Post by ALJD on Mar 28, 2009 21:22:36 GMT -5
ALJ Hiring FAQ Part 2 - updated 06/03/2012
Thanks (and credits for questions/answers) go to: barkeley, oldjag, odarite, privateatty, jagghagg, johnthornton, nonamouse, northwest, runonthelist, semipa, wallace
Table of Content
Part 1 - Intro & Hiring Process
Part 2 - Training & Benefits
Part 3 - ODAR Background & Glossary
Training & Logistics
Two week intro at new office
So I'm an ALJ now! Wait, what about my black robe!?!
Please do not fall victim to the dreaded Black Robe Fever. This topic has been discussed extensively. Please see here and here.
There was a proposal in 2009 for the Agency to buy black robes with SSA logos for the ALJs, but it seems to have died a quiet death. If you're interested in buying a robe, just ask around the board and someone should be able to tell you where they got theirs from.
What do you do for two weeks in your new office before the formal training in Falls Church?
The first two weeks involves doing the paperwork to get the insurance, PAY, health benefits, etc. done. Slso you will work with your mentor to review files, watch hearings view tapes and IVT of medical lectures, sit with members of the staff to see how they do the different jobs (of course this does not apply to ODAR employees who know what the different jobs are). You will also have time to get a place to live, arrange moving etc. so that you don't have to miss the classes in the formal training (they now get peeved if you do this). You generally learn the basics observe hearings and learn about files before you go to class. You also will be able to rely on your mentor to answer questions.
How do I get my car there? For government employees, does my travel to my new office came before or after my "start" date?
You report to your office on your first day of duty--I suggest that you drive your car there--lol. From the duty station you travel to training--which looks like Falls Church this time. For government employees your travel is duty time and mileage is paid--just make sure POV has been authorized an necessary to a PCS.
During the two weeks, does the government pay for my hotel? Per diem?
During the two weeks ther is no per diem or hotel for non-government employees as this is your duty station. For feds, there is time allocated under the relo regs that gives some time for hotel and per diem.
If there is time, do I get a househunting trip or will my new HOCALJ give me some time during the two weeks?
Both. I believe the relo regs give a paid travel for house hunting and most of the HOCALJs would give you time during the two weeks.
After I return to my new office, will I have a mentor?
You will have the mentor for one year.
How long before I am assigned a full docket?
You will get a full docket right away if you want one. I would suggest trying one shorter docket (say 1/2 to 3/4) of what the judges usually do with a bit more time between the hearings) for the first docket and then go from there.
As for the actual agency expectation, here it is:
The new learning curve (June 2012) is for hearings scheduled. There should be no hearings scheduled for the first week the new ALJ is back in the office after training:
a. 15-20 hearings for the first month after training
b. 20-25 hearings for the 2nd month
c. 25-30 hearings for the 4th month
d. 30-35 hearings for the 5th month
e. 35-40 hearings for the 5th month
f. 40-45 hearings for the 6th month
g after that same docket as other ALJs
As a matter of prospective, to achieve the current OCALJ goal of 500-700 dispositions a year, an ALJ should expect to schedule between 45 - 60 hearings a month, depending on number of work days available in a given month and nature of cases in your particular hearing office.
Best practice is to check with your assigned mentor and seasoned ALJs in your office and see what they are doing.
4 week training
The four week training for new ALJs have historically been held at Baltimore, MD through 2008. However, since the new training facility at Skyline Tower got built in 2009, it has been moved to Falls Church. 2010 ALJ refreshers for the classes of 2009 as well as the four week initial training for the June 2010 class are all going to be held at Falls Church.
How do I get to the Falls Church training?
Depends on your duty station. You may drive if it is within a reasonable distance or fly if you are not. Those on the cusp can ask for which they want and it will usually be allowed. Either way SSA pays for your plane/taxi or mileage/parking as part of your training expense (and by parking I mean at the hotel if any charge, not driving around to restaurants etc with pay lots).
How long does it take to Falls Church from National Airport or Dulles?
I don't know about Dulles, but from National it is at least 20 minutes plus traffic time.
Where's the closest hotel to OCALJ in Falls Church?
Homewood Suites or Hampton Inn on Leesburg Pike. Although for the 2009 classes, the Agency put them up at the Marriott Resident Inn right by the Pentagon in Crystal City.
Do we get to keep the Marriott/whatever hotel points?
