Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience. Q: I was an employee with an agency between 2007 and 2011. I was a GS-12 Step 1 when I voluntarily applied and accepted another position at a GS-7 Step 10 level, which was a pay cut. I learned that others in my same situation were able to keep their GS-12 pay or were given advance promotion to GS-12. How do I go about doing the same to get back my…