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Post by marylandattorney on May 27, 2010 9:20:48 GMT -5
I type by pecking fairly quickly. However, I do not need to type much as I usually cut and paste from old pleadings and amend them for a new case. During SSA hearings, would I be required to type all my notes, or would I be permitted to write with a pad and pen?
I do not know how to touch type!
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Post by bartleby on May 27, 2010 9:43:01 GMT -5
If you are seriously considering the position, then please take a typing course, at least an on-line course or something. If you get the job, you won't be competitive without typing skills and the more the better. It's almost all about numbers and numbers are generated by using a keyboard. In 2-3 months, you can be a good typist and you will never regret it. Without the skills, you will try to find shortcuts and they will bite you in the behind. The job doesn't require a lot, but I think typing is one of the most important facets.. As usual, JMHO..
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Post by judgegal on May 27, 2010 9:52:38 GMT -5
I hope you don't mean you cut with scissors and paste with a brush. You rally can't do the ALJ job at SSA without good computer skills, and you can't really be good on the computer wihout touch typing. The job is more and more computer oriented--they call it electronic business processing. Bartleby is right--take a course, you'll be better at whatever job you have.
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Post by Well on May 27, 2010 10:11:44 GMT -5
Only partially learned touch typing but can do 45-50 words per minute (had to do 30 to avoid failing high school typing!).
In our office most ALJ's write their notes but most use pre-printed forms they created or got someplace and fill those in. I can tell you from experience everyone's handwriting is worse than they think it is and you lose turaround time as writers poll each other to translate when you aren't available.
With the new push for paperless, handriting is going to be despised. Handwritten notes and instructions do not scan well and are even harder to read.
Typing isn't mandatory but like tips it is appreciated.
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Post by happyhawaiian on May 27, 2010 10:16:44 GMT -5
Might want to get Mavis Beacon to brush up on your typing skills. Great program for those with limited typing ability.
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Post by maxlaw on May 27, 2010 10:20:42 GMT -5
I type by pecking fairly quickly. However, I do not need to type much as I usually cut and paste from old pleadings and amend them for a new case. During SSA hearings, would I be required to type all my notes, or would I be permitted to write with a pad and pen?
I do not know how to touch type! Three words: Dragon Naturally Speaking. It's available for ODAR's system per other's posts here; I'd become familiar with it and plan on using it. Of course, learning to type would also be a very good idea. Past posts suggest that showing weakness in the area of computer skills (and like the other posters in this thread, I consider touch typing to be a computer skill) is not the way to win friends and influence people in the agency interview. |
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Post by privateatty on May 27, 2010 10:34:18 GMT -5
I type by pecking fairly quickly. However, I do not need to type much as I usually cut and paste from old pleadings and amend them for a new case. During SSA hearings, would I be required to type all my notes, or would I be permitted to write with a pad and pen? I do not know how to touch type! Not to worry. The WD will weed you out. ;D |
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Post by 71stretch on May 27, 2010 11:21:21 GMT -5
I type by pecking fairly quickly. However, I do not need to type much as I usually cut and paste from old pleadings and amend them for a new case. During SSA hearings, would I be required to type all my notes, or would I be permitted to write with a pad and pen? I do not know how to touch type! Not to worry. The WD will weed you out. ;D Or not, if wannabe is already on the register or cert.  |
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knownuthin
Full Member
Out of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
Posts: 114
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Post by knownuthin on May 27, 2010 12:13:52 GMT -5
The most valuable class I took in high school was typing. I take handwritten notes during the hearing, but then use the DGS (document generation system) to type my instructions immediately after the hearing or at the end of the day. My writers love the typed instructions. I don't feel comfortable typing my notes during a hearing. I think it's distracting and I can't watch the claimant and other witnesses testify. Most judges I know use forms that they have created or borrowed to make their instructions, which can be filled out during the hearing. There is no right or wrong way, just whatever works for you.
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Post by judicature on May 28, 2010 18:05:45 GMT -5
Like knownuthin, I took typing in high school and it is probably the only thing from high school of true value that still pays dividends (a point currently lost on my 16 year old son). I also do not attempt to type notes during hearings, although I am pretty fast as a typist - I think it is a tad disrespectful to the claimant to type while they are testifying and never look at them, but that is a matter of personal preference. Use FIT for your instructions (through the DGS referred to) and the decision writers will absolutely love you. I can't imagine doing it any other way.
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Post by iapplied on May 28, 2010 20:25:58 GMT -5
Actually I'm surprised that typing skills wasn't one of the questions on the application. I took typing in high school too. I can't imagine a working life without it. My mother was a secretary while I was in high school so she convinced me to learn to type. She also knew how to do shorthand, a skill they stopped teaching and one that I wish I had learned. But if there's a quicker, faster, easier way to do the job, I'm all for it!
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Post by extang on May 29, 2010 7:53:27 GMT -5
One comment above could possibly be misleading to those who are not insiders. Bartleby says "it's almost all about numbers." It's not just "almost all" about numbers: it is absolutely, unquestionably, categorically, completely about nothing but numbers. If you are used to working in a professional environment and you're coming to work here, get over it. I am tempted to say ODAR is a factory, but even that statement could be misleading, because in factories they probably have some form of quality control. In a factory they probably have to care, at least to a minimal extent, about how good the widgets are. In ODAR all that matters is how many widgets you make.
