mya
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by mya on Nov 27, 2011 14:55:48 GMT -5
Hello, everyone!
I'm a new member who is interested in becoming an ALJ. However, I do not have any litigation experience. I am a licensed attorney and I work as an Investigator for a federal agency. I read the OPM requirements and it said that qualifications include "preparing for trials or hearings". My investigative work does assist attorneys in their trial preparation, but I'm not sure if this is enough to qualify me for the ALJ position.
Does anyone know of Investigators from federal agencies or people who were not litigators or attorneys who became or qualified for the ALJ position (assuming that these non-litigators are licensed attorneys, of course)?
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Post by bartleby on Nov 27, 2011 17:18:32 GMT -5
I know of an ALJ that had been a non-attorney rep, went to law school, graduated, and barely had seven years of experience with the Agency as an attorney-advisor, senior attorney, when she was picked up as an ALJ. Theoretically her non-attorney experience should not have counted for the ALJ position.
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mya
New Member
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Post by mya on Nov 27, 2011 17:41:29 GMT -5
thanks bartleby for your help.
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Post by privateatty on Dec 4, 2011 16:27:02 GMT -5
I know of an ALJ that had been a non-attorney rep, went to law school, graduated, and barely had seven years of experience with the Agency as an attorney-advisor, senior attorney, when she was picked up as an ALJ. Theoretically her non-attorney experience should not have counted for the ALJ position. We can debate the wisdom of SSA in hiring her, but she will not be going to another Agency. |
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Post by bartleby on Dec 4, 2011 19:15:22 GMT -5
She has no intention of doing so. With the other Agencies making up less than 20 percent of the ALJ Corps, I doubt that very many SSA ALJ's have any aspirations of leaving..
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Post by twinkie on Dec 16, 2011 12:05:27 GMT -5
Here is the language from the ALJ application when I applied:
Administrative Law Experience: Qualifying administrative law experience involves cases in which a formal procedure was initiated by a governmental administrative body and includes:
• participating in settlement negotiations in advance of hearing cases;
• preparing for hearing and/or trial of cases;
• preparing opinions;
• hearing cases;
• participating in or conducting arbitration, mediation, or other alternative dispute resolution approved by the administrative body; or
• participating in appeals related to the types of cases above.
NON-QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Experience involving cases with no formal hearing procedure and uncontested cases involving misdemeanors, probate, domestic relations, or tort matters is not qualifying. Listed below are some examples of types of positions which are not qualifying:
• Claims Reviewer
• Clerk of Court
• Conferee
• Contracting Officer
• Insurance Adjuster
• Moderator
• Officer of any court not of record
• Rating Specialist
• State Unemployment Insurance Supervisor
• Law clerks and law professors
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Post by hopefalj on Dec 16, 2011 13:08:54 GMT -5
how does ALJ hiring treat clerkship experience? I clerked for a few years for two different federal judges. Just title your positions as briefing attorney rather than judicial law clerk. The judge I worked for referred to me as a briefing attorney on numerous occasions, and I think my business cards said as much. |
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Post by deminimis on Dec 16, 2011 15:17:12 GMT -5
how does ALJ hiring treat clerkship experience? I clerked for a few years for two different federal judges. Just title your positions as briefing attorney rather than judicial law clerk. The judge I worked for referred to me as a briefing attorney on numerous occasions, and I think my business cards said as much. In my opinion, this is very bad advice. It would give the appearance you were trying to be deceptive. |
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Post by 71stretch on Dec 18, 2011 15:51:29 GMT -5
That, and when the judge is called for a reference, they are more likely to say, "yes, so and so was my law clerk....."
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2013 7:30:19 GMT -5
Hello, everyone! I'm a new member who is interested in becoming an ALJ. However, I do not have any litigation experience. I am a licensed attorney and I work as an Investigator for a federal agency. I read the OPM requirements and it said that qualifications include "preparing for trials or hearings". My investigative work does assist attorneys in their trial preparation, but I'm not sure if this is enough to qualify me for the ALJ position. Does anyone know of Investigators from federal agencies or people who were not litigators or attorneys who became or qualified for the ALJ position (assuming that these non-litigators are licensed attorneys, of course)? I think it would be very difficult for you to navigate the current testing in an honest way and be able to overcome the lack of litigation experience in the initial phase I Cut, Phase II portions such as the SJT and EA and in Phase III testing. |
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Post by JudgeRatty on Sept 3, 2013 7:53:15 GMT -5
Hello, everyone! I'm a new member who is interested in becoming an ALJ. However, I do not have any litigation experience. I am a licensed attorney and I work as an Investigator for a federal agency. I read the OPM requirements and it said that qualifications include "preparing for trials or hearings". My investigative work does assist attorneys in their trial preparation, but I'm not sure if this is enough to qualify me for the ALJ position. Does anyone know of Investigators from federal agencies or people who were not litigators or attorneys who became or qualified for the ALJ position (assuming that these non-litigators are licensed attorneys, of course)? I think it would be very difficult for you to navigate the current testing in an honest way and be able to overcome the lack of litigation experience in the initial phase I Cut, Phase II portions such as the SJT and EA and in Phase III testing. Looks like this thread from 2011 got bumped by the previous comment--that previous comment looks like nonsense or spam. |
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Post by ALJD on Sept 3, 2013 9:54:35 GMT -5
Looks like this thread from 2011 got bumped by the previous comment--that previous comment looks like nonsense or spam. This 2011 thread got bumped by a spammer ad and it looks like Exjag didn't check the last post date before responding. Spammer has been banned and spam post deleted, but Exjag's reply has enough value that I'll just leave it be. |
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