Are you a federal worker? Are you looking to blow the whistle on government corruption or misconduct? Are you unsure where to start, what to expect, or how to protect yourself?

If so, welcome! You’ve come to the right place. You have questions, and we have answers—though please understand, none of the below is intended as or should replace actual legal advice.

What steps should I take to prepare to whistleblow?

First and foremost: find a qualified lawyer. “Before you do anything, make sure you have a trusted legal advisor who’s experienced in this field,” says Mark Zaid, a DC-based whistleblower lawyer and co-founder of Whistleblower Aid. Alongside Zaid, other top whistleblower lawyers in the DC area include Tom Devine of Government Accountability Project, Jason Zuckerman of Zuckerman Law, and David Colapinto of Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto. Washingtonian’s most recent Top Lawyers list also includes a whistleblower category.

There are many resources online to help whistleblowers find lawyers. Project on Government Oversight maintains a list of law firms that work with whistleblowers. For whistleblowers speaking out about financial fraud, The Anti-Fraud Coalition also maintains a lawyer directory.

Many whistleblower attorneys work under a contingency agreement, which means you don’t have to pay up front—though check with each attorney. An attorney can tell you whether or not they believe your case would be successful, and they can also recommend other attorneys. You also...

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