said DeGori, who was recently promoted to senior counsel, which recognizes her vast experience in social security disability law.

Going to a smaller school, she made many close friends in her class, she said, and the university was only a four-hour drive from Sewickley, where she planned to return after graduation.

Sewickley is home

DeGori said Sewickley will always be her home.

“I just love this town,” said DeGori, 40, a mother of two daughters. “And I love the close-knit feeling. It’s such a family-oriented town and everybody knows everybody. It’s safe. I love all the trees in Sewickley. It’s beautiful.”

DeGori said her inspiration to be an attorney was based on experiences watching other attorneys, meeting other attorneys and reading about attorneys. She said it is a fantastic and extremely rewarding career.

“I absolutely love it,” DeGori said. “It’s been a good fit for me.”

Working alongside mentor Barbara Manna, an accredited disability representative who has more than three decades of experience in the field of social security disability law, has taught DeGori so much, she said.

“I’ve learned a lot from her,” DeGori said. “I’m so fortunate to work with such a great group of attorneys. The partners in the office have been really great to work with and they’re always available to guide you and give you advice. It is truly a family-oriented firm.”

Robert Peirce & Associates has been representing disabled people for more than four decades. DeGori said she is proud to be part of the firm, which also handles personal injury cases, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and a variety of other civil cases.

“Adrian brings an enormous wealth of knowledge in disability law,” said Rob Peirce III, owner and managing partner. “She is an invaluable resource to our law firm.”

Holding court

DeGori’s career at Robert Peirce & Associates began as a contract attorney in 2011, where she worked in a variety of different practice areas. Later, when a position opened up in the firm’s social security disability department, she accepted the role. She said she always felt like her personality and drive to become an attorney complemented her ability to argue a case.

“I always loved watching lawyers in court,” she said. “I love being in that courtroom and advocating for my client.”

Her clients are people who can no longer work full-time as a result of a severe physical and or mental health impairment.

It could be from something such as an injury or diagnosis.

These cases are often difficult, she said, because she’s dealing with people — some who’ve lost everything — who can no longer work and it takes a long time to get in front of a judge to get a case settled.

“My job is to advocate for them because most of them can’t advocate for themselves,” she said. “It is my job to get them the disability benefits that they need and that they deserve. “

In most of these cases – around 70% — when people file, the Social Security Administration denies it, she said.

Then there is an appeal and a hearing, which can take 18 months to get scheduled.

“It’s a long, complex process and that’s probably the most difficult part for our clients is that they have to wait so long for these benefits and they can’t work and it’s really hard,” she said. “Not everybody has family and friends who they can rely on to help pay their bills while they’re waiting.”

The waiting has been longer with the current government shutdown, she said, because a lot of people have been furloughed. She is still able to file a claim, she said.

“We’ve noticed longer processing time,” she said. “Things are just taking longer.”

DeGori’s arguing skills are on display when she’s in court regularly in front of an administrative law judge. Clients can attend in person, on the phone or via video.

DeGori is a member of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled, the National Association of Disability Representatives, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, among other professional associations.

She was recognized as a Top Rated Lawyers PA in 2024 and Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2020-2025 and Lawyers of Distinction from 2020-2025 and Top 10 Under 40 Attorney Award from 2020-2023.

She said her profession is rewarding because she helps people.

“My clients trust me to represent them,” she said. “They trust me to represent them in matters that can be life-changing for them.”