Security Clearance Lawyers: Appeals & Denials

If you’re pursuing a position with the federal government, you might wonder if you can jump-start the process by initiating a national security clearance investigation yourself. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. The agency considering hiring or promoting you must initiate the security clearance process. This procedure can vary between agencies.

Once the process is initiated, you’re responsible for completing forms and participating in interviews. While you can handle this part on your own, working with an experienced national security clearance attorney can be beneficial—especially if potential red flags exist. Ensuring your information is complete, accurate, and well-prepared can improve your chances of approval and help you avoid a lengthy appeal process.

At The Edmunds Law Firm, we provide support at every stage of the security clearance process, including preparing for investigations, polygraph exams, and military discharge upgrades.

Experience is important when choosing a security clearance law firm to work with. The national security clearance process and appeals are specialized areas of law that require in-depth knowledge. Most attorneys do not have the expertise necessary to navigate these procedures effectively.

When choosing an attorney, ensure they have extensive experience at all levels of the security clearance process—from initial applications to appeals. Even if you need assistance with the initial paperwork and interviews, working with a law firm that can see you through the entire process is wise.

National security clearance law isn’t like most other areas of law, because the entire process is federal. While a client seeking a divorce or personal injury lawyer needs an attorney licensed in their state and will usually do best with an attorney who knows the local court system well, geography isn’t important in security clearance law. You have the luxury of choosing the best-qualified attorney no matter where they are.

Attorney Alan V. Edmunds has decades of experience with the national security clearance process. He assists clients at all stages of the process and has handled hundreds of appeals.

While every case is unique and past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, The Edmunds Law Firm has a strong track record of success. You can learn more about some of our past successes on our favorable decisions page. These include securing security clearances for clients despite issues such as prior criminal convictions, past drug use, unpaid debt, allegations of dishonesty during the clearance process interviews, and more.

We also have a solid history of helping clients upgrade their military discharge status to obtain security clearance. During your free consultation, Attorney Edmunds can discuss his specific experience with cases similar to yours.

If you’re concerned that your security clearance is at risk, it’s a good idea to consult an experienced national security clearance lawyer. Even if you haven’t received a letter of intent to revoke your clearance, early intervention can help you protect your clearance status. If you weren’t aware of the investigation or didn’t contact an attorney during that phase, you should consult a lawyer as soon as you receive the letter of intent to revoke your security clearance.

Once a letter of intent is issued, your clearance will be suspended—though not yet revoked. This suspension can impact your job duties and jeopardize your position. You must act quickly to avoid revocation.

The exact process for challenging a security clearance revocation depends on the agency involved. The most common first step is to provide a written response to the statement of reasons (SOR), and you may also be entitled to a hearing.

The cost of hiring a security clearance attorney varies based on the services you need and your case’s complexity. At The Edmunds Law Firm, we work with clients to ensure they only pay for the services required.

We understand that when your security clearance is at risk, your career and livelihood are on the line. During your free initial consultation, we will clearly explain the fee structure and work with you to determine the best approach to protect your clearance and future.