Abogados de Gov & Administrative Law

Government & Administrative Law Lawyers in the United States

Government and administrative law governs the relationship between individuals, businesses, and government agencies at every level — federal, state, and local. When a government body makes a decision that affects your rights, livelihood, or benefits, an attorney in this field can challenge that decision or help you comply with regulatory requirements.

What Government & Administrative Law Covers

Administrative law deals with the rules and regulations created by government agencies rather than by legislatures directly. These agencies include bodies like the Social Security Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and hundreds of state-level boards that regulate licensing, zoning, and public benefits.

This area covers regulatory compliance, government investigations, license revocations, public benefits disputes, freedom of information requests, and appeals of agency decisions. It also includes challenges to government actions through judicial review, where courts examine whether an agency acted within its authority and followed proper procedures.

When to Hire a Government & Administrative Law Lawyer

• A government agency has denied your application for benefits, permits, or a professional license
• You're facing a regulatory investigation or enforcement action from a federal or state agency
• Your business needs to comply with new agency regulations or respond to an audit
• You want to appeal an unfavorable agency decision before an administrative law judge
• A government entity has taken action that infringes on your constitutional or property rights

How the Administrative Law Process Works

Most disputes begin at the agency level. You'll typically file a claim, application, or response, and the agency reviews it internally. If the agency rules against you, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. These hearings operate like simplified court proceedings with testimony, evidence, and legal arguments.

If the administrative hearing doesn't go your way, you can seek judicial review in a court. Courts generally defer to agency expertise under the standard set by legal precedent, but they will overturn decisions that are arbitrary or unsupported by evidence. According to government data, federal agencies conduct over 700,000 administrative hearings per year.

How Compensation and Outcomes Are Determined

• Reinstatement of benefits — wrongly denied Social Security, disability, or veterans' benefits can be restored with back payments covering the entire denial period
• License restoration — professionals who lose occupational licenses may recover them along with compensation for lost income during the suspension
• Property owners affected by unlawful zoning or regulatory takings may receive fair market value compensation
• Successful civil rights claims against government entities can result in monetary damages and injunctive relief forcing the agency to change its practices
• Under the Equal Access to Justice Act, individuals who prevail against the federal government may recover attorney costs and fees

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to go through the agency process before filing a lawsuit?

Yes. In almost all cases, you must exhaust administrative remedies before a court will hear your case. That means completing the agency's internal appeals process first. Skipping this step usually results in your court case being dismissed.

How long do administrative appeals typically take?

Timelines vary widely depending on the agency. Social Security disability appeals average 12 to 18 months. Federal regulatory disputes can stretch even longer. State-level licensing hearings often move faster, sometimes resolving within a few months of filing.