Military & Government Security Clearance Attorneys

Security Clearance Is Especially Important for Military & Government Personnel

Our firm offers nationwide protection for military and government security clearance denials and appeals. Losing your military or government security clearance can have a severe impact on your career. This is why it is of the highest importance that you receive expert advice from an experienced attorney.

We have helped clients gain security clearance for a wide variety of companies. These include:

There is a litany of reasons why you may have been denied security clearance or experienced revocation of your military or government security clearance.

These may include a charge of allegiance to a foreign country, otherwise foreign influence, sexual behavior, personal conduct, alcohol consumption, drug involvement, psychological conditions, criminal conduct, and handling protected information. Some outside activities and misuse of IT systems can also cause issues.

In some cases, financial issues could cause a suspension, revocation, or denial.

How to Appeal a Military or Government Security Clearance Denial

When you have been denied military/government security clearance, you will receive a Statement of Reasons, which explains why the clearance was denied or revoked.

Many applicants who receive a Statement of Reasons fail to follow through with the appeals process. This can be detrimental to your career and ignores the rights you have been given under the law.

Responding to the SOR

You have a right to appeal your security clearance denial or revocation. To do so, you must file a written rebuttal to the Statement of Response within 20 days from the date you receive the SOR. You can request an extension during this process, but you must have a valid reason, or your request will be denied.

When responding to the SOR, you can do so with or without a request for an administrative hearing. Your rebuttal must include a detailed answer that admits or denies each allegation listed on the SOR while providing information that rebuts, explains, or mitigates each listed allegation.

You will file your SOR rebuttal with the Department of Defense, Consolidated Adjudication Facility (DoDCAF) or Department of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA). Once the DOHA has received your SOR rebuttal, the department will send you a File of Relevant Material (FORM).

Once you have received the FORM, you typically have 20 to 30 days from that date to submit a written response. This response can set forth objections, rebuttals, mitigations, or explanations to each charge as appropriate.

Your responses to the SOR and FORM will be reviewed by the DOHA. If, upon that review, the allegations against your security clearance are deemed to be unfounded, and evidence is insufficient for further processing, the denial or revocation will be lifted, and your clearance will be granted.

In some cases, your case will be assigned to a DOHA Administrative Judge (AJ), who will consider the case either with or without an administrative hearing.