Yes. Here's a great tip I got from another ALJ: If you are not already a member of Marriott's reward program (or whatever hotel they got this year), sign up now. When you graduate from ALJ school you will be well on your way to a higher award level and have lots of lovely points to your name. Under government travel rules, you may keep these for your personal use. Go to Marriott.com to enroll.
Where are the good restaurants in Falls Church?
In Falls Church, Edys Peruvian Chicken is nice, Olive garden, and Malibu Grill for Brazilian. Also, the Marriott Residence Inn is very close to the Pentagon City Mall and the metro, so you can easily get to most places in DC by public transportation.
How do I make my hotel reservations for training?
The Agency will chose the hotel and makes your reservation. Because of the size of the classes, it may well not be the hotels discussed here. You will be bussed from your hotel each day in that event. You will receive your travel information and asked to contact the hotel with your credit card information, but otherwise will not have to worry about the hotel. Whatever brand it turns out to be, immediately join their "frequent flyer" plan if you are not already a member and associate your membership number with your reservation.
The 2009 classes stayed at the Marriott Resident Inn in Pentagon City. There were daily shuttles to the Skyline Tower and back. The hotel is within walking distance of Metro. And food. And Metro. And Shopping. And Metro so you can explore DC evenings and weekends if you choose.
From privateatty: For those of you unfamiliar with the Metro, take a min. to go to wmata.com and go to the map. It is maybe the best subway system in America. DC has so much to offer, big museums, small museums, concerts, lectures (particularly @ GWU) and of course the FOOD!
Be advised that the humidity can be a killer during the summer so you need clothes that breathe and shoes that walk.
Pentagon City has a great bar @ the Ritz Carlton, a escalator ride up from the Metro station. There's a California Pizza across the street and a Borders (and Marshall's)...even a Costco with an excellent wine selection to fuel those late night bull sessions...
What is the class schedule like?
4 weeks, Mon - Fri 8:00 to 4:30.
Can we bring our own laptops ?
Yes. You can bring your personal laptop to the hotel, but not into SSA space. The agency's training facility has networked computers that can access SSA applications and the Internet. You can use your computer for personal emailing or watching movies or whatever at the hotel.
On graduation day, in FC the hotel will have a place for you to leave your luggage and your laptop. If you drive, leave it in your car, less hassle that way (the Resident Inn's underground garage is fairly secure).
Can we go home on weekends ?
Yes.
Can my family visit during the training?
The last time I checked, this being a free country, you family can visit--lol. Now that the smart a** answer is over, the answer is yes--but it cannot cost the government anything to do so. You may want to check with the hotel to see if there is any additional charge for the additional person (usually not).
Pay & Benefits
What about relocation?
No relo if you're not a current federal employee. So you're on your own if you're private, state or local government. As for current federal employee (SSA or any other agency), check the OPM website for details. If you're current active duty military, I'm actually not sure. So if someone can fill this in, it would be much appreciated.
How much do ALJs get paid?
Google OPM and "ALJ salary" and you should be able to find the latest ALJ salary chart on the OPM website.
If you go out to the "locality pay definition tables" it will give you the counties in each area that are covered by the specific locality pay percentage. If the city you are looking for isn't in a county listed under the state then the RUS (Rest of US) rate applies. For 2014, You can find the tables here: www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2014/locality-pay-area-definitions/
Per APA, ALJs get a salary and that's it. No bonuses or OT (but credit hours can be earned).
What is my starting salary?
That's a really good question. Per OPM rules, if you are a current federal employee, your starting salary as an ALJ will not be less than your current base salary (excluding locality pay). I know of very senior GS-14s or GS-15s starting higher than ALJ 3-A. However, for most others federal employees, 3-A is the starting point.
For state/local public employees and private sector employees, you can always ask nicely. The Agency has the discretion to start a person at a higher rate than 3-A if it wants you badly enough. However, the consensus is SSA doen't do this very often. So don't feel bad if all they offer you is 3-A after you made a great case about how much more you were making outside. Afterall, you don't have to accept the offer.
How do ALJ get pay raises?
By tenure. An ALJ usually starts out at 3/A, and move up one step a year until 3/D (3 years total). 3/E and 3/F are two years each, so it takes a line ALJ 7 years to hit the top of the pay scale. Although with locality pay, some ALJs are capped or almost capped out by the time they are at 3/D (see SF, NY, Huston).
You can accelerate a step promotion by accepting a HOCALJ position, but that's really not a topic for new ALJ candidates.
What about ALJ_2 and ALJ_1?
Management positions for RCALJs and CALJ. You probably don't need to worry about it for a while.
