Federal Employment Lawyer In Illinois
Protecting Federal Careers When Everything Is On The Line
If you are a federal employee in Illinois or in the Chicago area and you are suddenly facing a proposed removal, suspension, investigation, or discrimination at work, it can feel like your entire career is at risk. Federal employment law is not the same as Illinois state employment law, and the rules that apply to you are unique to federal service. You need guidance that comes from deep experience with the federal system.
At The Law Firm of John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, PLLC, we focus our practice on representing federal employees across the United States and internationally. Our team works every day with federal agencies, federal personnel rules, and the administrative forums that decide these disputes. We understand how quickly deadlines arrive and how much is at stake for you, your family, and your retirement.
Our firm is led by attorney John P. Mahoney, a former federal Administrative Judge who has spent his career inside the federal employment world. That experience, combined with a team that includes former federal employees and agency executives, allows us to approach your case with insight into how agencies think and how decision makers evaluate evidence. From our base in Washington, DC, we represent federal workers wherever they serve, including those who live and work in Illinois.
Contact The Law Firm of John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, PLLC today to speak with a federal employment lawyer who can help you meet critical deadlines, respond strategically, and protect your career, reputation, and federal benefits.
Our Practice Areas
- Administrative Law Judge Hearings
- Agency or Congressional Conduct Investigations
- Conduct Investigation
- Disciplinary Actions
- EEO Complaints
- Employment Law
- Federal Disability Retirement Benefits
- Federal Employment Law
- Inspector General Complaints
- MSPB Appeals
- OFO Appeals
- OSC Complaints
- Performance Cases
- Performance Improvement Plans
- Security Clearance Law Appeals
- Sexual Harassment
- Title 38
- Whistleblower Cases
- Workplace Harassment
Why Federal Employees Choose Our Firm
When your position, security clearance, or federal benefits are threatened, you want counsel that truly understands how federal agencies operate. At The Law Firm of John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, PLLC, federal employment is not a sideline. It is the focus of our work, and we represent federal employees across the country and overseas who are facing serious employment problems with their agencies.
Our managing member, John P. Mahoney, previously served as a federal Administrative Judge. That background gives our firm a detailed understanding of how records are evaluated, how credibility is assessed, and how agency counsel may approach your matter. We apply that knowledge when advising you on how to respond to proposed discipline, how to pursue an EEO claim, or how to present your case in settlement discussions or hearings.
Many members of our team previously worked inside federal agencies as employees or executives. We have seen agency culture from the inside, including performance management, disciplinary processes, and how complaints are handled. This helps us anticipate how your agency may react, and it allows us to communicate with you in plain language about what is realistic and what strategies may best protect your career.
Our firm has earned an AV Preeminent rating, which reflects recognition by the legal community for both legal ability and ethical standards. Over the years, our attorneys have achieved significant results for federal employees, including multi million dollar resolutions and outcomes that helped clients preserve or advance their careers. We do not promise specific results, because every matter is different, but we can point to a long history of meaningful victories for federal workers who trusted us with complex and high stakes cases.
Illinois is within the Seventh Circuit for federal appellate purposes. We are licensed before and take cases in the DC Circuit, the Federal Circuit, the Fourth Circuit, the United States District Courts in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and the United States Court of Federal Claims. Many federal employment disputes for employees in Illinois are still handled in national administrative forums, and our knowledge of federal systems can be valuable in those settings.
Clients often ask whether a Washington based federal employment law firm can truly help someone who works in Illinois or in Chicago. The answer is that many federal employment disputes are decided in national or agency wide forums, so location often matters less than deep familiarity with federal rules and procedures. Our goal is to combine that national perspective with personal attention, so that you feel supported even when you are hundreds of miles from DC.
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"It means the world to know my experience is being fought for so powerfully."
Dear Attorney Lolotai,
I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for the powerful motion you submitted to amend and reinstate the dismissed claims in my case. Your work was not only thorough and well-argued it is deeply validating.
Reading the motion, I felt like you truly captured the full scope of what I endured. The way you incorporated the patterns of hostility, the layered racial and gender-based discrimination, and the continued retaliation was incredibly strategic and affirming. Your attention to detail, legal framing, and use of precedent made it clear that you believe in the strength of my case and are committed to advocating for the truth to be seen.
Thank you for standing with me and for giving voice to the reality I’ve been carrying for so long. It means the world to know my experience is being fought for so powerfully.
