|
|
Post by afgirl on Jan 25, 2010 13:20:19 GMT -5
I was reading through posts to see if anyone has heard anything and I ran across a post by PA that mentioned long ago (my words) threads on mundane topics to pass the time. So I decided to post about today's rant in my office. Our agency recently changed contracts from Lexis to Westlaw. While I appreciate the agency's fiscal responsibility to compete our legal research contract, I personally find it annoying as hell that every time I turn around something is changing. Changing from Lexis to Westlaw and from Windows to Vista two of the recent changes that have made it almost impossible to accomplish my work. So as my research slows to a crawl as I relearn Westlaw, I wonder what search engine will I use as an ALJ (if I am so lucky as to become an ALJ)? And when did I become so old that I let these things really irritate me?
|
|
|
|
Post by jonmom on Jan 25, 2010 13:45:51 GMT -5
These are all redundant statements: getting old, things beginning to irritate us, and applying for an ALJ job.  |
|
|
|
Post by deminimis on Jan 25, 2010 17:56:47 GMT -5
Sorry you haven't gotten a straight answer to your reasonable question so far, afgirl. You won't get one from me, either, because I'm not an insider. I'm an applicant like you, hoping for the best. I can say, however, that although I never used Lexis so I can't make comparisons, I was a frequent user of Westlaw and really enjoyed it. I became fluent in Westlaw. Hardly ever had to go to the library once my office got its account. So, things being the way they are, I predict that if I'm hired as an ALJ, I'll discover they use Lexis exclusively . . .
|
|
|
|
Post by privateatty on Jan 25, 2010 17:58:27 GMT -5
I was reading through posts to see if anyone has heard anything and I ran across a post by PA that mentioned long ago (my words) threads on mundane topics to pass the time. So I decided to post about today's rant in my office. Our agency recently changed contracts from Lexis to Westlaw. While I appreciate the agency's fiscal responsibility to compete our legal research contract, I personally find it annoying as hell that every time I turn around something is changing. Changing from Lexis to Westlaw and from Windows to Vista two of the recent changes that have made it almost impossible to accomplish my work. So as my research slows to a crawl as I relearn Westlaw, I wonder what search engine will I use as an ALJ (if I am so lucky as to become an ALJ)? And when did I become so old that I let these things really irritate me? Still bully on boolean? |
|
|
|
Post by ohaer on Jan 27, 2010 12:25:38 GMT -5
AFgirl. if you plan on working as an ALJ for ODAR, get ready. Our nickname is the "Department of Redundancy Department" because we are never allowed to close the record. Lose at the hearing level? No prob. Send this new report in the ALJ never considered and you get a remand and another bite at the apple. If you lose at the second bight at the apple, the appeals Council will come up with a procedural error, i.e., the claimant was sent the wrong hearing notice. so you get another bight at the apple. I've actually written FIVE, count 'em, FIVE denial decisions on the same claimant. The US District cour even remanded it, stating that if it followed the law (the substanttive evidence rulel), it would have to affirm the Commissioner, but that the court "did not sit to affirm injustice" and reversed the case (basically admitting he was abusing his discretion. On about the fifth go-around, that decisionwas getting pretty easy to write. So if you are looking for a wide variety at ODAR as an ALJ, perhaps you might want to look elsewhere. We get pretty monotonous around here at times.
|
|
|
|
Post by decadealj on Jan 27, 2010 12:36:17 GMT -5
How bad do AC remands get? I wrote a decision citing a physicians statement in the medical record that "the claimant was feeling great and ready to sail down the inland waterway to winter it out in Florida" as discrediting to the claimant. AC order remanding it said I should not have considered it because it was heresay. The same week the AC remanded a dismissal (Claimant's good cause was "he forgot"") because the claimant was homeless. Be raedy to have a very thick skin!
|
|
EagleJAG
Full Member
ALJ...a high-G career field worth the fight
Posts: 36
|
Post by EagleJAG on Jan 27, 2010 17:48:36 GMT -5
afgirl,
As an ALJ (or writer), you'll have access to both Lexis and Westlaw. The former you'll have to register with...not a big deal. For Westlaw, there's a direct pass-through from the SSA ODAR webpage.
That said, I haven't heard of many SSA ALJs or writers using (or needing to use) either.
Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by privateatty on Jan 27, 2010 20:22:36 GMT -5
afgirl, As an ALJ (or writer), you'll have access to both Lexis and Westlaw. The former you'll have to register with...not a big deal. For Westlaw, there's a direct pass-through from the SSA ODAR webpage. That said, I haven't heard of many SSA ALJs or writers using (or needing to use) either. Good luck! EagleJAG! Hey, Mon!  Last I saw the likes of you, why you were in Barcelona coming off a cruise with the family and WHALLAH.... You get the offer and you are in Falls Church and on to training. This is what's its all about sports fans... BTW you like the job? |
|
|
|
Post by coloradoman on Jan 27, 2010 20:41:47 GMT -5
Once in a while an ALJ (or more likely an AA or SA) will use WestLaw or Lexis to do some research. ODAR has both services..at least I do as a SA. Most of the time, the Soc Sec Act, and regs 404 and 416 along with SSA Rulings are all you need. HALLEX used to provide summaries of pertinent case law by topic for each circuit, but stopped doing that. We still get some OGC case law updates via e-mail. Much of what is needed for web research can be found on SSA ODAR law library or Cornell Law Library.
|
|
EagleJAG
Full Member
ALJ...a high-G career field worth the fight
Posts: 36
|
Post by EagleJAG on Jan 27, 2010 22:19:06 GMT -5
afgirl, As an ALJ (or writer), you'll have access to both Lexis and Westlaw. The former you'll have to register with...not a big deal. For Westlaw, there's a direct pass-through from the SSA ODAR webpage. That said, I haven't heard of many SSA ALJs or writers using (or needing to use) either. Good luck! EagleJAG! Hey, Mon! Last I saw the likes of you, why you were in Barcelona coming off a cruise with the family and WHALLAH.... You get the offer and you are in Falls Church and on to training. This is what's its all about sports fans... BTW you like the job? PA, it's the best kept secret in the federal legal world! Still learning but it's been very easy keeping the mach up (for the venerable forum ground pounders, that's a phrase referring to maintaining high energy). |
|
|
|
Post by bintex on Jan 30, 2010 2:59:13 GMT -5
And what's up with this World Wide Web? Where is it exactly? And these kids with their texting, texting what I ask? And who is Lady Gaga? Can someone please turn down that rap music before I get a d**ned headache?  ? You see, there are many advanatges to being a classicist and opera fan - you never need to know these things. And Wagner's music is much better than it sounds. |
|
