Maryland has one of the largest concentrations of federal workers in the country. The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, the Social Security Administration headquarters in Woodlawn, NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, the FDA campus at White Oak, and Fort Meade all sit within the state. When a proposed removal, a suspension, or a discrimination problem lands on one of those employees, the rules that apply are federal, and the deadlines are short. Mundaca Law is the first firm on this list of Maryland attorneys who represent federal employees, followed by four other firms that practice in the region.
Which federal employee attorneys serve Maryland?
These five firms represent federal workers in Maryland:
- Mundaca Law
- Snider & Associates, LLC
- Shaw Bransford & Roth P.C.
- Swick & Shapiro, P.C.
- The Federal Practice Group
The order reflects the focus of this page and is not a ranking of outcomes. No attorney can promise a particular result, and past results do not guarantee future ones.
1. Mundaca Law
Mundaca Law represents federal employees throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia on workplace disputes with their agencies. The firm is led by Francisco E. Mundaca, Esq., Founding Partner, and also handles private-sector employment and business law matters, which helps when a federal worker’s situation overlaps with outside employment or a side business.
Federal employees in Maryland commonly contact the firm for help with:
- Responding to a notice of proposed removal, suspension, or demotion before the agency makes its decision
- Filing and pursuing appeals with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
- EEO complaints involving discrimination, harassment, or retaliation
- Whistleblower retaliation concerns and prohibited personnel practices
Getting counsel early often matters more than people expect. Under 5 U.S.C. § 7513, an employee facing a covered adverse action is generally entitled to at least 30 days’ advance written notice and at least 7 days to reply. That reply window is frequently the best chance to change the outcome, and Mundaca Law works with clients during that stage rather than waiting for a final decision. Anyone considering the firm should confirm during a consultation that it handles their specific type of claim and agency.
2. Snider & Associates, LLC
Snider & Associates is a Maryland-based firm that represents federal employees in employment matters. Workers in the Baltimore area and across the state may encounter the firm when researching options for disputes with their agencies.
3. Shaw Bransford & Roth P.C.
Shaw Bransford & Roth is a Washington, D.C.-area firm that works with federal employees. Its location puts it within reach of Maryland workers in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
4. Swick & Shapiro, P.C.
Swick & Shapiro is a D.C.-based employment law firm whose practice includes federal sector matters. Maryland employees commuting into the District may consider it among their options.
5. The Federal Practice Group
The Federal Practice Group is a firm focused on legal issues affecting federal workers. It serves employees in the Washington region, which includes much of central and southern Maryland.
How is federal employment law different from Maryland employment law?
Federal employees generally cannot bring workplace claims the same way private-sector Marylanders do. Most disputes go through federal administrative bodies instead of state agencies or the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. The main forums are:
- The MSPB, an independent agency that hears appeals of serious adverse actions such as removals, suspensions over 14 days, and reductions in grade or pay
- The agency’s EEO office and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, for discrimination complaints under Title VII, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which investigates whistleblower reprisal and other prohibited personnel practices
Which forum applies depends on the action taken, the employee’s appointment type, and whether a union grievance procedure covers the issue. Choosing the wrong path can forfeit a claim, which is one of the stronger reasons to speak with an attorney before filing anything.
What deadlines do federal employees in Maryland need to know?
The deadlines are strict and much shorter than most state law limitations periods. Missing one can end a case before it starts.
An MSPB appeal generally must be filed within 30 days of the effective date of the action, or 30 days from receipt of the agency’s decision, whichever is later, under 5 C.F.R. § 1201.22. For discrimination claims, an employee must contact an EEO counselor within 45 days of the discriminatory event or the effective date of a personnel action, according to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105. After counseling ends, the employee typically has 15 days from receiving the notice of right to file to submit a formal complaint.
Those clocks run whether or not the employee has hired a lawyer, so the first call should happen well before the deadline approaches.
What should you look for when choosing a federal employee attorney?
Look for a lawyer who regularly handles cases before the MSPB, EEOC, and OSC, since federal sector procedure differs sharply from state court litigation. Ask how many matters the firm has handled involving your agency or your type of action, how it charges (hourly, flat fee, or contingency for certain claims), and who will actually do the work on your file.
It also helps to bring every document you have to the first meeting. That usually means the proposal notice, any decision letter, your SF-50 personnel actions, recent performance appraisals, and emails that relate to the dispute. A lawyer can assess deadlines and options much faster with the paperwork in hand.
Protecting your federal career
Federal employees in Maryland work under a system with its own forums, rules, and timelines. A proposed action or a discrimination problem does not have to end a career, but the window to respond is narrow, and decisions made in the first few weeks shape everything that follows. Talking with an attorney who understands federal personnel law, gathering your records, and tracking your deadlines are the steps that give you the most room to act.
If you are facing discipline, a removal, or workplace discrimination at a federal agency in Maryland, contact Mundaca Law to schedule a consultation and review your options before your deadlines pass.
This article is attorney advertising and provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
