Call times - Don't Lose Hope

[okeydokey]

The rumor is that notices will go by telephone. I don't think anyone should lose hope until noon of the second day.

I do not know how many calls there will be. I assume it is a maximum of 157.

I do not know how long the calls will be.

I do not know how many people will be making the calls (it was one or two for the interviews, it seems).

Assume it is 157, 10 minutes, and 3. That is a total of 6 calls per hour per caller. And there are 52 per caller So, working an eight hour day, with three callers, it will be a stretch for them to call everyone in one day.

[Deleted]

I had a similar thought. The nice person at OHR/CPPS who answered my e-mail said:

"We will be making the offers around the end of May or early June. All offers will be made by phone."

That sounds to me less like a 'day certain' than like a 'period of time.' My thought was that they may be planning to take a few days to make the calls. They have 150 or so calls to make, they will have to leave messages for a percentage of those, and then accept return phone calls. This may drag out over a couple of days..

So, I will try to stay optimistic. A no-call on day one or two may not be the end of the world...

I wonder if they are planning to do this over the weekend (May30th-31st)? Isn't there some historical precedence for that? We received our interview calls over the weekend...hmm..

R

[lawandorder]

I find it hard to believe that offers will be made by telephone. It's impractical but I know.... Second, I find it even harder to believe that selectees will have to report by June 22. After all, this is all a mere rumor. No one will know for sure the reporting dates after offers are made. So just sit back and relax.

[morgullord]

Assuming a single class of 157 people ending on September 30, 2009, training would start on September 10, 2009. Two weeks' prep time in a hearing office would have new ALJs reporting to their HOCALJs on August 27, 2009.

See, there is no time crunch...

[Propmaster]

May 19, 2009 9:38:32 GMT -5 lawandorder said:

I find it hard to believe that offers will be made by telephone. It's impractical but I know.... Second, I find it even harder to believe that selectees will have to report by June 22. After all, this is all a mere rumor. No one will know for sure the reporting dates after offers are made. So just sit back and relax.

My understanding is that training is already in preparation for two classes of 75-80 people. One class will start July 6, with duty station reporting June 22, and the other will start August 3, with duty station reporting July 20.

Considering the number of judges who have to plan their dockets in order to do the trainings, it is not reasonable to believe that training can simply be moved around at the last minute. Some people may be able to get exceptions to their duty station reporting before the training (I know at least one group of ALJ appointees last summer did not have time to report to the office before training) but they will suffer a delay in familiarity with the computer software (assuming they don't have the knowledge already) that will be used for training.

Last year, when I thought I might get to be an ALJ (but didn't) I began ramping down my job responsibilities several weeks before - making contacts to transfer cases, preparing case memos for the lawyers to take over, closing out cases that could be closed, etc. Although I did not get the ALJ job, I ended up getting an ODAR attorney job and leaving my firm anyway, so it worked out well. This is not possible for everyone, but you should be making plans if you think you have a chance to be appointed.

Anyway, I agree that notification by phone is unlikely to be the only method. I would expect e-mail notification with phone follow-up to answer questions and make sure the e-mail wa received. Nevertheless, I don't think it will take 10 minutes a phone call and I don't think they will limit their calling to eight hours. With 157 appointees, 52 per caller (assuming three callers), and ten hours (because they can call later their time for the west coast) for phone calls, they only need to make a little over five calls per hour. Eminently doable in one day - especially if, like me, the majority of people are going to say "yes, yes, yes, yes" and they will say "you'll get some forms in the mail congratulations." Call time: 45 seconds of information and 60 seconds of pleasantries.

Good luck to all!

[morgullord]

The actual means of notification: during the finale of "American Idol" on Wednesday, Simon Cowell will read a coded message. Those of us who got secret decoder rings during our interviews will decode the message to find out if we were selected and where we are headed. We will then be required to text in our acceptance or rejection. What could be simpler?

[lawdog98]

I Just GOT MY CALL!!!!!

But the CALL was in code.....

And using my secret ring the message says----

BE SURE TO DRINK YOUR OVALTINE??!!!!!

That's it? A lousy commercial?

[morgullord]

Hmmm, my message was personally addressed:

Be sure to drink your Ovaltine, Loser.

[alj]

You guys are too funny. Hopefully you two will be the class clowns this time around!

Looks like OCALJ is reverting to form: about 3 to 4 weeks notice. Good luck.

[pm]

May 19, 2009 13:57:16 GMT -5 morgullord said:

Hmmm, my message was personally addressed:

Be sure to drink your Ovaltine, Loser.

Morgullord, I have certainly disagreed with you upon occasion, but all things considered, you have a wickedly delightful sense of humor. I hope you make it, and I hope you're in my class.

Lawdog, good movie reference, way out of left field, but that just made it sweeter.

[privateatty]

May 20, 2009 13:09:36 GMT -5 @patriotsfan said:

I remember waiting for my email that never came. My best wishes to all and that as few of you as possible suffer the same fate.

Yes. We need to pull together to be able to console and support those who meet that fate.