Federal Employee Legal Services Center

Nearby LawyersDistrict of ColumbiaWashingtonNorthwest WashingtonK Street Northwest

Open Hours:

Monday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday, Closed
Sunday, Closed

Federal Employee Legal Services Center Introduce

Navigating employment issues within the federal government can be complex, requiring specialized legal knowledge and experience. Within the "Nearby Lawyers" category, the Federal Employee Legal Services Center, situated at 1629 K St NW #300, Washington, DC 20006, USA, aims to provide dedicated legal support to federal employees facing various workplace challenges. The available client reviews present a mixed picture, with one praising the firm's thoroughness and expertise after becoming a client, while another expresses significant frustration with the initial difficulty in reaching the attorneys and a perceived lack of professionalism during the intake process.

Located on K Street NW in Washington, D.C., an area known for its concentration of legal and business services, the Federal Employee Legal Services Center likely operates within a professional office environment. Clients might expect a reception area, private rooms for consultations on sensitive employment matters, and administrative spaces necessary for legal operations. The #300 suite number suggests an office within a larger building, indicating accessibility for federal employees working in and around the D.C. area.

Based on the positive client review, the Federal Employee Legal Services Center specializes in legal matters related to federal employment, particularly those involving the:

Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB): The MSPB is an independent federal agency that oversees the merit system principles of the federal government and protects federal employees from prohibited personnel practices. Cases before the MSPB can involve adverse actions such as removals, suspensions, demotions, and other disciplinary actions, as well as appeals related to performance ratings and whistleblower retaliation.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): The EEO process addresses complaints of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information in the federal workplace. This involves navigating the complaint process within federal agencies and potentially appealing to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The positive review specifically recommends the firm's services to any employee in an MSPB or EEO case, highlighting their knowledge and professionalism in these areas. This suggests that the firm's primary focus is on representing federal employees in these types of disputes.

The contrasting negative review, however, points to significant issues with the firm's initial client intake process. The reviewer describes prolonged difficulty in contacting the attorneys, despite repeated attempts, and a perceived lack of follow-through. This suggests potential challenges in reaching the firm and receiving initial consultations.

The positive review also mentions that while the firm could be difficult to reach initially (attributed to high case volume and an inability to take more clients at the time), the intake process was thorough once contact was made. Furthermore, the client reported prompt responses to messages, emails, and phone calls after becoming a client, along with a high level of knowledge and fair pricing.

Considering both reviews, the features of the Federal Employee Legal Services Center appear to be:

Specialized Expertise: Strong knowledge in MSPB and EEO cases for federal employees, as highlighted by the positive review.

Thorough Intake Process (once engaged): The firm is reported to be very thorough in understanding the details of a case once a client is accepted.

Prompt Communication (post-engagement): After becoming a client, messages, emails, and calls are reportedly answered promptly.

Fair and Competitive Pricing: The firm's pricing is described as fair and competitive.

Professionalism (post-engagement): The professionalism of the firm is described as exceptional by one client.

Potential Accessibility Issues (initial contact): The negative review and the positive review's initial comment suggest significant difficulties in reaching the firm and obtaining an initial consultation.

The promotional information for the Federal Employee Legal Services Center is somewhat mixed due to the contrasting reviews. The positive review serves as a strong endorsement for federal employees facing MSPB or EEO issues, emphasizing the firm's knowledge, professionalism, and fair pricing. The recommendation to others in similar situations acts as a positive promotion. However, the negative review serves as a significant cautionary note, highlighting potential issues with client communication and intake processes. Potential clients should be aware of both perspectives when considering this firm.

For local users in the "Nearby Lawyers" category in Washington, D.C., who are federal employees facing MSPB or EEO issues, the Federal Employee Legal Services Center offers specialized legal services in these complex areas. The positive review suggests that once a client is taken on, they can expect thorough representation, prompt communication, and knowledgeable counsel. However, the reported difficulties in initial contact and the negative experience of one potential client are important factors to consider. If you are a federal employee in need of assistance with an MSPB or EEO matter, it may be worthwhile to attempt to contact the Federal Employee Legal Services Center at (240) 600-0050 or +1 240-600-0050 to inquire about their current availability and consultation process. Be prepared for potential difficulties in reaching them initially, as indicated by the reviews.

In conclusion, the Federal Employee Legal Services Center in Washington, D.C., specializes in representing federal employees in MSPB and EEO cases, with one client reporting thorough service, prompt communication after engagement, and knowledgeable representation at a fair price. However, another potential client experienced significant difficulties in contacting the firm and obtaining a consultation, raising concerns about their initial client intake process. Federal employees in the area seeking legal assistance with MSPB or EEO matters should be aware of these contrasting experiences and may need to be persistent in their initial attempts to contact the firm to determine if their services are currently available and if the firm is able to take on new clients. It is advisable to weigh both the positive feedback regarding their expertise and service delivery once engaged, against the negative feedback concerning accessibility and initial communication.