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Post by alj on May 29, 2010 8:19:09 GMT -5
To answer your question about handwritten notes, the answer is yes. I prefer to take notes by hand during the hearing and immediately after the hearing, reduce those notes to instructions, including exhibit and page numbers that support my findings. Currently those instructions may be handwritten or typed, whichever the judge prefers. If handwritten they will be scanned into the case file for use when the decision is written.
In the hearing I am already using both screens for the exhibit list and the individual exhibits on the DMA viewer. I don't have another screen on which to type my notes, so it is awkward for me to type during the hearing.
It is the judge's job to provide legible notes to the decision writer. If not legible, there are no notes for the writer to use.
Follow the advice given above and learn to type. I am surprised you got this far without that skill.
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Post by marylandattorney on May 31, 2010 9:19:45 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your responses. I have been glued to my computer for days! I am happy to report that after putting in significant time on 2 typing programs: Typing Master and Mavis Beacon, I learned to touch type! I am shocked at how easy it is and how quickly I am typing! I assume I had a head start because I knew the layout of the keyboard from all the typing I have done over the years. I will continue practicing to hone my skill. Look out world!  |
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Post by onepingonly on May 31, 2010 9:52:05 GMT -5
Kudos to you! It's like touch-typing is The Force, and you are now Obi-Wan Ke-Wannabe! :-)
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Post by Propmaster on May 31, 2010 14:16:58 GMT -5
One comment above could possibly be misleading to those who are not insiders. Bartleby says "it's almost all about numbers." It's not just "almost all" about numbers: it is absolutely, unquestionably, categorically, completely about nothing but numbers. If you are used to working in a professional environment and you're coming to work here, get over it. I am tempted to say ODAR is a factory, but even that statement could be misleading, because in factories they probably have some form of quality control. In a factory they probably have to care, at least to a minimal extent, about how good the widgets are. In ODAR all that matters is how many widgets you make. I disagree. No proof, I just don't see it that way. So to avoid misleading anyone, I'll point out that there are different ways to approach and look at the job, and that different offices have different environments regarding the importance (or all-importance) of numbers (as in, workload completed). |
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Post by decadealj on Jun 1, 2010 10:15:09 GMT -5
If there is one thing I have truly gleaned from this Board, it is location, location, location. I would bet my socks that Woody (another thread) is sitting in Region 3 because I can understand his frustation to a "T". There are other offices where professionalism reigns supreme but I would bet most of them have at least one attorney "management official" (HOCALJ's opinions in Region 3 are totally ignored by management- the HOCALJs grin and bear it to keep some Nazi from coming in and converting the HO into Dante's Inferno. If you are in a great shop, thank whoever you credit as your creator and understand that alot of your brothers and sisters are working under very demeaning conditions at best. I believe where morale suffers, it is directly attributable to management instead of leadership- the great thing about this job is the dedicated employees who take their job seriously and are here to serve the public. But please be careful about throwing stones at others less blessed than you are.
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Post by Propmaster on Jun 1, 2010 10:29:07 GMT -5
If there is one thing I have truly gleaned from this Board, it is location, location, location. I would bet my socks that Woody (another thread) is sitting in Region 3 because I can understand his frustration to a "T". There are other offices where professionalism reigns supreme but I would bet most of them have at least one attorney "management official" (HOCALJ's opinions in Region 3 are totally ignored by management- the HOCALJs grin and bear it to keep some Nazi from coming in and converting the HO into Dante's Inferno. If you are in a great shop, thank whoever you credit as your creator and understand that a lot of your brothers and sisters are working under very demeaning conditions at best. I believe where morale suffers, it is directly attributable to management instead of leadership- the great thing about this job is the dedicated employees who take their job seriously and are here to serve the public. But please be careful about throwing stones at others less blessed than you are. Point well taken. I agree that there is a difference between management and leadership - a distinction it was good that you identified. There is more than one ODAR in my metropolitan area, and I often recall that I am blessed to be in the one I am in, and I even tell my leaders (who happen to be managers) that I feel so blessed, and credit them. However, I will note that the King of Swaziland is one of the only remaining monarchs on Earth who rules by absolute fiat. By contrast, the Queen of England is something of a figurehead as Head of State but not of government, with little practical power to govern. Would it really be fair for the Queen of England to be grouchy about her lack of governing power? Seriously - she's the Queen. Approximately 99.925% of people in the world would rather have her job (even with its attendant responsibilities and constant political and media sniping, etc.) than their own. I really don't much care what other monarchs get to do; if I heard her repeatedly, seriously complain about not having as much power as other monarchs do, did, or "should," it would seriously lessen my respect for her (and possibly lead to the dissolution of the Monarchy ( see Nepal)). Hopefully, the analogy is clear. (Hint: It does not actually involve the Queen of England). |
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Post by 71stretch on Jun 1, 2010 11:53:12 GMT -5
Back to the original topic of typing, I am a decent, but not fabulous, self-taught typist, who types her own decisions (I was doing most of it even when I last had a secretary, which was two years ago). I'm going to use those same programs to sharpen up my skills. Thanks to everyone for sharing.
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