How much annual and sick leave do ALJs get? Paid holidays? Any other benefits?
Same as any other standard federal employee. Sick leave is always 4 hours every two weeks. Annual leave is 4 hours every two weeks until you have been a fed for 3 years (that's 13 days a year). From 3 - 15 it's 6 hours every two weeks (19.5 days a year), 15+ it's 8 hours every two week (26 days a year). And just to make sure we are all on the same page, sick leave and annual leave are accrued separately and used separately.
Yes, you do get all the standard federal holidays. Then you get the federal employee medical, etc. Overall, it's a decent package.
And here's a little prospective from Jagghagg, one of our forum regulars:
Yeah, it sucks
when you start federal service and only earn 4 hours per pay period. But 13 days a year is 2 weeks a year. (According to monster.com, 61% of employees in the United States take less than 15 days of vacation per year.) According to Ask.com, paid vacation days in the United States range from five to 30, so starting with the federal govenment puts you in the middle of that and ending with the federal government (8 hours a pay period = 26 days a year) puts you at the upper end.
Unlike the military, you do not have to take leave time over weekends and yes, you do get all federal holidays. (The day after Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday, so plan on taking leave. Or move your compressed day to that day - which is what most people on a flex/compressed schedule do.)
Remember, though, that leave in the federal government is taken in time increments, not day increments. Some places take it in increments of minutes. (For example, AF employees can use it in 15 minute increments - taking .25 hours of leave. Someone else will have to tell you the SSA policy on this point.) So you spend that time not only on vacation and time off, but also on long lunch breaks, sometimes on sick leave (when you are trying to save up sick leave for the "big one"
) and so on and so on...
Best thing to do is save your leave like mad for two years to give yourself a full year's balance and put yourself in a "use-or-lose state the beginning of each year. You can only carry over 240 hours a year. After that, it is use it or lose it.
(Although there IS legislation moving through Congress to allow federal employees, who are not CSRS employees, to "tack on" their unused hours to their time in service balance to increase - albeit slightly - their retirement pension.)
And here is another prospective from aaa:
As a federal employee I love my 26 days of vacation plus my 10 holidays. And I love the part where I can pretty much take off when I want, particularly to be able to work in my 5 year old son's kindergarten class. That has been such a treat. And I really love the part of this job where when I go home, work is over - no calls to get someone out of jail or calls about a visitation gone bad. I love not having to try and chase fees and figure payroll taxes. Federal employment and the federal government have been "berry, berry gud to me."
I am to the point now where I can take two weeks off at Christmas and stay home with my son plus spread the rest of the vacation out over the rest of the year, turning 3 day weekends into mini-vacations 4 or 5 days. And with hearing trips I now get to travel my beautiful state monthly and enjoy the various landscapes, and that gives me plenty of time to reflect on how fortunate I really am in all aspects of my life - great husband and son, great personal life, wonderful job.
Two weeks vacation per year for the first 3 years doesn't sound like much to mid-career hires. Any way to stretch that?
Yes, you can work credit hours and use those for long lunch hours, non-medical appointments, or for actual vacations. You cannot earn more than 2.5 hours per business day (and only between 6:30 am and 6 pm) nor more than 8 hours on a weekend (if your office is open for work) nor carry over more than 24 hours. Sounds complicated, but very helpful until you can get that leave balance built up.
Can I transfer prior federal or military service for leave seniority calculation?
Prior federal civilian service transfers over no problem. For military service, only for the period of time you're not collecting a military pension on. So if you served 3 years and got out, as long as you got your DD-214, you'll collect 6 hours of leave each pay period once HR credits your prior military service.
As for military retirees, if you have military service that is not used in your pension computation (exceeding 30 years or academy time),
you can get credit for purpose of leave accrual...and possibly other purposes. You must obtain proof of military service (DD214/documentation from academy) and submit to the agency.
Furthermore, by paying a percentage of your total accrued military salary (3%??) plus modest interest, you can get service credit for retirement purposes (only for the time period you're not already collecting a military pension).
How about State or Local Government?
Sorry, no seniority transfer.
How about Flexiplace/Telecommuting?
New ALJs may not work from home until they are past the one year mark. ALJs do not have the exact same flexible time/day options as the staff. Hearing offices do have regular business hours, but hearings can and do run later. The ALJs on the days when they are not having hearings can work within the flexible hours for a normal 8 hour, 5 day week. On hearing days your hearing times will dictate your schedule. There is no option for 3 12-hour days for anyone in a hearing office.
