Tonya is the founding attorney of Shield Legal, PLLC., a boutique law firm serving clients in Virginia. She also serves federal employees and contractors nationwide and globally. She is licensed to practice law in Virginia and admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Our mission is to provide strategic, precise legal representation that protects the careers, reputations, and futures of federal employees, contractors, and clearance holders facing high-stakes employment & national security matters.
Our vision is to be a trusted authority in federal employment and security clearance law, recognized for disciplined advocacy, exceptional client service, and consistently delivering strong outcomes when careers are at risk.
Our goal is to guide clients through complex federal processes with clarity and confidence, delivering tailored legal strategies that minimize risk, safeguard professional standing, and secure long-term career stability.
In Virginia and certain military contexts, eligible charges may be expunged from public record. For federal employees and clearance applicants, this can reduce red flags and help protect your professional reputation as part of a broader career strategy.
A graduate of Regent University School of Law, Tonya earned a Dean’s Scholarship and distinguished herself as a member of the Regent Law Trial Advocacy Board, where she honed advanced skills in trial strategy, procedural litigation, and advocacy. She also served as Secretary of the Public Interest Legal Advocates of Regent (PILAR), promoting public interest law and providing practical experience opportunities for her peers. While in law school, she served as an extern for a local public defender’s office where she gained familiarity with local courts and criminal defense strategy.
Prior to founding Shield Law, PLLC., Tonya gained nearly four years of combined experience at a prestigious military law firm where she worked first as a law clerk and then as an associate attorney. Tonya developed expertise in federal employee defense, security clearance matters, and administrative litigation. During this time, she successfully negotiated multiple favorable outcomes for clients in EEOC litigation. Tonya also successfully defended security clearances by writing compelling responses to Supplemental Information Requests and Statement of Reasons. Tonya has successfully represented clients in DOHA hearings, achieving favorable clearance determinations that protected their careers and restored their ability to serve in sensitive national security positions. Tonya has established a record of skilled advocacy in complex federal employment matters, effectively navigating high-stakes proceedings with precision & discretion when it matters most.
At Shield Law, PLLC., Tonya continues to focus on federal employment law, particularly security clearance defense and responses to adverse employment actions such as notices of suspension or removal. She advises and represents federal employees and contractors in Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) matters, helping clients obtain, restore, or protect their credential eligibility. Tonya is known for her disciplined litigation approach, guiding clients through adverse actions, investigative proceedings, and security clearance adjudications with precision and discretion.
Tonya combines meticulous attention to detail with sound strategic judgment and a steadfast commitment to client advocacy. If you are facing adverse federal employment actions and security clearance adjudications, you want Tonya on your side providing the focused, discreet, and effective representation necessary to safeguard your rights, career, and reputation.
If you’re facing a federal employment issue, security clearance denial or revocation, or a TWIC appeal or waiver, early action can make all difference, whether you’re in Virginia, nationwide, or a federal employee serving abroad.
Take the first step in protecting your career. Schedule a confidential consultation now to discuss your options and next steps. We accept a limited number of matters to provide each client with strategic representation.
