It makes no sense to go before the US Merit Systems Protection Board without an attorney representing you
. This board is a quasi judicial body that reviews the cases of federal employees that think they have been unfairly terminated, demoted, suspended.
Any employee of a US federal agency facing one of these actions can appeal his or her case to the MSPB under federal law. A person has the right to hire a private attorney to represent them in such a matter.
Why You Will Need a MSPB Lawyer
A person will need an attorney because the board functions a lot like a court. Most of the complaints made by employees will be heard by an administrative law judge in a legal hearing. The federal agency will be represented by a federal counsel who is a lawyer. It makes no sense to go into such an arena without an experienced attorney protecting your interests.
Indeed, you may not even get to the hearing without filing the proper paperwork. An experienced attorney will know what paperwork to file and how to file so you will get a hearing. Those without a lawyer may not even get to the hearing.
Federal agencies have a small army of lawyers whose job it is to quash appeals before they reach the board. The only way a person can get justice in this process is to have their own lawyer fighting for them.
How to Find a US Merit Systems Protection Board Attorney
Fortunately there are attorneys who specialize in representing people before the MSPB. These lawyers will file the appeal and stand by you at your hearing. Many of these lawyers are former federal counsel who may have represented government agencies in this process. They know the law and the process and they can help you win your appeal.
To determine if you have a case you can appeal to the board you will need to discuss your matter with an experienced attorney. The law firm of Kitchens, New & Cleghorn specializes in such matters and they offer case evaluation. A person can get their matter reviewed and learn if they have a case before spending time and money mounting an appeal.
This law firm includes a number of attorneys with experience in both federal employment law. Its attorneys include Joyce E. Kitchens, a former assistant district counsel for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She has represented both the VA and its workers in cases before the board.