The ALJ can decide when to set their hearings within certain hours with the understanding that you don't work alone on a docket. You will have your expert witnesses, claimant's and their attorneys, a hearing reporter and a case technician that must all coordinate for a hearing to occur. A hearing room must be assigned for your dockets since they are shared and only some of them are capable of video hearings. In some offices the ALJs must submit preferences for the weeks that they want to have hearings many months in advance of the scheduling of the actual cases so that the master calendar can be arranged.
Additionally, the security only works certain hours, so the lobby/claimant's waiting area won't be available simply because one ALJ wants to start hearings at the crack of dawn.
What is Compensatory Time Off for Travel?
Compensatory time off for travel is a new form of compensatory time off that may be earned by employees for time spent in a travel status away from their official duty stations when such time is not otherwise compensable hours of work. Travel compensatory time is earned and used in 15 minute increments. Employees must request travel compensatory time, in writing or electronically, within 5 working days of returning from travel. Employees must use accrued travel compensatory time off by the end of the 26th pay period after the pay period during which it was credited. Under no circumstances may employees be compensated with pay for any unused travel compensatory time.
Employees having questions about travel compensatory time should consult with their supervisors.
SF-278 - Financial Disclosure
Everyone who is hired will need to complete the financial disclosure form SF-278 within 30 days of their start date and thereafter each year by May 15th. Here is a link to the page with a fillable PDF form and the instructions. Save it to your computer prior to filling it out or the changes will not be saved. It is easier to save your form electronically and then only make the changes from year to year instead of doing it from scratch on paper each time. The completed form must be printed out and signed unless your hiring agency participates in the pilot for electronic signatures on this form. SSA currently requires the manual signature.
www.forms.gov/bgfPortal/docDetails.do?dId=11412
Can ALJs maintain outside employment?
Maybe. But you need to get approval from your Region first. Expect it to take a while and it's not a sure thing. See this thread for a more detailed discussion.
Do ALJs have to maintain CLEs? Keep license current?
There was a proposal by OPM back in 2007/2008 about it, but it's dead now as far as folks can tell. So it depends on your individual state requirements for federal administrative law judges.
Can an ALJ be fired?
Yes, but very difficult. An ALJ can only be fired for good cause, and only after a decision has been rendered by the MSPB. Additionally, ALJs have no probationary period and are not subject to performance reviews.
What is the retirement plan?
Administrative law judges are on the same retirement plan as other federal civil servants. This discussion assumes that you have no prior federal employment. If you have either military service or earlier civil service employment you should look into how that experience effects your individual situation. OPM provides retirement information at this webpage:
www.opm.gov/retire/
Newly hired civil servants participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Retirement income under FERS has three components; Social Security, the Basic Benefit, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The Basic Benefit is a defined benefit pension. Deductions for Social Security and Basic Benefit are withheld from your pay automatically, so there is no decision for you to make on those deductions.
You do have a decision to make on TSP. It operates like a 401(k) plan, with five mutual funds which are designed to mirror different stock or bond indices. There are also several Lifecycle funds, which feature different mixes of those five funds, based on how long it will be until you anticipate withdrawing money from the fund.
If you do nothing, the default is that the government will contribute 1 percent of your salary to the G fund, a government bond fund. You can change the fund allocation, and contribute some of your salary. Your contributions will reduce your taxable income, and the government will match them up to a point.
The maximum contribution each year is defined by IRS regulations. For 2015, the maximum contribution is $18,000.00, up from $17,500.00 in 2014. If you are at least 50 years old, or will turn 50 during the year, you can make an additional contribution. The limit for this catch-up contribution is $6,000.00 in 2015.
You designate the amount of your contributions on a form TSP-1. The designation can be either a dollar amount or a percentage.
If you designate 5 percent of your salary on Line 6 of the form when you start working for the government you will ensure that you get the maximum government matching contribution. You can change the designation at any time by filing a new TSP-1, or by going online if you work for an agency that has online access to TSP forms. Here is a PDF of the TSP-1:
www.tsp.gov/forms/tsp-1.pdf
Finally, although a new employee can sign up and begin his/her own contributions immediately, there is a waiting period of 6-12 months for the agency 1% and the 5% match. See below from the TSP website on agency contributions.
* Your agency will start to contribute Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions to your account after you have completed the mandatory waiting period. See the chart below to determine when you will be eligible.
