What do you do if you think you need a lawyer?  CII can help.

Many of CII’s beneficiaries do not know if they need or would like to retain legal counsel.  Often, obtaining  access to practical information and options provided by CII, experts in the CII networks, or by other non-attorneys who are willing to counsel employees, will be sufficient depending on the particular circumstances.  Information prepared by CII or others provides insights from legal and other experts about how to avoid getting into trouble as well as what to consider if problems arise. 

The CII's activities are informational in nature and are designed to:

• Highlight legal and other risks facing CIA and intelligence community employees arising out of their employment, and

• Identify options available to those employees to respond to if not to anticipate them.

Representative Activities

Since it was founded in 2010, CII has assisted intelligence officers by helping them understand and address the challenges and risks they faced, how processes work, the options available and, where appropriate, identify experienced private attorneys to represent them.  These situations have included matters involving:

• Civil and criminal investigations and trial.

• Congressional testimony.

• Security and employment proceedings.

• Polygraph inquiries and processes.

• Publication review obligations. 

CII assistance includes information and access to experts:

• Articles, written guidance, lessons learned and other information prepared or made available by CII.

• Access to volunteers with prior relevant experiences.

• Individualized counseling by CII or identification of outside experts to whom officers may wish to turn for assistance to sort out their concerns and options as appropriate to their situations.

Not everyone who comes to CII needs a lawyer. 

It is not CII’s policy or practice, nor is it in the public interest, to urge every employee seeking assistance to “lawyer up.”  Not all situations where employees think they might have a legal concern require the employees to seek legal representation. 

An employee might be called as a witness in an investigation, trial, or congressional hearing, or might have questions relating to an employment problem, and the employing agency may be able to resolve any questions about liability or representation.  Sometimes the solution can be as simple as ensuring the employees are talking to the right people in the intelligence agencies where they work. 

CII helps you decide what you need.

The CII’s goal is to help intelligence officers get the assistance they need, no matter who gives it.  In some instances, however, the officer may conclude that he or she would benefit from the assistance of a personal attorney. In those situations, CII does not represent those officers, but seeks to help identify and provide access to experienced lawyers who can provide legal assistance on a pro bono or reduced fee basis.

To view IntelAid Assistance publications or information about our legal network assistance, click below.

If you need additional information or wish to ask about personal legal representation, please write to info@intelissues.org or cii@intelissues.org, or Contact Us for Help!