When to Hire a Federal Employment Lawyer

Mary Barrett

April 29, 2022

If you’re a federal employee facing a potential disciplinary action, EEO violations, investigations, security clearance problems, whistleblower claims, or disability retirement issues, it’s time to seriously consider hiring a federal employment lawyer.

Below, we’ve listed several reasons why a federal employee should secure representation by a federal employment attorney and what to expect.

What Is a Federal Employment Attorney?

Federal employment lawyers specialize in federal employment law. This means they are able to navigate the nuances of the many statutes that govern many problems that federal employees face.

If you’re experiencing a disciplinary action, equal employment issues, or security clearance problems, a federal employment attorney will likely be able to help you.

You may be able to resolve these issues before they get any worse if you hire a federal employment lawyer. Otherwise, it’s possible that the problems could get bad enough that they lead to your removal or other adverse situations in the federal workplace.

A federal employment lawyer can also help those federal employees with disabilities to find potential reasonable accommodations that could help make the workplace better for them, or pursue disability retirement when no accommodations are possible or effective.

Federal employment attorneys are able to go before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and security clearance authorities at each agency.

All these different organizations and issues can get very confusing, and they are often entwined. If you want to have the best possibility of winning your case, getting expert advice and representation is extremely important.

Federal Employee Lawyers Know Their Stuff

It can be extremely difficult for federal employees not in the legal profession to understand the complicated language of federal laws governing the federal workplace, and the nuances of how those laws impact their cases.

Having a federal employment lawyer on your side means you will be able to get clarity and understanding through a process full of complex laws and perplexing claims.

Unless you have the benefit of representation by a federal employment law firm, there may be further legal opportunities available to you, such as a basis for defense or a separate claim, that you may not be aware of.

Often, a federal employee will miss important deadlines on accident without counsel, as many of these deadlines are very narrow and oftentimes confusing. However, federal employment lawyers know the ins and outs of these deadlines and the processes involved in filing a claim or case.

Another good reason to hire a federal employment attorney is that federal employees with representation tend to be taken more seriously. This of course should not be the case, but it oftentimes is.

When a federal employee is represented by counsel, their case gets more attention and their claims more responsiveness than an unrepresented federal employee.

Law Firm For Federal Employees

Sometimes, a federal employee will have a case or claim against their own supervisor. As I’m sure you can imagine, it is very uncomfortable and scary for a federal worker to deal with their management directly over these serious problems at work.

When you have a federal employment attorney on your side, they will advocate on your behalf and represent you in these otherwise uncomfortable situations.

If you are a federal employee with a case or claim against the agency you work for (or were recently removed from), get in touch with the highly experienced federal employee attorneys at Melville Johnson, P.C.

We have been representing federal workers for over 35 years and have an abundance of experience litigating cases in front of the MSPB, EEOC, OPM, OSC, and federal disability retirement officials.

Call us today or fill out the contact form below to learn how we can help you win your federal employment case. We can’t wait to hear from you and get started on your claim!

This blog and web site published by Melville Johnson, P.C. should not be used as a substitute for seeking competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney. Readers of this information should not act upon any information contained on this blog or website without seeking professional counsel.

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what our clients are saying

“I really appreciate how much Melville Johnson cared about my case. From the very beginning of the process, their federal employee attorneys were friendly and very informative. We won the case, and they were even helpful afterwards, answering any questions or concerns. Thank you Melville Johnson, and I will definitely pass your good work along to others in need.”
- Jim R.

“Despite the complexity of my situation, Melville Johnson took on my claim and immediately put me at ease with a clear demonstration of their expertise with EEO law. From the very start, the firm’s team members have been amazing to work with—hardworking, honest and extremely trustworthy. I would recommend them to anyone who needed this type of legal assistance!”
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“As a person with a disability working for the federal government, I knew I needed to get the right legal professional assistance for my case. And while the process could have been tedious and overwhelming for a layperson without much legal knowledge, Melville Johnson alleviated all the potential stress involved by taking the guesswork out of my hands. With their help, I received disability approval in record time! I want to thank you for the superior work your firm performed. From my very first contact, your Client Intake Manager took the time to answer all of my initial questions and provide detailed information at every turn. And your attorneys showed nothing but professionalism and kindness throughout the process.”
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