* If you are contributing your own money, you will also receive Agency Matching Contributions after you have completed the mandatory waiting period. See the chart below to determine when you will be eligible.
Thanks (and credits for questions/answers) go to: barkeley, oldjag, odarite, privateatty, jagghagg, johnthornton, nonamouse, northwest, runonthelist, semipa, wallace
Table of Content
Part 1 - Intro & Hiring Process
Part 2 - Training & Benefits
Part 3 - ODAR Background & Glossary
Training & Logistics
Two week intro at new office
So I'm an ALJ now! Wait, what about my black robe!?!
Please do not fall victim to the dreaded Black Robe Fever. This topic has been discussed extensively. Please see here and here.
There was a proposal in 2009 for the Agency to buy black robes with SSA logos for the ALJs, but it seems to have died a quiet death. If you're interested in buying a robe, just ask around the board and someone should be able to tell you where they got theirs from.
What do you do for two weeks in your new office before the formal training in Falls Church?
The first two weeks involves doing the paperwork to get the insurance, PAY, health benefits, etc. done. Slso you will work with your mentor to review files, watch hearings view tapes and IVT of medical lectures, sit with members of the staff to see how they do the different jobs (of course this does not apply to ODAR employees who know what the different jobs are). You will also have time to get a place to live, arrange moving etc. so that you don't have to miss the classes in the formal training (they now get peeved if you do this). You generally learn the basics observe hearings and learn about files before you go to class. You also will be able to rely on your mentor to answer questions.
How do I get my car there? For government employees, does my travel to my new office came before or after my "start" date?
You report to your office on your first day of duty--I suggest that you drive your car there--lol. From the duty station you travel to training--which looks like Falls Church this time. For government employees your travel is duty time and mileage is paid--just make sure POV has been authorized an necessary to a PCS.
During the two weeks, does the government pay for my hotel? Per diem?
During the two weeks ther is no per diem or hotel for non-government employees as this is your duty station. For feds, there is time allocated under the relo regs that gives some time for hotel and per diem.
If there is time, do I get a househunting trip or will my new HOCALJ give me some time during the two weeks?
Both. I believe the relo regs give a paid travel for house hunting and most of the HOCALJs would give you time during the two weeks.
After I return to my new office, will I have a mentor?
You will have the mentor for one year.
How long before I am assigned a full docket?
You will get a full docket right away if you want one. I would suggest trying one shorter docket (say 1/2 to 3/4) of what the judges usually do with a bit more time between the hearings) for the first docket and then go from there.
As for the actual agency expectation, here it is:
The new learning curve (June 2012) is for hearings scheduled. There should be no hearings scheduled for the first week the new ALJ is back in the office after training:
a. 15-20 hearings for the first month after training
b. 20-25 hearings for the 2nd month
c. 25-30 hearings for the 4th month
d. 30-35 hearings for the 5th month
e. 35-40 hearings for the 5th month
f. 40-45 hearings for the 6th month
g after that same docket as other ALJs
As a matter of prospective, to achieve the current OCALJ goal of 500-700 dispositions a year, an ALJ should expect to schedule between 45 - 60 hearings a month, depending on number of work days available in a given month and nature of cases in your particular hearing office.
Best practice is to check with your assigned mentor and seasoned ALJs in your office and see what they are doing.
4 week training
The four week training for new ALJs have historically been held at Baltimore, MD through 2008. However, since the new training facility at Skyline Tower got built in 2009, it has been moved to Falls Church. 2010 ALJ refreshers for the classes of 2009 as well as the four week initial training for the June 2010 class are all going to be held at Falls Church.
How do I get to the Falls Church training?
Depends on your duty station. You may drive if it is within a reasonable distance or fly if you are not. Those on the cusp can ask for which they want and it will usually be allowed. Either way SSA pays for your plane/taxi or mileage/parking as part of your training expense (and by parking I mean at the hotel if any charge, not driving around to restaurants etc with pay lots).
How long does it take to Falls Church from National Airport or Dulles?
I don't know about Dulles, but from National it is at least 20 minutes plus traffic time.
Where's the closest hotel to OCALJ in Falls Church?
Homewood Suites or Hampton Inn on Leesburg Pike. Although for the 2009 classes, the Agency put them up at the Marriott Resident Inn right by the Pentagon in Crystal City.
Do we get to keep the Marriott/whatever hotel points?
Yes. Here's a great tip I got from another ALJ: If you are not already a member of Marriott's reward program (or whatever hotel they got this year), sign up now. When you graduate from ALJ school you will be well on your way to a higher award level and have lots of lovely points to your name. Under government travel rules, you may keep these for your personal use. Go to Marriott.com to enroll.
