How InformedFED Stands Out from Attorneys

InformedFED's unique value proposition is to provide a cost-controlled, timely, comprehensive, and task-oriented alternative to more expensive attorney representation. However, we don't intend to discourage you from hiring an attorney nor do we directly compete with their services. Instead, we're simply presenting an alternative option for you to consider. Our business concept originated when, while working at a high level of federal agency operations as a Chief of Employee Labor Relations, our Chief ELR Consultant and Analyst encountered a high profile situation where an employee acted on bad union advice from a local union representative and was subsequently fired.  Had the employee received accurate and timely advice, the employee would likely not have been fired. He believes every employee should have cost effective access to expert advice and services.

Note: An attorney is not required to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or to file a complaint or go to hearing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or to raise a personnel issue before any administrative or quasi judicial authority having jurisdiction over federal (or other public sector) personnel issues.

1. The Cost-Control Model

The most immediate noticeable difference in how InformedFED stands out from attorneys is its fee structure, which is designed to remove the high barrier of entry typically associated with attorneys.

• Avoidance of Large Retainers: Federal employment attorneys often require initial retainers ranging from $6,000 to $15,000 (as of our last survey). InformedFED eliminates this massive upfront financial risk by offering low-minimum hourly retainers (e.g., 4 hours minimum) and cost effective flat fees for specific services.

• Predictable, Unbundled Services: InformedFED offers distinct flat-rate services (like an Initial Case Assessment or EEO Preparation) that allow the employee to unbundle their needs. An employee can hire the consultant for a single task and then move forward on their own, controlling their total spend.  They can also elect to continue services as needed.

• Accessibility for Non Civil-Litigation Issues: The lower cost structure makes it feasible for employees dealing with issues where the potential financial recovery wouldn't justify the cost of an attorney (e.g., a 14-day suspension, performance-based action, initial EEO complaints, many terminations, or Federal Disability Retirement application).

2. Expertise & Focus Area

While attorneys specialize in strategy and litigation, as does InformedFED, InformedFED also incorporates a practical, subject-matter expert and cost effective holistic approach.  

• Administrative Focus: InformedFED positions itself as a credentialed specialist in administrative and transactional aspects of federal employment. This includes drafting responses to Proposed Adverse Actions, filing for Reasonable Accommodation and reconsideration of denials, preparing MSPB appeals, EEO complaint submissions, and navigating the nuances of Disability Retirement (OPM/MSPB) and Suitability Adjudication Issues for example. Our consultants possess Master's Degrees in relevant areas, advanced speciality training, decades of experience in employee and labor relations, and a vast network of contacts throughout the federal government.

• "Internal" Knowledge: Consultants at InformedFED have decades of experience in this federal and other public sector workspace with vast experience as former credentialed agency senior-level practitioners, agency officials, and/or union representatives. Our Chief Consultant and Analyst has served in all three roles.  This background provides a deep, "insider's understanding" of agency policies, HR procedures, and managerial mindsets—knowledge that can be invaluable in the early, pre-litigation stages of a dispute and in settlement negotiations.  They used to sit on the "other side of the table."

• Strategic Support, Not Just Legal Counsel: InformedFED focuses on "transactional support"—meaning we help you, or prepare for you, the required documents, develop your evidence file, and strategize your response, effectively helping the employee do the work of representation themselves without the cost of a full legal team.

3. Accessibility and Availability

InformedFED maintains a high level of availability and timeliness that goes beyond what nearly any other law firms offer.

• 24/7 Availability: InformedFED specifically provides high consultant availability, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, often for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This level of contact is may be critical to federal employees who need support outside of normal business hours, especially when facing tight deadlines (like a seven-day window for an oral or written reply to a Proposed Removal). We provide this level of access across all time zones throughout the world, having served employees overseas and domestically.  

• Direct Consultant Access: Clients receive direct contact information for their consultant, facilitating rapid communication for time-sensitive issues. No need to go through an assistant at a law firm.

InformedFED's primary competitive edge is its position as the high-value, comparatively lower-cost credentialed administrative expert that provides hands-on document preparation and strategic consulting for federal employees who choose to not retain an attorney, or whose case does not warrant full legal action in a civil court.

How InformedFED Can Help

Our Expertise, Your Advantage.

Our expertise lies in providing comprehensive consultative and transactional administrative litigation services. We meticulously analyze and prepare your complaint, appeal, relevant documents, evidence files, and strategies to ensure that you can effectively safeguard your career, your union members, and pursue damages when appropriate and do so cost-effectively.

Our services include support for, but are not limited to:

• Discipline and Adverse Actions: Developing compelling written and oral responses to proposed removals, suspensions, and performance-based actions. These written responses will serve as the foundation for any appeal or complaint submitted to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Agency grievance procedure, or arbitration.

• EEO Complaints: Initiating and managing informal and formal complaint stages, including mediation, investigations, reviewing Reports of Investigation (ROI), and assisting during the hearing stage.

• Appeals (MSPB & FLRA): Providing comprehensive support for Merit Systems Protection Board appeals and Unfair Labor Practice complaints.

• Career Transitions: Expert guidance on FERS Disability Retirement applications and Reasonable Accommodation requests, reconsiderations, and appeals.

• Suitability and Security: Former Suitability Adjudicators conduct document reviews and consultations regarding background checks and SF-50 coding errors. Additionally, they prepare written responses and requests for remediation.

• Union Assistance: Our consultants collaborate closely with local union representatives and leadership to ensure unions provide the most effective representation to their members. Upon request from the local union, we will either work directly with its members or with its union representatives. Additionally, our consultants provide both small group and large group training for union training programs.

Why Federal Employees and Unions Choose InformedFED

• The Cost-Control Model: We eliminate massive upfront financial risks by offering flat-fee services and low-minimum hourly retainers, making expert support affordable even for issues where the financial recovery wouldn't justify a high-priced attorney.

• Unbundled, "A La Carte" Services: You retain control and only pay for the services you need. You can hire us for a single task—like an Initial Case Assessment (ICA)—and decide your next steps from there with no ongoing obligation.

• Unmatched Accessibility: We are the only experts available to clients 24/7, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, ensuring you never miss a critical deadline.

• Insider Knowledge: Our consultants possess decades of "internal" knowledge of agency policies and HR procedures, providing a strategic advantage during early dispute stages and settlement negotiations.

• Indirect Representation: We offer "indirect representation," allowing you to retain us for specific tasks or phases—such as writing responses or second opinions, significantly reducing costs compared to full scope legal representation.

Disclaimer: InformedFED provides credentialed and recognized Subject Matter Experts to deliver administrative, litigation, and consulting support directly to federal employees and unions.  We do not provide legal representation.  Click here to book a no obligation consultation.