Security Clearance Defense Attorneys in Ocean Springs
Keep or Obtain Your Confidential, Secret, Top Secret or SCI Clearance
A Security Clearance can be revoked for any number of causes, but one of the most common reasons is due to financial issues. It may seem unfair, but some studies and statistics suggest that people in debt may be at risk for committing a crime in order to make extra money. They also suggest that those in need of money might be a security risk at government locations. If your employer or security manager tells you that your clearance is at risk, contact us today to make sure you are not unfairly released from your employment. Our attorneys can advise you regardless of whether your clearance is Confidential, Secret, Top-Secret, or SCI.
If you are notified that your security clearance is recommended for revocation or denial due to Guideline F – Financial Considerations, it is important that you seek help right away. Waiting to respond to the government’s concerns could jeopardize your case. You are able to respond in writing to the allegations against you and you have the right to request a hearing before a judge. You have a chance of alleviating the government’s security concerns if any of the following “mitigating factors” apply to your situation:
- The behavior was not recent;
- It was an isolated incident;
- The conditions that resulted in the behavior were largely beyond the person's control (e.g., loss of employment, a business downturn, unexpected medical emergency, or a death, divorce or separation);
- The person has received or is receiving counseling for the problem and there are clear indications that the problem is being resolved or is under control; or
- The individual initiated a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or otherwise resolve debts.
Many of our security clearance clients are people that fell on hard times due to medical bills, divorce, or loss of employment. The most important thing you can do is take responsibility and develop a plan to overcome your financial issues. Our attorneys can help you develop this plan whether it involves setting up payment plans with creditors, negotiating debts, removing stale debt from credit reports, or filing a bankruptcy to eliminate overwhelming debt. A letter from an experienced law firm that you have developed a plan to overcome your financial issues may go a long way towards helping you keep or obtain your clearance.
Consumer Rights
Bankruptcy May Help
If your situation is severe enough that it will take years to overcome or if there is no way out of the debt that you have accumulated, a bankruptcy may actually help you retain your clearance. One of the mitigating factors in response to the Financial Considerations Guideline is “the individual initiated a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or otherwise resolve debts .” If your current financial situation keeps you from being able to pay back your creditors, bankruptcy exists as a way out of debt. Despite the negative stigma associated with bankruptcy, it is a tool that exists to help people in difficult situations to overcome huge financial burdens. Because bankruptcy eliminates debt, it also reduces the risk associated with carrying too much debt. Because every bankruptcy is different, it is important to speak to a qualified bankruptcy attorney to determine if this option is right for you.
Keep Your Career and Secure Your Future
Our attorneys have experience in defending those who have been in jeopardy of losing their clearance. Once notified of a recommendation for denial, we can file an appeal and request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. In this process, we can tell your side of the story and demonstrate your trustworthiness to the government. Your career may depend on keeping your clearance. Do not risk throwing away your future by failing to hire a professional.
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