Where are the good restaurants in Falls Church?
In Falls Church, Edys Peruvian Chicken is nice, Olive garden, and Malibu Grill for Brazilian. Also, the Marriott Residence Inn is very close to the Pentagon City Mall and the metro, so you can easily get to most places in DC by public transportation.
How do I make my hotel reservations for training?
The Agency will chose the hotel and makes your reservation. Because of the size of the classes, it may well not be the hotels discussed here. You will be bussed from your hotel each day in that event. You will receive your travel information and asked to contact the hotel with your credit card information, but otherwise will not have to worry about the hotel. Whatever brand it turns out to be, immediately join their "frequent flyer" plan if you are not already a member and associate your membership number with your reservation.
The 2009 classes stayed at the Marriott Resident Inn in Pentagon City. There were daily shuttles to the Skyline Tower and back. The hotel is within walking distance of Metro. And food. And Metro. And Shopping. And Metro so you can explore DC evenings and weekends if you choose.
From privateatty: For those of you unfamiliar with the Metro, take a min. to go to wmata.com and go to the map. It is maybe the best subway system in America. DC has so much to offer, big museums, small museums, concerts, lectures (particularly @ GWU) and of course the FOOD!
Be advised that the humidity can be a killer during the summer so you need clothes that breathe and shoes that walk.
Pentagon City has a great bar @ the Ritz Carlton, a escalator ride up from the Metro station. There's a California Pizza across the street and a Borders (and Marshall's)...even a Costco with an excellent wine selection to fuel those late night bull sessions...
What is the class schedule like?
4 weeks, Mon - Fri 8:00 to 4:30.
Can we bring our own laptops ?
Yes. You can bring your personal laptop to the hotel, but not into SSA space. The agency's training facility has networked computers that can access SSA applications and the Internet. You can use your computer for personal emailing or watching movies or whatever at the hotel.
On graduation day, in FC the hotel will have a place for you to leave your luggage and your laptop. If you drive, leave it in your car, less hassle that way (the Resident Inn's underground garage is fairly secure).
Can we go home on weekends ?
Yes.
Can my family visit during the training?
The last time I checked, this being a free country, you family can visit--lol. Now that the smart a** answer is over, the answer is yes--but it cannot cost the government anything to do so. You may want to check with the hotel to see if there is any additional charge for the additional person (usually not).
Pay & Benefits
What about relocation?
No relo if you're not a current federal employee. So you're on your own if you're private, state or local government. As for current federal employee (SSA or any other agency), check the OPM website for details. If you're current active duty military, I'm actually not sure. So if someone can fill this in, it would be much appreciated.
How much do ALJs get paid?
Google OPM and "ALJ salary" and you should be able to find the latest ALJ salary chart on the OPM website.
If you go out to the "locality pay definition tables" it will give you the counties in each area that are covered by the specific locality pay percentage. If the city you are looking for isn't in a county listed under the state then the RUS (Rest of US) rate applies. For 2014, You can find the tables here: www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2014/locality-pay-area-definitions/
Per APA, ALJs get a salary and that's it. No bonuses or OT (but credit hours can be earned).
What is my starting salary?
That's a really good question. Per OPM rules, if you are a current federal employee, your starting salary as an ALJ will not be less than your current base salary (excluding locality pay). I know of very senior GS-14s or GS-15s starting higher than ALJ 3-A. However, for most others federal employees, 3-A is the starting point.
For state/local public employees and private sector employees, you can always ask nicely. The Agency has the discretion to start a person at a higher rate than 3-A if it wants you badly enough. However, the consensus is SSA doen't do this very often. So don't feel bad if all they offer you is 3-A after you made a great case about how much more you were making outside. Afterall, you don't have to accept the offer.
How do ALJ get pay raises?
By tenure. An ALJ usually starts out at 3/A, and move up one step a year until 3/D (3 years total). 3/E and 3/F are two years each, so it takes a line ALJ 7 years to hit the top of the pay scale. Although with locality pay, some ALJs are capped or almost capped out by the time they are at 3/D (see SF, NY, Huston).
You can accelerate a step promotion by accepting a HOCALJ position, but that's really not a topic for new ALJ candidates.
What about ALJ_2 and ALJ_1?
Management positions for RCALJs and CALJ. You probably don't need to worry about it for a while.
How much annual and sick leave do ALJs get? Paid holidays? Any other benefits?