Location

Customer Reviews

(9 reviews)

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Nathan McClure
Apr 09, 2025

While the law firm can be difficult to reach initially, this was explained by the high case volume and inability to take more clients at the time. They were very thorough in the intaking process and made sure that the case was well known. After becoming a client, all messages, emails, and phone calls were promptly answered and all questions were answered. Not only were they extremely fair and competitive in price, their knowledge of the case exceeded my expectation by far. I would highly recommend their service to any employee in a MSPB or EEO case, as their professionalism is exceptional.

M
Melanie Schlagger
May 21, 2024

This organization needs to be investigated immediately. I've called for 3+ months to inquire about obtaining legal representation for a work related matter. However, the receptionist continues to take my contact information, claims she passing it along, but yet the attorneys REFUSE to reach out to me. In addition, when one did reach out to me via email early on, by the name of Rosemary Dettling, she refused to further answer my questions, in regards to a consultation AND has avoided my calls and emails like the plague. It's almost as if this place is suspiciously blackballing and refusing to consult with me for reasons unknown. Completely unprofessional.

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G M
May 26, 2023

They were very patient and helped me understand the legal principles of my case and what I needed to do to win. They discussed the burdens of proof and never talked down to me. They hardly ever billed for phone calls an administrative things like emails. I was pleased to learn that my retainer was used sparingly and only for work that had to be completed for the judge. They definitely do not gouge you. I am always suspicions and was pleasantly surprised that they dispelled all my previous opinions of lawyers.

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D Nichols
May 17, 2016

Rosemary Dettling is an amazing lawyer! Let me start off by saying she has showed me a great deal of compassion and understanding as my case has been very stressful for me. She has taken the time out of her personal day to assure me of my case and laid my anxiety to rest. She is straight forward with her rates, I believe she is very comparable in pricing, there are no hidden fees. Rosemary took my case when no one else would. Her knowledge of my case, confidence and professionalism during court presenting my case exceeded my expectations! I would and have recommended Rosemary Dettling to anyone needing an EEOC lawyer. There are no words that can describe my gratitude for R as she believes in me and my case. Thank you Rosemary.

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Lynne Doherty
May 26, 2016

Best Decision I Ever Made 5.0 stars Posted by Lynne Tuesday at 1:23pm Hired attorney In 2007 I filed an EEO Complaint against my employer for a hostile work environment and later included retaliation when I was denied a promotion. The case went to mediation and I won my promotion and a 2-step increase, however I was responsible for my attorney fees. My attorney at the time warned me that this would not be the end of it. As soon as the agreement was signed, the retaliation began in earnest, subtle at first and later to the point that I was falsely accused of unprofessional conduct. I contacted my first attorney to represent me but he declined the case. I then contacted what I thought to be a reputable law firm in DC, only to be bled dry of what little savings I had as well as what I had to borrow against my 401K before we even got to hearing. Ultimately that was the point I realized that my attorneys had no intention of going to hearing, even though I was adamant upon hiring them that this time I had to go to hearing. This firm switched my attorney three times in the three weeks prior to the actual depositions, and during the deposition phase failed to properly represent me. When I declined to sign a new retainer for responding to Agency’s Motion for Summary Judgement, which was due in one week, my attorney stated that “This time they would really fight for me and in the next breath stated he had a great idea to get agency to settle”. At that point, I hung up the phone and searched desperately for a new attorney to represent me. That is when I found Rosemary Dettling. She took my case at the 11th hour (less than 1 week to respond to agency’s motion for SJ), received my file less than two business days prior to the response date because my former law firm dragged their feet in releasing my file) and was able to make such a compelling argument to deny SJ that we were granted a hearing date. The hearing was held last week and when I tell you that Rosemary Dettling is the ONLY attorney you should have represent you before the EEOC, that is a huge understatement! She was able to get all of agency’s witnesses to admit wrongdoing when I think they actually believed they were credible witnesses! We have not received a decision yet from the hearing, but I am confident that we will prevail. Rosemary Dettling is the most competent, knowledgeable and compassionate attorney I have ever met and I would not be in the position I currently find myself in without her. You will not find better representation anywhere! As frightening as it was to switch attorneys at the last minute, it was the best decision I have made in my adult life! I highly recommend Rosemary Dettling, and I am proud to call her my attorney.