How Long To Transfer

[caisson]

My understanding from reviewing the board is that if you want to maximize your chances of getting picked up you need to be willing to move anywhere. If you get picked up in a location you are not wild about how long does it typically take to transfer? E.g. if you get sent to West Virginia how long will it take to transfer to Florida, Texas, LA, MS, or Alabama?

[philliesfan]

You can put your name on the transfer list after 90 days on the job. How long it takes to get a transfer offer depends on where you want to go. If you want to go to San Diego, you probably don't have a chance. On the other hand, going to LA, MS, AL, OH, etc. might happen fairly quickly. I got home in the Mid-Atlantic after 5 months in the Mid-West.

[justwaiting]

I started in Portland OR last May, got on the transfer list in August ating* for a transfer back home SF Bay area). With the slow down in hiring, I've accepted that it could take a while. My advice is to only list cits you could stand to live in for couple of years. It could easily take that long to get the transfer might get very lucky. What is making this bearable are 3 things: (1) I am in the same time zone as my spouse; (2) the commute by plane is relatively short; and (3) the Portland office is great. You need to balance your desire for the job with your tolerance for being somewhere new.

[bartleby]

Took me a little over 1 1/2 years. Just remember, the time will pass and before you know it, you will be returning home with some regret over losing new friends and your very first office as a Judge. A little bit bittersweet, but home is home and the savings is usually substantial.

[valkyrie]

If you are only looking at one particular office to go to for the duration, no matter where you are initially hired, you need to do a lot of research if you plan to get back any time soon. You need to know the maximum number of judges per particular office vs how many judges are currently there. Next look at who is there. Are they judges who WANT to be in that office, and if so, how long are they likely to be there before they retire or transfer? Then look at who is not in that office, but WANTS to be there. Obviously a long list of people already on the transfer list ahead of you would not bode well. Then there are the sinister Hardship Transfers. Those who apply for a hardship transfer are not publicized in any way and could be lurking outside your dream office without your knowledge. You could be on top of the transfer list to your dream location, and attend the retirement party of Judge Olderthandirt, thinking you are his replacement, when disaster strikes. Instead of getting an offer to transfer back home, your friend instead calls you to give you the bad news that a new judge has taken the newly vacated slot with a hardship transfer because he is allergic to dust.

[marten77]

How does one find out who is on the transfer list that wants to come to the location desired before applying to take the test? Is that possible?

[bartleby]

I would think one can get it from the Chief Judge Office in Falls Church, or if one is an ALJ and belongs to the AALJ Union, it is on their web site.

[71stretch]

Feb 13, 2013 16:41:47 GMT -5 marten77 said:

How does one find out who is on the transfer list that wants to come to the location desired before applying to take the test? Is that possible?

Don't use any information on transfers to determine whether to apply, or what cities to list on your GAL. List every city you could live in for up to five years. The register may not open again for a very long time. If you want this job, start working on your application, and don't worry about the current transfer list.

[ssaer]

One way to decrease the waiting period for a desired transfer is to apply (as an interim move) for one of the frequently offered transfers to a National Hearing Center. Judges in the National Hearing Centers are considered to be management, and get to hop over the union transfer list when they want to transfer out of the National Hearing Centers to another location. Transfers to the National Hearing Centers followed shortly thereafter by transfers to another location -- one to which many ALJs are already on the transfer list -- are very common.

[bartleby]

My understanding is that the Union is trying to put a stop to this as it creates havoc on both the transfer list and the National Hearing Centers with revolving door scenario. I think top level management also thinks it is a bad idea and may be considering anyone moving into a National Hearing Center to stay for a year or even two, much like any other transfer..

[jlee1962]

Curious - is the National Hearing Center in Albuquerque up and running?

[ssaer]

Feb 14, 2013 12:13:08 GMT -5 jlee1962 said:

Curious - is the National Hearing Center in Albuquerque up and running?

Yes

[southeastalj]

Feb 14, 2013 8:29:33 GMT -5 ssaer said:

One way to decrease the waiting period for a desired transfer is to apply (as an interim move) for one of the frequently offered transfers to a National Hearing Center. Judges in the National Hearing Centers are considered to be management, and get to hop over the union transfer list when they want to transfer out of the National Hearing Centers to another location. Transfers to the National Hearing Centers followed shortly thereafter by transfers to another location -- one to which many ALJs are already on the transfer list -- are very common.

This won't be true once the new CBA goes into effect. The union and agency have agreed that NHC judges will go on the union list.

[mcb]

Feb 14, 2013 14:24:19 GMT -5 southeastalj said:

This won't be true once the new CBA goes into effect. The union and agency have agreed that NHC judges will go on the union list.

Do you know if ALJs currently at NHCs will be grandfathered in as management and future NHC ALJs will non-management, or if there will be a retroactive application to all ALJs at NHCs as non-management? I'd assume the former, rather than the latter.

[arkstfan]

I waited 7 1/2 months. A friend waited 9 months. I know a judge who waited two years and two more than are looking at least two year waitsand probably longer unless the judges in the desired office start playing hopscotch in the street at night wearing ninja outfits.

[hopefalj]

When someone puts their name on the transfer list, is it office-specific or city-specific? Does a judge say they want to transfer to Houston, LA, Atlanta, Dallas, etc., or do they have to say LA West, Dallas North, Houston Bellaire, Atlanta North, etc.?

[philliesfan]

You put your name down for a specific office, such as LA West, Bronx, Queens, Elkins Park, etc. You can only list 3 choices. If you belong to the Union, the current transfer list is available, but someone in your office will belong and can print you a copy. This will give you an indication as to how many people are on the list for any office you want. When I put my name on the list in 2011, three of the four offices in my home city had no one on the list. I put my name on the list for those three and was offered a transfer one month later.

[arkstfan]

Feb 19, 2013 17:42:50 GMT -5 hopefalj said:

When someone puts their name on the transfer list, is it office-specific or city-specific? Does a judge say they want to transfer to Houston, LA, Atlanta, Dallas, etc., or do they have to say LA West, Dallas North, Houston Bellaire, Atlanta North, etc.?

As noted in the first response, it is office specific.

For a lot of people that isn't a big issue but there are places where it gets problematic.

For example if you are from Dallas, your spouse is from Houston and San Antonio seems like a nice compromise you have six potential offices (2 Dallas, 2 Houston, 1 Fort Worth, and 1 in San Antonio) to pick from (presuming the Rio Grande Valley Office in Harlingen wouldn't be one you would consider in that situation) but you can only list three so there would three offices you would at least find acceptable that you cannot try for.

If Albuquerque is your dream you have to list Albuquerque on the transfer list but also watch for announcements of openings at Albuquerque NHC which you don't list on the regular transfer list.

[southeastalj]

Apr 3, 2013 0:14:34 GMT -5 grassgreener said:

Feb 14, 2013 14:24:19 GMT -5 southeastalj said:

This won't be true once the new CBA goes into effect. The union and agency have agreed that NHC judges will go on the union list.

I noticed that Alb. and St. Louis are on the current cert. - these are NHCs, I believe. Has the CBA provision referenced above gone into affect?

No, the final provisions of the CBA are being hashed out by the FLRA. Also, remember there are also regular hearing offices in St. Louis and Albuquerque. Actually, the Albuquerque NHC and regular Albuquerque hearing office are co-located. Usually, the agency solicits the existing Judges before placing new hires in an NHC. Several new hires have been placedin the St. Louis NHC since it opened, I can't think of any being placed in Albuquerque.

[mcb]

The AALJ website has posted new transfer - alphabetical, from, to - lists, all dated 3/19/13.