Virginia Beach Security Clearance Defense Lawyer
Defending Your Security Clearance Throughout Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads
757-337-2500
We Restore Order When Your Clearance and Your Career Is on the Line
For much of the Hampton Roads workforce, a security clearance is not a formality — it is the job. A Statement of Reasons, a suspended clearance, or a single unresolved issue on your record can put your income, your career, and your future access to classified work at risk, often before you fully understand what is happening.
At Invictus Law, we help service members, federal employees, and defense contractors respond to Statement of Reasons requests and represent them in Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) hearings throughout Virginia Beach, the surrounding Hampton Roads region, and beyond.
Our firm was founded by a former U.S. Marine Corps JAG officer who understands classified environments, the adjudicative guidelines, and how these determinations are actually made, and we put that experience to work protecting what you have earned.
A clearance problem is rarely the end of the story. But how you respond, and how early, can determine whether you keep your access, your position, and the career you have built.
Understanding the Security Clearance Process
A security clearance is a federal eligibility determination — a finding that a person can be trusted with access to classified national security information. It is not a Virginia court matter and not a criminal case; it is a discretionary decision made under the framework of
Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4)
Adjudicators apply a demanding standard: access may be granted only when it is “clearly consistent with the interests of national security,” and any doubt is resolved in favor of the government. That is why a careful, well-supported response matters so much.
Eligibility is evaluated using the “whole-person concept,” which weighs the seriousness of an issue against the circumstances, the passage of time, and evidence of rehabilitation or mitigation. A single concern rarely decides a case on its own — but an unaddressed or poorly documented one often does.
Security Clearance
Cases We Handle
How Invictus Law Helps
With Security Clearance Cases
Clearance defense is not passive for us. It is a disciplined process designed to understand the government’s concerns, build the strongest possible response, and protect your access and your career.
Case Assessment
We begin by reviewing the SOR, notice, or suspension, identifying which guidelines are at issue and what deadlines apply. We explain the process for your specific status — contractor, service member, or federal employee — and what needs attention right now.
Goal Planning
Every client’s priorities are different. We identify yours — keeping your current position, preserving future eligibility, protecting a military career — and build a plan around them.
Evidence and Mitigation Development
This is where clearance cases are often won or lost. We help gather and organize the documentation that addresses each concern — records of resolved debts, payment plans, treatment or counseling records, character references, and other proof of mitigation and rehabilitation under the whole-person concept.
Response and Strategy
We prepare a thorough written response to the SOR and, where available and appropriate, position your case for a hearing before an Administrative Judge — presenting evidence and testimony that directly answers the government’s concerns.
Hearing and Appeal
Where a hearing is available, we advocate for you before the Administrative Judge. Where an appeal is warranted, we identify the legal and procedural issues that support it — always mindful that the record built earlier drives what is possible later.
Resolution & The Way Forward
Whether the matter resolves favorably at the response stage, at a hearing, or on appeal, we help you understand the outcome and your options going forward, including reapplication where appropriate.
Security Clearance Issues Commonly Connected to Criminal Cases
Many security clearance problems begin with a criminal investigation.
Examples include:
- DUI
- Drug possession
- Domestic violence allegations
- Assault charges
- Theft or fraud investigations
- Federal criminal investigations
- Protective orders
- Military criminal investigations
Often, decisions made during the criminal case directly affect the later clearance investigation. Coordinating both matters from the beginning helps avoid unnecessary admissions or strategic mistakes.
Why Security Clearances Matter in Hampton Roads
Few regions depend on the clearance process more than this one. Hampton Roads is home to roughly 100,000 active-duty personnel, the world’s largest naval base at Naval Station Norfolk, and a defense economy that, by regional estimates, accounts for close to half of all local economic activity.
From the shipyards of Newport News to the many contractors supporting the fleet, and across installations including Naval Air Station Oceana and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story in Virginia Beach, cleared work is woven into the fabric of the community. For the sailors, Marines, and defense professionals who live here, a clearance is the difference between having a career and losing one.
Consequences of Security Clearance Issues
A clearance determination reaches well beyond a single job. Depending on your situation, the consequences may include:
- 1. Loss of your current position, often immediately upon suspension
- 2Ineligibility for future classified or defense-contractor work
- 3Adverse effects on a military career, including accelerated separation
- 4Damage to earning capacity across the defense industry
- 5Reputational harm within a close-knit professional community
- 6A record that can complicate future applications and reciprocity
Why Hire Invictus Law for a Security Clearance Case?
A security clearance case requires more than understanding administrative law. It requires recognizing how criminal law, military service, employment, and national security intersect.