Same as any other standard federal employee. Sick leave is always 4 hours every two weeks. Annual leave is 4 hours every two weeks until you have been a fed for 3 years (that's 13 days a year). From 3 - 15 it's 6 hours every two weeks (19.5 days a year), 15+ it's 8 hours every two week (26 days a year). And just to make sure we are all on the same page, sick leave and annual leave are accrued separately and used separately.
Yes, you do get all the standard federal holidays. Then you get the federal employee medical, etc. Overall, it's a decent package.
And here's a little prospective from Jagghagg, one of our forum regulars:
Yeah, it sucks
when you start federal service and only earn 4 hours per pay period. But 13 days a year is 2 weeks a year. (According to monster.com, 61% of employees in the United States take less than 15 days of vacation per year.) According to Ask.com, paid vacation days in the United States range from five to 30, so starting with the federal govenment puts you in the middle of that and ending with the federal government (8 hours a pay period = 26 days a year) puts you at the upper end. Unlike the military, you do not have to take leave time over weekends and yes, you do get all federal holidays. (The day after Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday, so plan on taking leave. Or move your compressed day to that day - which is what most people on a flex/compressed schedule do.)
Remember, though, that leave in the federal government is taken in time increments, not day increments. Some places take it in increments of minutes. (For example, AF employees can use it in 15 minute increments - taking .25 hours of leave. Someone else will have to tell you the SSA policy on this point.) So you spend that time not only on vacation and time off, but also on long lunch breaks, sometimes on sick leave (when you are trying to save up sick leave for the "big one"
) and so on and so on...Best thing to do is save your leave like mad for two years to give yourself a full year's balance and put yourself in a "use-or-lose state the beginning of each year. You can only carry over 240 hours a year. After that, it is use it or lose it.
(Although there IS legislation moving through Congress to allow federal employees, who are not CSRS employees, to "tack on" their unused hours to their time in service balance to increase - albeit slightly - their retirement pension.)
And here is another prospective from aaa:
As a federal employee I love my 26 days of vacation plus my 10 holidays. And I love the part where I can pretty much take off when I want, particularly to be able to work in my 5 year old son's kindergarten class. That has been such a treat. And I really love the part of this job where when I go home, work is over - no calls to get someone out of jail or calls about a visitation gone bad. I love not having to try and chase fees and figure payroll taxes. Federal employment and the federal government have been "berry, berry gud to me."
I am to the point now where I can take two weeks off at Christmas and stay home with my son plus spread the rest of the vacation out over the rest of the year, turning 3 day weekends into mini-vacations 4 or 5 days. And with hearing trips I now get to travel my beautiful state monthly and enjoy the various landscapes, and that gives me plenty of time to reflect on how fortunate I really am in all aspects of my life - great husband and son, great personal life, wonderful job.
Two weeks vacation per year for the first 3 years doesn't sound like much to mid-career hires. Any way to stretch that?
Yes, you can work credit hours and use those for long lunch hours, non-medical appointments, or for actual vacations. You cannot earn more than 2.5 hours per business day (and only between 6:30 am and 6 pm) nor more than 8 hours on a weekend (if your office is open for work) nor carry over more than 24 hours. Sounds complicated, but very helpful until you can get that leave balance built up.
Can I transfer prior federal or military service for leave seniority calculation?
Prior federal civilian service transfers over no problem. For military service, only for the period of time you're not collecting a military pension on. So if you served 3 years and got out, as long as you got your DD-214, you'll collect 6 hours of leave each pay period once HR credits your prior military service.
As for military retirees, if you have military service that is not used in your pension computation (exceeding 30 years or academy time),
you can get credit for purpose of leave accrual...and possibly other purposes. You must obtain proof of military service (DD214/documentation from academy) and submit to the agency.
Furthermore, by paying a percentage of your total accrued military salary (3%??) plus modest interest, you can get service credit for retirement purposes (only for the time period you're not already collecting a military pension).
How about State or Local Government?
Sorry, no seniority transfer.
How about Flexiplace/Telecommuting?
New ALJs may not work from home until they are past the one year mark. ALJs do not have the exact same flexible time/day options as the staff. Hearing offices do have regular business hours, but hearings can and do run later. The ALJs on the days when they are not having hearings can work within the flexible hours for a normal 8 hour, 5 day week. On hearing days your hearing times will dictate your schedule. There is no option for 3 12-hour days for anyone in a hearing office.
