But I have been through the process and all I can offer is what I went through as a brief primer of sorts.
What I learned the second time I tried to apply with the help of a resource assistant at the local clinic is that you apply then get rejected after 90 days. At that point you immediately request a medical review. Make sure you have all you relative medical proof available to the agency.
No lawyers involved at this point.
A medical review requires you to release your medical info, a different set of investigator(s) review your case, everyone goes through these two parts and waiting periods, the review will take no less than 6 months. Should that be rejected, then you get an attorney and they should 10 or 15% of the first tranche of $$ should you be approved and nothing more. This initial $ will be the amount of $ you would have received from SSDI had you been already approved over the first year during the application when you could not have been working. Then there is the monthly allotment from which no attorney should get anything.
(In my case I never needed the lawyer because the medical reviewers agreed that I was done working and I was called on a Saturday, informed I had been awarded SSDI. If it hadn't been the case worker from five years prior, I wouldn't have believed it for days.)
What I learned the first time I applied and was denied five years prior was that you should avoid attorneys until absolutely necessary but also that you can fire the attorney, in writing, at any time and owe them $0. Up to the point where you agree to whatever they negotiate for you. You also have to notify any other parties involved that you have fired the lawyer.
You may get responses from the other parties right away so be prepared. I did and negotiated a settlement 2X the amt the lawyer was going to get for me when it was all over and they weren't doing anything helpful to get me medical help for my injury on the WC claim I had activated and prompted my SSDI application. I ended up working for another five years.
Many lawyers rip off SSDI applicants. be very careful.
And good luck! 
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