Patrick J. Hughes

Patrick J. Hughes: Attorney Licensed in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and New York Concentrating in Federal Employment Law, Security Clearance, Military Administrative Law, and Military Pay Cases

Patrick (“Pat”) is a highly regarded attorney focusing his practice areas in federal employment law, security clearance issues, military administrative law, and military pay cases. As a lead attorney at Patriots Law Group, Pat brings extensive experience in handling complex legal matters for military personnel and federal employees, providing representation in federal courts and before administrative forums such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).

Pat’s legal career began after his admission to the New York State Bar and commissioning into the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. Now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserve component of the Air Force, he developed his career as a JAG officer, gaining a deep understanding of military administrative law, military pay issues, federal employment law, and the unique legal challenges faced by service members and DoD employees. His military background has given him invaluable insight into the complexities of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), administrative separations, and the entitlements issues that can arise while serving. Pat separated from active duty in 2017 when he formed Patriots Law Group with his former active-duty friend and colleague, Mike Lyons, and now represents service members and veterans to defend their rights and recover wrongfully withheld benefits.

In addition to military administrative law, Pat has in-depth knowledge and experience in federal employment law, representing federal employees and service members facing employment disputes, disciplinary actions, and appeals within the federal system. He also counsels his clients on security clearance matters, helping clients navigate the challenging process of obtaining or defending security clearances crucial to their careers with the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) and organizations within the intelligence community.

One of Pat’s most notable recent successes involved representing over 40 Army reservists in a multi-plaintiff case regarding the denial of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) payments. Through his diligent work and deep knowledge of military pay regulations, Pat secured a multi-million-dollar recovery for the reservists, ensuring they received the back pay they were owed. Further, he secured for his clients the removal and correction of military discipline and adverse career impacts related to the BAH issue.

Before leaving active duty, the Air Force ranked Pat the # 1 of 84 area defense counsel globally, and the # 1 of 53 JAG officers eligible for promotion to Major within the Air Force Legal Operations Agency.