The Government Accountability Project (GAP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest organization that promotes government and corporate accountability through advancing occupational free speech and ethical conduct, defending whistleblowers, and empowering citizen activists. GAP’s lawyers and law students represent government and private employees who are threatened with retaliation for speaking out against fraud, waste, mismanagement, abuse of authority, environmental dangers, and public health and safety problems. GAP clients span a wide spectrum, including persons who deal with environmental issues, nuclear oversight, food and drug safety, worker health and safety, patient care, international reform and national security.

In seeking the resolution of the substantive concerns raised by whistleblowers, GAP: 1) provides legal representation to defend the free speech rights of whistleblowers who suffer retaliation; 2) seeks forums for the whistleblowers’ dissent in order to promote the successful resolution of the problems exposed; 3) litigates and engages in legislative education to advocate for stronger judicial and legislative whistleblower protection; and 4) aids affected individuals and community groups in addressing issues raised by whistleblower disclosures.

Clinic students primarily focus on three dimensions of the work: 1) investigating claims of retaliation and developing evidence to support the claims; 2) filing complaints under the Whistleblower Protection Act and other anti-retaliation laws; and 3) conducting legal research to monitor whether employers are adhering to the law or whether laws need strengthening.

Clinic students are assigned to supervising attorneys with teaching experience and a strong commitment to providing each student with high quality advocacy training. Students receive individualized instruction and feedback from their supervising attorney. GAP’s fundamental operating principle is cooperative lawyering; therefore, students are encouraged to take advantage of the expertise of the entire staff. The clinic seminar covers a diverse range of subjects. Students learn how to conduct hearings, prepare affidavits, obtain information from government agencies, interpret statutes, and work with media. In addition to learning the intricacies of whistleblower law, Whistleblower Protection Clinic students are exposed to and work with a wide variety of environmental and employment law.