The ALJ can decide when to set their hearings within certain hours with the understanding that you don't work alone on a docket. You will have your expert witnesses, claimant's and their attorneys, a hearing reporter and a case technician that must all coordinate for a hearing to occur. A hearing room must be assigned for your dockets since they are shared and only some of them are capable of video hearings. In some offices the ALJs must submit preferences for the weeks that they want to have hearings many months in advance of the scheduling of the actual cases so that the master calendar can be arranged.
Additionally, the security only works certain hours, so the lobby/claimant's waiting area won't be available simply because one ALJ wants to start hearings at the crack of dawn.
What is Compensatory Time Off for Travel?
Compensatory time off for travel is a new form of compensatory time off that may be earned by employees for time spent in a travel status away from their official duty stations when such time is not otherwise compensable hours of work. Travel compensatory time is earned and used in 15 minute increments. Employees must request travel compensatory time, in writing or electronically, within 5 working days of returning from travel. Employees must use accrued travel compensatory time off by the end of the 26th pay period after the pay period during which it was credited. Under no circumstances may employees be compensated with pay for any unused travel compensatory time.
Employees having questions about travel compensatory time should consult with their supervisors.
SF-278 - Financial Disclosure
Everyone who is hired will need to complete the financial disclosure form SF-278 within 30 days of their start date and thereafter each year by May 15th. Here is a link to the page with a fillable PDF form and the instructions. Save it to your computer prior to filling it out or the changes will not be saved. It is easier to save your form electronically and then only make the changes from year to year instead of doing it from scratch on paper each time. The completed form must be printed out and signed unless your hiring agency participates in the pilot for electronic signatures on this form. SSA currently requires the manual signature.
www.forms.gov/bgfPortal/docDetails.do?dId=11412
Can ALJs maintain outside employment?
Maybe. But you need to get approval from your Region first. Expect it to take a while and it's not a sure thing. See this thread for a more detailed discussion.
Do ALJs have to maintain CLEs? Keep license current?
There was a proposal by OPM back in 2007/2008 about it, but it's dead now as far as folks can tell. So it depends on your individual state requirements for federal administrative law judges.
Can an ALJ be fired?
Yes, but very difficult. An ALJ can only be fired for good cause, and only after a decision has been rendered by the MSPB. Additionally, ALJs have no probationary period and are not subject to performance reviews.
What is the retirement plan?
Administrative law judges are on the same retirement plan as other federal civil servants. This discussion assumes that you have no prior federal employment. If you have either military service or earlier civil service employment you should look into how that experience effects your individual situation. OPM provides retirement information at this webpage:
www.opm.gov/retire/
Newly hired civil servants participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Retirement income under FERS has three components; Social Security, the Basic Benefit, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The Basic Benefit is a defined benefit pension. Deductions for Social Security and Basic Benefit are withheld from your pay automatically, so there is no decision for you to make on those deductions.
You do have a decision to make on TSP. It operates like a 401(k) plan, with five mutual funds which are designed to mirror different stock or bond indices. There are also several Lifecycle funds, which feature different mixes of those five funds, based on how long it will be until you anticipate withdrawing money from the fund.
If you do nothing, the default is that the government will contribute 1 percent of your salary to the G fund, a government bond fund. You can change the fund allocation, and contribute some of your salary. Your contributions will reduce your taxable income, and the government will match them up to a point.
The maximum contribution each year is defined by IRS regulations. For 2015, the maximum contribution is $18,000.00, up from $17,500.00 in 2014. If you are at least 50 years old, or will turn 50 during the year, you can make an additional contribution. The limit for this catch-up contribution is $6,000.00 in 2015.
You designate the amount of your contributions on a form TSP-1. The designation can be either a dollar amount or a percentage.
If you designate 5 percent of your salary on Line 6 of the form when you start working for the government you will ensure that you get the maximum government matching contribution. You can change the designation at any time by filing a new TSP-1, or by going online if you work for an agency that has online access to TSP forms. Here is a PDF of the TSP-1:
www.tsp.gov/forms/tsp-1.pdf
Finally, although a new employee can sign up and begin his/her own contributions immediately, there is a waiting period of 6-12 months for the agency 1% and the 5% match. See below from the TSP website on agency contributions.
* Your agency will start to contribute Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions to your account after you have completed the mandatory waiting period. See the chart below to determine when you will be eligible.
* If you are contributing your own money, you will also receive Agency Matching Contributions after you have completed the mandatory waiting period. See the chart below to determine when you will be eligible.
