Credits: 3.0 General Credit Hours
Class Description: This interactive and in-demand class demystifies the complex framework governing personnel security due process. Our distinguished presenter explores the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals system in depth, examining the procedural structure and substantive rules that drive clearance determinations. The class highlights the national security adjudicative guidelines, issued by the Director of National Intelligence in 2017, which remain the cornerstone for evaluating eligibility to access classified information.
The class also analyzes the evolving landscape of federal background investigations, including the implications of Executive Order 13764 and its modernization of investigative protocols. We further examine key precedents, such as the Federal Circuit’s decision in Wonders v. Department of the Army, with a focus on how such rulings reshape the standards of transparency and due process. Recent Department of War case decisions are unpacked to illustrate how adjudicators apply the rules in practice.
What sets this class apart is its experiential component. We will engage in realistic simulations that challenge you to apply procedural rules, adjudicative guidelines, and case law to practical client scenarios. This hands-on approach bridges the gap between legal theory and effective advocacy, ensuring you leave with sharpened skills you can immediately deploy.
This class is particularly valuable for attorneys representing military personnel, Department of War civilian employees, and contractors navigating security clearance denials or revocations. Those registering may also want to pair this class with How to Represent Your Client Effectively in Security Clearance Cases 2026 for a complete professional development experience.
Faculty: Peregrine Russell-Hunter, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, United States Department of Defense
Save $30 by clicking the Special Offer tab above!
Series Fees: $148 D.C. Bar Communities Members, $168 D.C. Bar Members, $188 Government and Nonprofit Attorneys, and $228 Others
Individual Class Fees: $89 D.C. Bar Communities Members, $99 D.C. Bar Members; $109 Government and Nonprofit Attorneys, and $129 Others
The D.C. Bar CLE Program now offers discounted group registration rates! For more information, contact the CLE Office at CLE@dcbar.org or 202-626-3488.