Our attorneys bring experience from both military and civilian practice, allowing us to evaluate issues from the government’s perspective while building persuasive mitigation for our clients.
Clients choose Invictus Law because we provide:
Strategic, trial-ready preparation
Early intervention before problems escalate
Clear communication throughout the process
Team-based case planning
Representation focused on protecting long-term careers—not simply resolving immediate issues
What Makes Invictus Law Different
Former Military and Government Experience
Invictus Law was founded by a former Marine Corps JAG officer with experience inside the military justice and national security environment. That background gives our clients an advocate who understands classified work, command dynamics, and how adjudicators evaluate risk.
Familiarity With the Adjudicative Guidelines
We work within the framework of SEAD 4 and the whole-person concept, focusing on how to document and present mitigation in a way that squarely addresses the government’s stated concerns.
Rooted in the Hampton Roads Defense Community
Our office sits near Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, in the heart of one of the country’s largest cleared workforces. We understand how clearance issues intersect with military service, administrative actions, and civilian defense careers — and we account for those overlapping risks from the beginning.
Security Clearance and Military Focus
Many firms handle a wide range of legal matters. We focus our practice on criminal defense, military and UCMJ defense, security clearance matters, and family law. That focused approach allows us to bring deeper experience and more refined systems to every case.
Process-Driven Representation
We follow a structured process that ensures every case receives consistent attention, strategic planning, and proactive communication.
Respected Standing in the Legal Community
Invictus Law has earned recognition from organizations including the National Trial Lawyers, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and the National College for DUI Defense, along with strong peer and client recognition through Avvo. These affiliations reflect our commitment to disciplined, high-level representation throughout Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads.
Our Attorneys
Each of our attorneys brings unique experience and perspective to the firm. Together, they collaborate on strategy, share ideas, and leverage one another’s strengths to help clients achieve the best possible outcome.
Rather than working in isolation, our attorneys regularly discuss complex legal issues, evaluate strategy, and draw upon one another’s courtroom experience. That means every client benefits from the collective knowledge of the firm—not just the experience of the attorney assigned to the case.
Eric Leckie
Founding Attorney. Marine Corps JAG. Former Prosecutor.
Founder of Invictus Law and a former United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate with over 23 years of trial experience in federal criminal defense, military law, and security clearance matters.
Shemeka Hankins
Former Prosecutor, Decorated Trial Attorney & Fearless Criminal Defense Lawyer
Partner. Former Prosecutor with the Virginia Beach and Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney's Office, recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Virginia State Bar Local Bar Leader of the Year.
Yolanda Beasley
Family Law and Trial Attorney. Certified Guardian ad Litem.
Virginia Beach native and certified Guardian ad Litem recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2023, 2024) and National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Reviews & Results
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Statement of Reasons (SOR)?
A Statement of Reasons is a formal document the government issues when it identifies security concerns it cannot resolve in your favor. It lists the specific adjudicative guidelines and allegations at issue and gives you the opportunity to respond, present mitigating evidence, and — depending on your status — request a hearing. An SOR is not a final decision, and how you respond to it can shape the outcome.
What is the most common reason a clearance is denied or revoked?
Financial issues. Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), concerns such as unresolved debt, unpaid taxes, or a pattern of financial difficulty are consistently the single most common basis for clearance denials and revocations. The concern is generally not the debt itself, but whether it has been addressed — which is why documenting resolution and a plan matters.
Can I keep working while my clearance is being decided?
It depends on your status and the stage of the case. In some situations a clearance remains active during the process; in others, particularly after a suspension, access may be paused pending the outcome. Your facility security officer and program security requirements determine practical access. Because the answer varies, it is worth understanding your specific situation early.
What is the difference for contractors versus service members?
Defense contractors generally may request a hearing before a DOHA Administrative Judge before a final decision, and that decision is subject to appeal to the DOHA Appeal Board. Military members and DoD civilian employees typically respond in writing and are reviewed through a different process, with a Personnel Security Appeals Board making the final determination. The procedural protections differ, so the response strategy should be tailored to your status.
Will seeking mental health counseling hurt my clearance?
Generally, no. The adjudicative guidelines were updated to clarify that seeking mental health treatment is not, by itself, a disqualifying factor — and in many cases it is viewed favorably as responsible behavior. Concerns under the psychological conditions guideline focus on conditions that may impair judgment or reliability, evaluated through the whole-person concept.
Does Invictus Law represent both military and civilian clients in clearance matters?
Yes. We assist service members, federal employees, and defense contractors throughout Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, including personnel connected to installations such as Naval Air Station Oceana, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story, and Naval Station Norfolk. Our office is located in Virginia Beach, near Oceana.
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