“Defend Your Service” does not refer only to service in the armed forces. We also proudly defend employees in the federal civil service.

If you are interested in filing an appeal with the MSPB, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation today.

Are the attorneys at Mangan Law experienced with the MSPB?

Our federal employment law specialist, Paul “PJ” Judge, has substantial experience in federal employment matters. 

In the Army JAG Corps, he cut his teeth trying felony cases in military courts-martial.

Afterward, he served with the Department of Commerce as an employment law attorney, advising on matters pertaining to the Census Bureau and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He now brings his in-house experience and perspective to Mangan Law.

What is the MSPB?

The MSPB is an independent, quasi-judicial federal agency that has jurisdiction over certain employment law claims brought by federal employees.

Practically speaking, it hears appeals of major adverse personnel actions against federal employees. If you are a federal employee and you are removed for cause, you may be able to appeal that removal to the MSPB, depending on the facts and circumstances.

The MSPB also adjudicates some whistleblower retaliation matters.

MSPB cases are typically litigated before an Administrative Judge. The process resembles civil litigation, but with fewer rules and procedures than most state or federal courts. Litigation involves filing pleadings, conducting discovery, motions, and advocacy at a hearing, which resembles a trial.

What is the history and purpose of the MSPB?

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) exists to help keep the federal civil service fair and rule-based. Its mission is to protect the Merit System Principles and promote a federal workforce free of Prohibited Personnel Practices. 

In plain English, the MSPB works to ensure federal agencies make major employment decisions (like the decision to fire employees) based on merit, rather than improper or unlawful considerations.

Historically, the MSPB was created during a major overhaul of federal civil service rules in the late 1970s. The MSPB was established by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978, which was then codified by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA). These reforms replaced the old Civil Service Commission with separate entities, with the MSPB taking on the role of adjudicating employees’ appeals pertaining to their federal employment, including removal from their positions.

What kinds of cases does the MSPB hear?

We represent employees and applicants in matters for which the MSPB has appellate jurisdiction:

  • Removals
  • Suspension over 14 days in length
  • Reduction in grade
  • Reduction in pay
  • Certain furlough actions
  • Individual Right of Action (IRA) appeals

What is my deadline to file an MSPB appeal?

In most cases, an appeal must be filed within 30 calendar days of the effective date of the action. It is very important that you file before the relevant deadline.

The easiest way to file an appeal is through the MSPB’s e-Appeal system.

What if I have missed the deadline?

We encourage you to call and consult with us anyway. Depending on the facts, we may still be able to assist you.

Why do I need an attorney for the MSPB?

If you are researching the MSPB, your career as a federal civil servant may be in jeopardy. You may already have been removed from your position.

Your career matters. Hiring an attorney can make an enormous difference in your case.

  • The MSPB is an unforgiving system, filled with unintuitive rules and strict procedural requirements.
  • Your opponent is an experienced attorney with the resources of the federal government behind them. They live and breathe federal employment defense, but you are likely doing this for the first and only time.
  • MSPB litigation can take hundreds of hours of free time that you cannot afford to spend.
  • Hearing advocacy is a specialized art and a science. You cannot learn how to do this overnight.
  • Employment law is complicated. A non-lawyer cannot be reasonably expected to navigate complex jurisdictional questions, rules of evidence, discovery practice, subpoenas, disputes over sanctions, standards and burdens of proof, calculation of damages, depositions, and examinations of witnesses.
  • Experienced attorneys know when to take a case to a hearing and when to settle. They know how much a case is worth and they know how to generate leverage.

What kinds of remedies can the MSPB award?

The remedies vary from case to case, but can include:

  • Back pay
  • Compensatory damages
  • Reinstatement
  • Attorney’s fees
  • Corrective actions for prohibited personal practices (where authorized).

Are you a big law firm?

We are not. We are a small, specialized firm. We exclusively defend members of the armed forces and federal employees. As of 2026, we have two attorneys (both partners) and a small administrative staff.

Many law firms in this sector do business on volume. They intake thousands of clients, then have their cases handled by overworked and underpaid associates.

That is not our business model. We pride ourselves on excellent representation in every case, big or small. We encourage you to read our reviews from prior clients.

If you hire Mangan Law to help with your MSPB appeal, you will not be shuffled around between different attorneys or referred out on a contract basis. Our federal employment specialist and partner, PJ Judge, will personally handle your case.

Can you travel to represent me?

Yes. It does not matter if your office is in rural Alaska, Okinawa, or in downtown D.C. We will travel to you if necessary for your case. We practice nationwide.

How much do you charge?

Every case is different. We encourage you to make an appointment for a free consultation to tell us about your case and learn more about our fees.

Our clients are working people, not millionaires. We do our best to ensure that our prices are affordable. 

If you are worried you may not be able to afford us, we encourage you to consult with us anyway. A consultation is a free opportunity to hear a lawyer’s thoughts on your case, and we might be able to work out a payment plan that works for you.

Do you take cases to hearing or settle them?

We do both.

Many cases settle (and they should). Many cases do not make it to a hearing.

But in every single case we take, we are prepared to fight it out at a hearing.

Who do you represent?

We represent all kinds of federal employees and applicants, whether you are a Census field representative, a NASA scientist, or a senior State Department executive.

  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Commerce
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Department of Education
  • Department of Energy
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  • Department of the Interior (DOI)
  • Department of Justice (DOJ)
  • Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Department of State
  • Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Department of the Treasury
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Census Bureau
  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
  • Federal Election Commission (FEC)
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
  • Federal Reserve System
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
  • General Services Administration (GSA)
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO)
  • Government Publishing Office (GPO)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
  • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
  • National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
  • National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
  • Peace Corps
  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • Social Security Administration (SSA)
  • United States Postal Service (USPS)
  • U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
  • U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)
  • U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)

How should I prepare for my MSPB appeal?

The first thing you should do is consult with a lawyer. With more information on your case, an attorney can give you better advice on what to do. Mangan Law offers consultations that are 100% free of charge and require no commitment. The sooner you consult with us, the better. The earlier we get involved, the better your chances of victory.

Other than hiring an attorney, consider the following best practices:

The MSPB appeal process contains many deadlines. You need to read every Agency letter and MSPB AJ order very carefully to understand when certain appeals, requests, and filings are due. Missing deadlines can be fatal to your appeal!

Begin preparing a detailed chronology of all of the relevant events.

Collect relevant documentation. Save critical emails and documents as .pdfs, but be very careful not to violate your Agency’s electronic storage, confidentiality, and cybersecurity rules. It is especially important to preserve communications like Microsoft Teams messages that are less easily recovered months or years down the road.

Be on your best behavior as an employee. Do not give your management any excuse to remove you on the basis of misconduct or performance.

Always be honest. Never lie or misrepresent anything to managers and investigators.

Ask for mediation. Mediation (also known as alternative dispute resolution, or “ADR”) often fails, but it usually does not hurt, and can be a useful opportunity to learn more about the Agency’s position.

We Serve Where You Serve

Joint Base Lewis-McChord | Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson | Fort Wainwright | Naval Base Kitsap | Joint Base San-Antonio | Fairchild AFB | Mountain Home AFB | Malmstrom AFB | USCG Kodiak | Fort Huachuca | Fort Irwin | Ellsworth AFB | FE Warren AFB | Fort Leavenworth | Fort Johnson | Fort Eisenhower | Hill AFB | Beale AFB | Minot AFB | Grand Forks AFB | Fort Liberty | Fort Cavazos | Fort Riley | Fort Stewart | Fort Moore | USCG Sector Puget Sound | Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Air Force Academy | Wright-Patterson AFB | Military District of Washington