- Rikyah Noel Brown -
"Human Element/Experienced"
John is clearly a very knowledgeable and highly experienced attorney, but what has meant the most to me during this process is the human approach he has taken. Any process like this can be stressful and difficult but John has tried to make it as painless as possible. Can’t put a price tag on that human element.
- R.
Federal Employment Issues We Handle In Illinois
Most day to day disputes between federal employees and their agencies are guided by national statutes and administrative systems. These include the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office of Special Counsel, the Office of Personnel Management, and internal agency procedures. We work with these systems regularly, and we help employees around the country navigate them.
Federal employees in Illinois contact us about a wide range of situations. Some are dealing with EEO discrimination complaints involving claims of race, sex, age, disability, or other protected categories. Others are confronting harassment, hostile work environment allegations, or retaliation for prior EEO activity. We help them understand which forum is appropriate and how to preserve their rights while following strict federal timelines.
We also work with employees who are facing performance or conduct based actions, such as proposed removals, long suspensions, demotions, or performance improvement plans. In these matters, we review the notices, supporting documents, and your employment history, then we advise you on how to respond. Our role is to help you present your side in a way that addresses the agency’s stated concerns and preserves issues for any later appeal.
Whistleblower retaliation and other prohibited personnel practices are another common concern. Employees who report fraud, waste, abuse, safety issues, or violations of law can find themselves targeted through subtle or overt actions. We guide these clients through options that may include the Office of Special Counsel or other appropriate channels, and we work to protect them from unlawful retaliation while addressing the underlying issues in dispute.
Security clearance related problems can also put a federal career at risk. Although clearance decisions involve separate processes, adverse actions that stem from clearance issues often affect pay, position, and future roles. Our attorneys are experienced in helping employees respond to proposals that are linked to clearance concerns, and we work to coordinate overall strategy so you are not addressing each problem in isolation.
For employees in the Chicago area and elsewhere in Illinois, we typically work remotely through secure phone and video conferences, electronic document sharing, and detailed written advice. Our clients find that this approach allows them to work closely with a federal employment attorney without needing to travel. We focus our efforts on the federal systems that decide your case, and we keep you informed at each stage so you understand your options.
For decades, we have helped thousands of federal employees like you handle the most complex legal matters, so they can assert their rights, and protect and enhance their federal careers. We are grateful for your public service, and we are dedicated to resolving the employment difficulties you face with the federal government. We offer the effective legal experience you need.
Serving Federal Employees In Chicago & Beyond
Illinois, and particularly the Chicago area, is home to large numbers of federal employees across many agencies. These include personnel in regional headquarters, law enforcement components, transportation and aviation related functions, and administrative offices that support programs throughout the Midwest. Although these employees work in a specific city or installation, their employment rights are shaped by national federal statutes and agency wide policies.
Many of the disputes that affect federal workers in Chicago are handled in administrative forums that apply across the country. EEO complaints are generally processed under federal regulations that do not change from state to state. The Merit Systems Protection Board operates under federal law, and the Office of Special Counsel has national authority in whistleblower and prohibited personnel practice matters. This means that a federal employee in Illinois may benefit as much from a Washington based federal employment law firm as someone located closer to DC.
At the same time, it is important to understand where we are licensed and which courts we appear in. Our attorneys are admitted before the DC Circuit, the Federal Circuit, the Fourth Circuit, the United States District Courts in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and the United States Court of Federal Claims. In many situations, your matter will be addressed in administrative forums or internal agency processes that are national in scope, and we represent federal employees in those settings regardless of where they live or work.
Federal employees in Illinois can also be affected by national budget decisions, reorganizations, or mission shifts. For example, changes that have impacted major installations such as Norfolk Naval Shipyard or Lackland Air Force Base illustrate how restructuring and resource shifts can ripple through commands and agencies. Similar forces can lead to reassignments, reductions in force, or changes in performance expectations at offices in other states, including those that employ workers in Illinois.
When federal agencies adjust staffing or change missions, employees may be offered new positions, relocated, or placed under new supervisors with different expectations. These changes can sometimes mask unfair treatment or can result in performance standards that do not fairly reflect the work. We help clients analyze proposed changes, review RIF notices or reassignments, and decide how to respond if they believe the actions violate their rights or are being used to push them out.
Because our firm is based in Washington, DC, we remain close to the policy discussions and central offices that shape agency decisions nationwide. We draw on that perspective when advising federal employees who work in Illinois, so that your strategy reflects both your local reality and the broader federal environment in which your agency operates.