You’re Facing a Security Clearance Crisis—But Legal Fees Are Just as Stressful

If you’re reading this, you’re likely facing one of the most stressful events of your life: your career, reputation, and income are on the line because your security clearance is at risk. Maybe you’ve received a Statement of Reasons (SOR), an unfavorable Letter of Interrogatory (LOI), or were denied clearance altogether. Or perhaps you’re navigating the maze of the SF-86 application and worried about past mistakes coming back to haunt you.

Now, on top of everything else, you’re trying to figure out how to hire the right lawyer without breaking the bank—or getting billed endlessly for every phone call, email, or hour of research.

We get it. The legal process is already overwhelming, and the last thing you need is a surprise invoice.

At National Security Law Firm (NSLF), we’re here to cut through the noise. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the two most common billing models for security clearance representation—flat fee vs. hourly billing—and explain which model works best depending on your situation. We’ll also show you how NSLF’s pricing model gives you predictability, peace of mind, and exceptional value, all backed by legal financing options.

Flat Fee Billing: What It Is and Why It Works

Flat fee billing means you pay a set amount for a specific service—no surprises, no hourly tracking, no guesswork.

Benefits of Flat Fee Billing:

  • Transparency: You know upfront exactly what you’re paying for and how much it will cost.

  • Budget Control: You can plan financially without worrying about rising legal bills.

  • Aligned Incentives: We focus on results—not on running up the clock.

Common Flat Fee Services at NSLF:

  • SF-86 Review: $950 – We’ll comb through your application, flag red flags, and help you clean it up before submission.

  • Letter of Interrogatory (LOI) or Statement of Reasons (SOR) Response:

    • LOI (Letter of Interrogatory) Response: $3,500
    • SOR (Statement of Reasons) Response: $5,000 (includes $3,000 LOI credit)

  • Formal Hearing Representation: $7,500 flat fee – Includes hearing prep, witness coordination, travel, and full in-person or virtual representation.

Hourly Billing: When It Works and When It Doesn’t

Hourly billing means you pay for every hour your attorney works on your case. Rates can range from $250 to $600+ per hour depending on experience and location.

When Hourly Billing Can Be Appropriate:

  • Unpredictable, complex litigation that doesn’t fit neatly into a service category.

  • Post-hearing appeals or federal court litigation where work volume is hard to forecast.

  • Ongoing general counsel arrangements where the scope fluctuates weekly.

But for most security clearance cases, hourly billing often results in:

  • Unpredictable costs

  • Client stress about billable time

  • Incentives misaligned with client goals

Red Flag: “We’ll Just Bill Hourly”

If a lawyer can’t tell you what your case is likely to cost—or starts billing hourly with no roadmap—you’re the one taking all the risk. At NSLF, we don’t think that’s fair.

NSLF’s Approach to Billing (And Why Clients Love It)

At National Security Law Firm, we believe clear pricing builds trust and delivers better results. That’s why we offer transparent flat fees for nearly all security clearance matters.

✅ Flat, Predictable Pricing
✅ Custom Legal Strategies
✅ Financing Available Through Pay Later by Affirm
✅ No Pressure, Free Consultations
✅ Nationwide Representation

Need help paying for legal services? Through our partnership with Affirm, you can break up your payments over 3, 6, 12, or even 24 months—making top-tier legal help more accessible than ever. Learn more or apply in seconds:
👉 Legal Financing Through Affirm

Why Choose NSLF?

Our clients trust us because we’ve walked the walk. Our team includes former national security prosecutors, adjudicators, DOHA attorneys, and federal intelligence officers. We’re not just any lawyers—we are battle-tested clearance attorneys who know the system inside and out.

🌟 4.9-star Google Reviews
🌍 Representing clients in all 50 states
🎯 Proven track record of successful outcomes
🔍 Weekly “Attorney Review Board” case strategy meetings
🎖 Founded and staffed by veterans and former government insiders
⚖ Focused exclusively on military and federal employment law

If you’re being investigated, denied, or delayed—we know how to fight back. We’ve helped clients overcome everything from foreign influence issues to financial irresponsibility to past drug use. And we do it with a mission-first mindset.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You

Additional Resources

Want to learn how to avoid common mistakes, understand key defenses, or maximize your odds of success?
Visit our main Security Clearance page for:

  • Top mistakes applicants make—and how to avoid them

  • Our proven strategies to win a denial appeal

  • How to challenge a security clearance SOR

  • Guidance on foreign influence, drug use, personal conduct, and more

This page serves as your hub for everything clearance-related.

Ready to Take the Next Step? Let’s Talk

Every day you wait is another day of uncertainty. Whether you’re facing an upcoming deadline or just beginning to worry that your past might come back to haunt you, the sooner you act, the better your outcome.

✅ We’ll review your case for free
✅ We’ll tell you exactly what to do next
✅ We’ll create a custom legal roadmap tailored to your background and concerns
✅ You can book a consult instantly—no phone call required

The quickest and easiest way to take control is to book a consultation with one of our security clearance lawyers today:
👉 Book Your Free Consult Now

Go to sleep tonight knowing you’ve finally taken action to protect your future.