Both section 203 and section 205 are limited in their application to SGEs. One of the most significant limitations is that SGEs are restricted only in connection with particular matters involving specific parties. Such matters typically involve a specific proceeding affecting the legal rights of parties, or an isolatable transaction or related set of transactions between identified parties. This would include such things as contracts, grants, applications, requests for rulings, litigation or investigations.
Unlike regular employees, SGEs may represent others or receive compensation for representational service in connection with particular matters of general applicability, such as broadly applicable policies, rulemaking proceedings, and legislation--which do not involve specific parties.
Furthermore, the restrictions on SGEs are narrowly drawn to focus only on those particular matters in which the SGE at any time participated substantially and personally, as well as (in some cases) those matters pending in the agency where the SGE is working.